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Do QR codes expire?
The image itself never expires. A QR code printed in 2010 still decodes to exactly the same text today. What breaks is what's at the other end — and that depends on which kind of code you printed.
Static codes: the image is permanent, the link might not be
A static code is just encoded text, so it will decode forever. But if it encodes a URL, that URL can rot: the domain lapses, the page moves, the host shuts down. The code still works perfectly and delivers your reader to a 404.
This is the most common form of 'expired QR code' — a code doing its job flawlessly, pointing at something that no longer exists.
Dynamic codes: they last as long as the service does
A dynamic code depends on someone continuing to run a redirect. If that company folds, gets acquired and sunset, or you stop paying, the code can stop working — while the printed image is still perfect.
Before you print in volume, ask two questions: what happens to my codes if I stop paying, and can I move them to my own domain later? A provider that deactivates codes the moment a card fails is a provider that can brick your packaging over an expired card.
Codes that expire on purpose
Some services let you set an expiry deliberately — for event tickets, time-limited offers or seasonal campaigns. That's a feature, not decay, and it's worth checking you haven't set one by accident if a code stops working unexpectedly.
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Questions
Do free QR codes expire?
A free static code doesn't — it's a permanent encoding of whatever text you gave it. Be more careful with 'free dynamic' offers: the redirect costs someone money to run indefinitely, and free tiers are the first thing to go.
Why has my QR code stopped working?
Usually the destination, not the code. Scan it and read the URL: if the page is gone, the code is fine and the link is dead. If it's a short link showing an error, the redirect service is the problem.
How long do printed QR codes last physically?
As long as the print does. Sun, rain and abrasion degrade the contrast until cameras can't read it — outdoor signage is the usual casualty. Laminate outdoor codes, and use high error correction so damage is survivable.
Related
- Dynamic vs static QR codes — A static QR code has the destination baked into the image. A dynamic one points at a link you control. Here's when each is the right call.
- Why isn't my QR code scanning? — Printed QR code won't scan? It's almost always size, contrast, quiet zone or finish. Work through these in order.
- QR codes for real estate yard signs — One sign, a new listing every few weeks. Make a QR code you can re-point to the next property instead of reprinting riders.