Do QR codes expire?

A QR code itself cannot expire. But many codes made with online generators stop working anyway, because they depend on a service that can be switched off.

Updated October 28, 2026

The short answer

There are two kinds of QR codes, and only one of them can stop working:

• Static QR codes never expire. Your link, Wi-Fi password or contact card is written straight into the black and white pattern. No server is involved when someone scans it.
• Dynamic QR codes can expire. The pattern contains a short link to the generator's server, which then forwards people to your page. If that service stops forwarding, the code leads nowhere.

Why dynamic codes stop working

Many QR generators make dynamic codes by default, often without saying so clearly. They are useful, because you can change the destination later and count scans. But they come with a catch:

• The free trial ends. A common model is a 7 to 14 day trial. When it ends, the code shows an error or an upgrade page instead of your menu or website.
• The subscription is cancelled or a card payment fails.
• The company shuts down or changes its plans. Your printed codes depend on a business you do not control.

The code on your flyers, packaging or restaurant tables did not change. The service behind it did.

How to tell which one you have

Scan your code with a phone camera and look at the address it shows before you open it:

• If it shows your own website, for example yourbistro.com/menu, it is a static code. It will not expire.
• If it shows a different, short address, such as a link shortener or the generator's own domain, it is a dynamic code and depends on that service.

You can also upload a photo or screenshot of the code to our QR checker. It reads the code in your browser and tells you whether it goes through a redirect service.

How to make a QR code that never expires

Use a generator that makes static codes, like QRNoExpiry. Type your link, download the code and print it. There is no account to keep alive and nothing to renew.

If you need to change the destination later, point the code to a page on your own website that you can edit, such as yoursite.com/menu. You keep the flexibility without depending on anyone else.