The 'my code expired' myth
When someone says their QR code expired, almost always one of three things happened. They used a generator whose 'free trial' created dynamic codes routed through the provider's server, which was switched off when the trial ended. They encoded a third-party short link that died with the shortening service. Or the code was fine but the page it pointed at was moved or deleted.
In all three cases the pattern was blameless — it still decodes to exactly what it always decoded. The thing that expired was the destination or the middleman.
How to check a code you already have
Decode it with the scanner here and read the URL. If the domain is the QR generator's own brand (rather than yours), it's a dynamic code rented from them, and its life is tied to your account there. If the URL is your own page, you hold the keys.
Making codes that outlive your website
For print that will live for years — signage, packaging, plaques — encode a short URL on your primary domain and maintain a redirect. Even through redesigns and platform migrations, one redirect rule keeps every printed code alive. It's a five-minute habit that has saved many a reprint.
Mistakes to avoid
- Free trials from subscription generators often disable codes at trial end — check before printing.
- Third-party short links add a second company that must stay in business.
- Deleting or moving the destination page kills the code's usefulness even though the pattern still scans.
Common questions
Will codes made here ever stop working?
No. The data is in the pattern and there is no service in the middle to switch off.
Can a QR code wear out?
The print can fade or get damaged — that's what error correction is for — but the encoded data never decays.
How do I make a code that expires on purpose?
Point it at a page you control and take the page down (or redirect it) when the offer ends.
Are dynamic codes a scam?
Not a scam — a rental. Just know you're renting, and decide whether printed material should depend on a subscription.