Question 1

Do QR codes expire?

Accepted Answer

The code image never expires; the black-and-white pattern is just data. What can "expire" is the service behind a dynamic code. A lot of generators switch codes off when a 7-14 day free trial or a lapsed subscription ends, so the printed code stops reaching its destination. Static codes you make on TheQRCode.io work forever, and our free-tier dynamic codes aren't on a trial clock, so they keep redirecting.

Question 2

Are your QR codes really permanent?

Accepted Answer

Static codes encode their content directly into the pattern, so they depend on no server and no subscription and keep working forever, even if you delete your account. Dynamic codes keep redirecting on every plan, including free, and after a subscription ends — we do not deactivate a code you have already printed to push you into upgrading. A lapsed subscription locks editing, not redirecting.

Question 3

What is the difference between static and dynamic QR codes?

Accepted Answer

A static code has your content (a URL, WiFi password, contact card) baked into the pattern. It's permanent and free, but you can't change or track it once it's printed. A dynamic code uses a short redirect, so you can change the destination anytime and see scan analytics (device, location, time). Both are permanent here; dynamic just adds editing and tracking.

Question 4

Can I edit a QR code after I have printed it, without it expiring?

Accepted Answer

That's exactly what a dynamic code is for. The printed pattern stays the same and never expires; you just point it at a new destination from your dashboard. Update a menu, a landing page, or a promo whenever you want, with no reprinting.

Question 5

Do your free QR codes expire?

Accepted Answer

No. The free plan includes 10 QR codes and 1,000 scans a month, with no time limit and no credit card, and static codes made on it are permanent. You also get 1 dynamic code to try. We earn from paid plans ($9-$29/month) that make every code dynamic, add full analytics, and API access, not from switching off your free codes.

Question 6

What happens to my QR codes if I cancel a paid plan?

Accepted Answer

They keep working. Every code you have printed carries on redirecting to wherever it already points; nothing is deleted and no code is switched off. The account returns to the free plan, so one dynamic code stays editable and the rest become read-only — still scannable, still redirecting, just not editable until you subscribe again. Scans above the free plan's 1,000 a month still redirect, they simply stop being recorded, and the dashboard shows the last 30 days. Your earlier scan history is kept and comes back if you subscribe again. Static codes are not affected at all: they encode their content into the pattern, so there is no redirect behind them to switch off.

Question 7

How do I track scans on a permanent QR code?

Accepted Answer

Make a dynamic code and every scan is recorded in real time (device type, location, time of day) for as long as the code exists. Since the code never expires, you keep getting analytics on printed materials months or years later, which static codes can't do.

Question 8

Why do some "free" QR codes stop working?

Accepted Answer

Several popular generators let you create dynamic codes during a short free trial, then disable them once it ends, often after you've already printed them, unless you pay $35-$50/month. We built TheQRCode.io to avoid that: a genuinely free tier, clear pricing, and codes that stay live.

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"Do QR Codes Expire?" The Honest Answer

Static = permanent

Dynamic = permanent + editable

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