Why did my QR code stop working?
Here are the common causes, how to tell which one you have, and what you can do about printed materials that are already out there.
01What should it open?
02Pick a style
03Brand it
04Preview and download
Static code: free forever, no watermark.
How to make it
- Scan the code and note where it goes. If it opens a page from the QR service (an error, "code inactive", or a sign-up page), the service switched it off.
- If it opens your own website with an error, the problem is the destination link, not the code: fix or restore that page.
- If phones don't react at all, it's a print problem: low contrast, too small, inverted colors, or a damaged surface.
1. The QR service deactivated it
Many generators create dynamic codes on free trials. The code contains the service's short link, not yours. When the trial ends or a payment fails, they turn that link off. Your options: pay that service to reactivate it, or print new codes. To avoid it next time, use static codes when the link won't change, or a dynamic code from a service that promises codes keep working after you cancel. QR Code Desk makes that promise.
2. The destination link is broken
If the code still redirects but the page is gone, the code is fine. Restore the page, or add a redirect on your website from the old address to the new one.
3. It can't be scanned
Common print problems: the code is too small for the scanning distance, the contrast is too low, the colors are inverted (light code on dark background), the quiet margin was cropped, or the surface is curved, glossy or damaged. Reprint with a dark code on a white background and a clear margin.
When to use a dynamic code
Use a dynamic code instead of a static one if the link might change. You print the code once, and change where it goes from your account at any time. You also see how many people scanned it, from which city and on which phone.
3 dynamic codes free. No card needed. Sign in with Google or a link by email.
Frequently asked questions
Can a QR code expire by itself?
No. The pattern doesn't change. A code stops working when the short link inside it is switched off, or the page it points to is gone.
How do I know if my code was a dynamic code?
Scan it and look at the address that opens first. If it starts with the QR service's domain rather than yours, it's a dynamic code that depends on that service.
Can I move an existing printed code to another service?
Not if it contains another service's short link: only that service controls where it goes. You'd need to reprint. Codes from our free generator contain your link directly, and our dynamic codes keep working even if you cancel.