Do QR Codes Expire? Everything You Need to Know

The Short Answer

No, QR codes themselves don't expire. The pattern of black and white squares that makes up a QR code is just encoded data—like text carved into stone. It doesn't have a built-in timer or self-destruct mechanism.

But here's where it gets a bit more complicated: what the code points to can absolutely expire or disappear. And that's where most of the confusion comes from.

Why People Think QR Codes Expire

I've heard this question dozens of times, usually from someone who scanned an old QR code and got an error page. They assume the code "expired," but that's rarely what actually happened.

Here's what usually went wrong:

The website went offline. If a QR code links to a URL and that website gets taken down, the code still works—it just leads nowhere useful. The code didn't expire; the destination did.

The company changed their URL structure. Websites get redesigned. Pages get moved. That product page from 2019 might now be at a completely different address. The QR code faithfully points to the old URL, which no longer exists.

A dynamic QR service was discontinued. This is the big one. If someone used a dynamic QR code service (where the code points to a redirect URL), and they stopped paying for that service or the company shut down, the redirect stops working. To the average person scanning the code, it looks like the code expired.

The promotion ended. Some businesses intentionally set up landing pages for limited-time offers. When the promotion is over, they take down the page. Again, the code works fine—it's the destination that's gone.

Static vs. Dynamic: The Expiration Factor

This is where the static vs. dynamic distinction really matters.

Static QR codes encode the destination directly into the code pattern. When you scan one, your phone reads that destination straight from the squares. There's no middleman, no redirect service, no server dependency. As long as your destination URL stays active, a static code will work indefinitely—we're talking decades, potentially longer than any of us will be around.

Dynamic QR codes route through a redirect service. Scan the code, it hits a redirect URL, that service forwards you to the final destination. This architecture enables cool features like scan analytics and the ability to change destinations. But it also introduces a dependency: if that redirect service goes down, your code breaks.

Most dynamic QR services are subscription-based. Stop paying, and your codes eventually stop redirecting. Some services give you a grace period; others cut you off immediately. Either way, there's a real expiration risk tied to your payment status.

How Long Do QR Codes Actually Last?

For static QR codes created with tools like Snapkit, the practical answer is: as long as the destination exists.

I've personally tested QR codes I created over eight years ago. They still scan perfectly. The technology hasn't changed in a way that would break backward compatibility—pretty much every smartphone camera and QR scanner app can read codes that were generated a decade or more ago.

The QR code specification itself dates back to 1994. Codes from the early days still work today. That's nearly 30 years of backward compatibility.

Now, here's a realistic consideration: your QR code is only as permanent as what it points to. If you're encoding a URL to your personal website and you let that domain expire in five years, your QR code will lead to a dead end (or worse, someone else's site if they buy the expired domain).

Making Your QR Codes Last

Want to ensure your QR codes stay functional for as long as possible? Here's what I recommend:

Use static codes for permanent applications. Business cards, signage, product packaging—anything you're printing in bulk should use static codes. You don't want those tied to a subscription service.

Point to URLs you control. Linking to your own domain means you control whether that page exists in the future. Linking to a third-party service (like a social media profile or an external landing page) means you're trusting them to keep that URL active.

Use stable URL structures. If you're linking to yoursite.com/products/widget-2026-limited-edition, that's more likely to break than yoursite.com/widget. Keep URLs simple and permanent-friendly.

Set up redirects when you change URLs. If you do need to move a page, set up a 301 redirect from the old URL to the new one. Your QR codes will still work because the old URL now forwards to the new location.

Avoid URL shorteners. Services like bit.ly are convenient, but you're adding a dependency. If that shortening service changes or disappears, your codes break. Just use your actual URL.

What About Codes for Temporary Purposes?

Sometimes you want a QR code with a limited lifespan. Event tickets, limited-time promotions, temporary Wi-Fi access—these are cases where expiration might be intentional.

For these scenarios, you have options:

• Take down the landing page when the event or promotion ends
• Use a dynamic QR service that lets you disable the redirect
• Simply let the URL lead to a "this offer has ended" message (better user experience than a 404 error)

But note that in all these cases, you're controlling the expiration through the destination, not the code itself.

The Bottom Line

QR codes don't expire on their own. Static codes work forever. Dynamic codes work as long as you maintain your subscription with the redirect service.

If someone tells you their QR codes "never expire," make sure you understand what type they're providing. A static code genuinely won't expire. A dynamic code's lifespan depends entirely on whether you keep paying for the service.

For most personal and small business uses, a free static QR code is the safest bet. Create one now with Snapkit—it'll still be working years from now, guaranteed by the laws of how data encoding works rather than by any company's uptime promise.