Do QR codes expire?
Static QR codes never expire. The destination is encoded directly in the black-and-white pattern, so there is no server to switch off — the code keeps working as long as the page it points to exists. Dynamic QR codes work as long as the redirect behind them is active, which means while the plan that powers them is current. So "do QR codes expire?" depends entirely on which type you made.
Why static QR codes never expire
A static code stores the link itself in the pattern. Nothing phones home, nothing is hosted, nothing renews. A code you download from qrcode.io has no expiry date and no scan limit — print it once and it scans forever, even if you never return to the site.
When dynamic QR codes can stop working
A dynamic code relies on a redirect the provider hosts. If the subscription lapses or the provider shuts the redirect off, the code stops resolving — the pattern is fine, but the link behind it is gone. That is the trade-off for being able to edit the destination and track scans.
How to make a QR code that never expires
Create a static QR code pointing at a stable URL you control, and download it as SVG or high-resolution PNG. On qrcode.io that is free, needs no account, and never expires. Avoid tools that route static codes through their own redirect, which can lapse like a dynamic code.
Create a free QR code that never expires
Frequently asked questions
Do free QR codes expire?
No. A free static QR code encodes your link directly in the pattern, so there is nothing to switch off — it keeps scanning as long as the destination exists, even if you never return to the generator. Codes downloaded from qrcode.io have no expiry date and no scan limit.
Why did my QR code stop working?
A static code itself does not expire, so the usual cause is the destination: a deleted page, a dead link, or a dynamic code on a lapsed plan whose redirect was switched off. Check the link first; if it loads in a browser, the code is fine.
How do I make a QR code that never expires?
Use a static QR code pointing at a stable URL you control, and download it as SVG or high-resolution PNG. On qrcode.io that is free, needs no account, and never expires. Avoid generators that route static codes through their own redirect, which can lapse.