Do QR Codes Expire? The Complete Guide to QR Code Longevity

QR Code Expiration — Frequently Asked Questions

Do QR codes expire?

QR codes themselves don’t expire — the pattern of squares and dots is permanent once created. However, dynamic QR codes can stop working if the provider’s redirect service goes offline or your account lapses. Static QR codes never expire as long as the destination URL remains active. For long-term signage, pick a provider that doesn’t put an expiry date on codes: QRKIT never assigns one, and its free plan includes a dynamic QR code (which redirects for its first 100 scans each month, then resumes at the monthly reset) plus unlimited static codes.

Do Canva QR codes expire?

No, Canva QR codes don’t expire. However, Canva only generates static QR codes, which means you can’t edit the destination after creation or track scan analytics. If you need a QR code that never expires AND can be updated later, you’ll need a dynamic QR code from a provider like QRKIT.

Do Adobe Express QR codes expire?

No, Adobe Express QR codes don’t expire. Like Canva, Adobe Express creates static QR codes that are permanent but cannot be edited after generation. The QR code will work as long as the linked URL remains active.

Do Bitly QR codes expire?

Bitly doesn’t put an expiry date on its QR codes, and as of July 2026 its free codes aren’t scan-throttled either — free Bitly QR codes come with unlimited scans. The free-plan limit is how many you can make: two new QR codes per month, an allowance that resets each month rather than accumulating. Bitly changes its plans from time to time, so confirm the current terms on bitly.com before you commit to it. The thing to plan around either way is that every Bitly QR code is dynamic, so it redirects through Bitly’s servers — the printed code is permanent, but the redirect behind it is tied to your account.

Do Notion QR codes expire?

Notion doesn’t generate QR codes itself, so most people paste a code created elsewhere into their Notion page. The Notion URL stays active as long as the page exists, but the QR code’s longevity depends on whatever generator made it. Free generators with trial limits can stop working even though Notion is fine. If you’re putting a QR on printed material that points to a Notion doc, use a dynamic QR code so you can swap the destination later without reprinting.

Do Linktree QR codes expire?

Linktree generates a static QR code that points to your linktr.ee URL. The QR itself is permanent and works as long as your Linktree account is active. If your handle changes or you cancel, the code still scans but the page can 404. Pointing a dynamic QR at your Linktree URL is safer if you might switch bio link tools later.

Do GoDaddy QR codes expire?

GoDaddy bundles a QR code generator with its website products. Treat it like any bundled tool and check one thing before you print: whether the code you’re given is static or dynamic. That single fact decides what happens if you ever leave the platform — a static code keeps scanning to its destination no matter what becomes of your account, while a dynamic one redirects through the provider and stops the moment that account or service does.

Do static QR codes expire?

No. Static QR codes encode data directly into the code pattern. There’s no server or service in between — the data is physically embedded in the code. A static QR code will work forever as long as the content it links to (URL, text, etc.) remains valid.

How do I create a QR code that never expires?

Use a generator that doesn't attach an expiry date to codes. QRKIT never assigns one — no code you create is given a shut-off date, on any plan. Choose your QR code type, enter your content, customize the design, and generate. If permanence is the whole point, a static code is the safest choice: it carries the data itself, so nothing of ours sits in the middle and static codes are unlimited and uncapped on the free plan. The free plan also includes one dynamic code, which redirects for its first 100 scans each month and resumes at the monthly reset.

What’s the difference between a static and dynamic QR code?

A static QR code embeds data directly into the code pattern — it can't be changed after creation, but it never expires. A dynamic QR code redirects through a server, allowing you to update the destination, track scans, and set expiration dates — but it depends on the provider's service staying active.

Can I set a QR code to expire on a specific date?

Yes, on the Plus plan and above. QRKIT's expiration rules let you set an expiry date or a scan limit on a dynamic QR code, and you can write the message scanners see once the condition is met, in place of the original destination. This is useful for time-limited promotions, events, or security compliance. Deliberate expiration is not available on the Free or Starter plan.

Do free QR codes expire?

It depends entirely on the provider, and the terms are where the answer lives. Some free generators hand you a trial code that stops redirecting after a set number of days unless you upgrade; others, like Bitly, don’t date-limit free codes at all but cap how many you can create. The two things worth checking before you print anything are whether the code has a shut-off date and whether the free tier throttles scans. QRKIT never gives a code an expiry date; its free-plan limit is volume, not time — one dynamic code that redirects for its first 100 scans each month, plus unlimited static codes that nothing can throttle.

Why did my QR code stop working?

Start by working out which half is broken, because the two have completely different fixes. Point your phone at the code: if it reads the code and offers you a link, the symbol is fine and the failure is at the other end — the page moved or was deleted, or the redirect behind a dynamic code is no longer active. If the phone won't recognise it at all, nothing has expired; that's a print, damage, contrast, or size problem. This page breaks out the five common causes in detail, and there's a step-by-step walkthrough in QR Code Not Working.

Is there a free QR code generator with no expiration?

Yes. QRKIT puts no expiry date on any code type, free or paid, and there's no trial clock — a code you made a year ago still resolves today. What the free plan limits is volume rather than time: unlimited static codes with no scan cap, plus one dynamic code that redirects for its first 100 scans each month and starts redirecting again at the monthly reset. You need a free account to download your code.