Do QR Codes Expire? Static vs Dynamic, Explained

No, a QR code itself never expires. A static QR code stores your link directly in the black-and-white pattern and keeps working as long as the destination exists. A dynamic QR code points to a short link run by a provider, so it stops working when that provider switches it off, usually because a free trial ended, a subscription lapsed or a scan limit was hit.

So "do QR codes expire?" is really two questions: which kind of code do you have, and who controls the link inside it? This guide shows you how to check in under a minute, what Canva, Adobe Express and Bitly actually say about their codes, and what to do if a printed code has already stopped working.

Why "do QR codes expire" has two answers

A QR code is just a way of writing text, usually a web address, as a pattern a camera can read. The pattern has no clock and no expiry date. What can break is the chain behind it.

Static QR codes contain the final destination, for example https://yourbakery.com/menu. Your phone reads the address and opens it. No third party is involved, so no one can turn the code off. The downside: you can't change the destination after printing.

Dynamic QR codes contain a short link, for example https://short.example/abc12. When someone scans, the provider's server looks up where that short link should go and forwards the visitor. That's what makes the destination editable and scans trackable, but it also means the code only works while the provider keeps that redirect running.

If you want the full comparison, read our guide to static and dynamic QR codes.

Why did my QR code stop working?

When a printed code suddenly leads nowhere, it's almost always one of these causes:

1. The free trial ended. This is the most common trap. Some generators create dynamic codes by default during a trial, then deactivate them or show an "upgrade" page once the trial runs out. You printed 2,000 flyers; now every scan lands on the generator's sales page.
2. The subscription was cancelled or a payment failed. Many providers switch off dynamic codes when the account is no longer paid. Check the provider's terms for what happens on cancellation, not only its pricing page.
3. A scan limit was reached. Some plans cap the number of scans per month or in total. Once the cap is hit, the code stops redirecting.
4. Someone deleted the code or the short link. In a shared account, a teammate may have cleaned up "old" links.
5. An expiry date was set on purpose. Several tools let you schedule a dynamic code to stop working, which is useful for limited offers but easy to forget.
6. The destination itself died. This affects static codes too: the page was deleted, the website was relaunched with new URLs, the shared Google Drive file was made private, or the domain was not renewed.
7. The code can't be read. Faded print, a glossy surface, a code that's too small or too low-contrast. That's not expiry, but it looks the same to the person scanning. See 13 reasons a QR code won't scan.

How to tell if your QR code is static or dynamic

You don't need any special tool. Do this check before you print, and again on any code you inherited from an agency or a previous colleague.

1. Open your phone's camera and point it at the code. Don't tap the link yet.
2. Read the link preview. Both iPhone and Android show the address before opening it. Some third-party scanner apps show the full URL as text.
3. Look at the domain.
   • If it's your own website (or the final page you meant to share), the code is static. It will not expire, but it depends on that page staying online.
   • If it's a short domain of a QR generator or link shortener, the code is dynamic. It depends on that provider keeping your account and link active.
4. Open the link and watch the address bar. A dynamic code will briefly hop through the short domain and then land on the final page. If you see an ad, a "this code is inactive" message or an upgrade prompt, the provider has already switched it off.
5. Find the account it belongs to. For a dynamic code, note which provider runs the short domain and check who has the login. A code nobody can log in to is a code nobody can fix.
6. Check the plan status and limits in that account: trial end date, scan caps, renewal date and any scheduled expiry date.

Do QR codes expire on Canva?

According to Canva's help centre, Canva offers two QR code tools. Static codes have a fixed link that can't be edited. Dynamic codes let you change the destination later. Canva says its QR codes do not expire unless you set an expiry date, and setting one is only available for dynamic codes on Canva Business, Enterprise and Nonprofit plans. When an expiry date passes, scanners go to a URL you chose or to Canva's generic error page.

Two practical notes from the same help page: you can't convert a static Canva code into a dynamic one (or the other way round), and dynamic codes on Free and Pro plans include the Canva logo by default.

Do Adobe QR codes expire?

Adobe's help page on adding QR codes in Adobe Express says QR codes made in Adobe Express never expire, and that they are static. That's consistent: there's no redirect to switch off. The trade-off is that if your URL changes, you need to generate a new code and reprint.

Do Bitly QR codes expire?

Bitly's support article Do Bitly Codes ever expire? states that Bitly QR codes never expire on their own. A Bitly code stops working if you delete it or the short link it's attached to. Bitly's product page adds that paid plans can set an expiration date on purpose. If you use a custom domain with Bitly, the code keeps working only as long as that domain's DNS still points to Bitly and the domain stays attached to an account.

Other tools work differently, and terms change. Whatever generator you use, the safe habit is the same: read what its help pages say happens on cancellation, downgrade and deletion before you print.

How to make a QR code that won't stop working

For things that never change, use a static code pointing to a page you own. A business card that links to your homepage or a WiFi code for your shop doesn't need a redirect. Make it static and it can't be switched off.

Point static codes at a URL you control, not at a file share. Link to yourdomain.com/menu rather than directly to a PDF in a cloud folder. If the menu changes, you swap the file on your website and the printed code still works. This is the closest thing to a dynamic code without a provider.

For campaigns, packaging and anything printed in volume, use a dynamic code from a provider whose free tier doesn't time out. You get to fix typos, swap seasonal offers and see scan statistics, without the risk that a trial quietly ends.

Keep your domain renewed. An expired domain breaks static and dynamic codes alike, and someone else can register it and redirect your visitors.

Test before every print run. Scan the proof, not just the screen version, on at least one iPhone and one Android phone. Our QR link best practices cover size, contrast and short URLs.

Free QR code generator, no expiration: what to look for

"Free and never expires" is easy to promise and hard to check. Here's what actually matters:

• Scan limits: Are scans unlimited, or capped per month? A cap is an expiry date in disguise.
• What happens after the trial: Do your codes keep working on the free tier, or does the trial create codes that only work while you pay?
• What happens on downgrade or cancellation: Are codes deleted, deactivated, or paused and restorable?
• Static option: Can you create a plain static code when you don't need tracking?
• Who owns the short domain: On most plans it's the provider's. Some paid plans let you use your own domain, which makes it easier to stay in control long term.

How QR Cloud handles this, honestly: QR Cloud creates both static and dynamic codes across 17 QR code types (URL, vCard, WiFi, PDF, event, location and more). Scans are unlimited on every plan, including free. Static codes keep working forever, even if you cancel. On a downgrade or cancellation, dynamic codes above the free limits are paused rather than deleted, so you can reactivate them later. While a code is paused, it doesn't redirect, so if a printed code matters, keep it within your plan's limits. The free plan covers 3 QR codes and 3 dynamic links; Pro and Expert add more codes and longer statistics history, and Expert adds your own custom domain in the short link.

What to do if your printed QR code already stopped working

1. Scan it and identify the domain (see the checklist above).
2. If it's a dynamic code: log in to the provider, check whether the code is inactive, paused, expired or over a scan limit, and reactivate it if you can. Updating the plan is often cheaper than reprinting.
3. If you can't access the provider account: you can't change where that short link goes. Only the provider controls it. Plan a reprint and use a code you control this time.
4. If it's a static code to a dead page: restore the page at the same address, or set up a redirect from the old URL to the new one on your website. The printed code works again immediately.
5. If the domain expired: renew it as soon as possible, before someone else registers it.
6. When you reprint, decide on purpose between static (permanent, uneditable) and dynamic (editable, depends on the provider), and write down which account owns the code.

The short version

QR codes don't expire by themselves. Static codes last as long as their destination. Dynamic codes last as long as the provider keeps the redirect running, so the real question is what your provider does after a trial, a downgrade or a cancellation. Scan your code, read the domain, and you'll know which risk you're dealing with.