Do QR codes expire?

Static codes last as long as the print

In a static code, the pattern is the content. A code that holds a web address will hold that same address for as long as the ink survives. There's no server, no account and no timer involved, and every code our generator makes works this way.

So when a static code stops working, the cause is almost always one of two things: the thing it points to has changed, or the print itself is damaged.

What actually breaks

• The page is gone. It was deleted, renamed, or moved during a website redesign.
• The domain lapsed. A missed renewal takes down every code that points at it, all at once.
• The site moved to a new domain without redirects from the old addresses.
• The WiFi changed. A new password or network name means the old WiFi code holds details that no longer work.
• The details went stale. A contact card with an old phone number still scans, but sends people to the wrong number.
• A file link changed. Some cloud share links change when you replace the file, or stop working when sharing is turned off.
• A dynamic code's subscription ended, so its short link stopped forwarding.

That last one is the only case where a code itself really expires, and it's specific to dynamic codes. The static vs dynamic guide explains how they differ.

Physical wear

Outdoor signs fade in the sun, stickers peel, and table tents collect coffee rings. Error correction helps here: at the highest level, H, a code can lose about 30% of its pattern and still scan. For codes that live outside or get handled a lot, choose level H, print on durable stock or laminate with a matte finish, and replace anything that looks faded before it fails.

How to keep a code working for years

• Point codes at stable addresses on your own domain, like a menu or contact page, and update the page instead of the link.
• When you move or rename a page, set up a redirect from the old address. Most website builders have a redirects setting.
• Turn on auto-renew for your domain.
• Make a new WiFi code the same day you change the password, and swap out the old prints.
• Use a static code, so no plan or company stands between the scan and your page.

Check the codes you already have

Walk around today and scan every code you have out in the world: the front door, the menus, the business cards in your wallet. Anything that opens the wrong thing, fix the destination or make a replacement with the generator. Then set a reminder to repeat the check every few months.