Do free QR codes expire?

If they are static, no: they never expire, whichever generator made them. If they are dynamic, how long they last depends on the terms of the service running the redirect; read them before you print.

Can you reactivate an expired dynamic QR code?

Usually yes, by reactivating the account or subscription with the same service, which turns the redirect back on. A static QR code has nothing to reactivate: only its destination page matters.

Can a printed QR code wear out?

Yes: scratched, faded or printed too small, it becomes unreadable. Print it dark on a light background, without glare, and large enough for the distance it will be scanned from.

Do QR codes expire?

The Fotelya team · Updated 11 September 2026

A static QR code has no expiry date: it contains the address or text itself, with no middleman, and works as long as it stays readable. It becomes useless, though, if the page it points to disappears. A dynamic QR code goes through a redirect link run by a service: it can stop working when a free trial or a subscription ends.

Static or dynamic: the difference that matters

A static QR code encodes the information itself: a page's full address, a phone number, a piece of text. Once printed, it depends on no service at all.

A dynamic QR code encodes a short address owned by the service that created it, which then redirects to your page. That is handy for changing the destination without reprinting, or for counting scans. But the code depends on that service: QR generator companies say so themselves, the redirect stops if the subscription is no longer paid, if the free trial ends or if a scan limit is reached.

Why does a QR code stop working?

The destination page was deleted or moved: the code leads to an error page.
The redirect behind a dynamic QR code was switched off by the service that created it.
The code is damaged, too small or low in contrast: it no longer scans. On a table card, aim for at least 3 cm (about 1.2 in) per side.

How can you tell whether a QR code is static?

Scan it with your phone's camera and look at the address shown before you open the page. If it is the destination's own address, the code is static. If it is a short address belonging to a QR code generator, the code is dynamic and depends on that service.

What about a Fotelya album's QR code?

A Fotelya album's QR code is static: it holds your album's address directly, with no redirect service and no subscription. It works as long as the album exists. The album itself has a storage period announced upfront, 30 days on the free plan, 6 months with Event, 12 months with Premium, after which it is deleted: download your photos before then.

For anything else, our QR poster generator creates a static QR code from any link for free, with no account.

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