Will my QRCodeStack QR code expire or stop working?
Updated September 14, 2026 · 3 min read
We never expire a QR code on our own. Static codes have no expiry at all — nothing about them depends on your account. Dynamic codes keep redirecting for as long as your plan is active, and stop only for a reason you can see: the trial ended or the subscription lapsed, you archived the code, or you set an expiry date or a scan limit that has now been reached. Each of those shows the scanner a different page, so the reason is usually identifiable in one scan.
Static codes: never
A static code encodes its content directly in the pattern. A scanner reads the URL, the WiFi password or the phone number straight off the paper and never contacts us, so there is nothing we could switch off.
The only way a static code stops being useful is if what it points at goes away — a website you take down, a phone number you give up. The code itself keeps resolving to the same thing forever. There is also no scan history for static codes, for the same reason.
Dynamic codes: five things that stop one
A dynamic code sends every scan through us, so it depends on your account being in good standing and on the rules you set. These are the only things that stop one, and what the person scanning sees:
| Situation | What the scanner sees |
|---|---|
| Free trial ended, or a subscription lapsed or was cancelled | A page titled This page is taking a short break — "The code you scanned isn't active right now — please check back soon." It also offers you, the owner, a way to reactivate. |
| You archived the code | QR Code Unavailable |
| An Expires On date you set has passed | QR Code Expired — "This QR code is no longer active." |
| An Activates On date you set is still in the future | QR Code Not Yet Active — "This QR code will be available soon. Please try again later." |
| A Scan Limit you set has been reached | QR Code Unavailable — "This QR code has reached its maximum number of scans." |
Two more pages exist but are not expiry: QR Code Not Found means the code never existed on this account, and Link Disabled for Safety means the destination was flagged as phishing or malware. For the general question across every QR product, see do QR codes expire.
How to check a code's status
- Open the code from My QR Codes. The badge next to the name reads Active, Paused or Archived.
- Click Edit and open Rules & Limits on the Content step to see whether a Scan Limit or a Date Schedule is switched on.
- Check Billing under Settings if several codes stopped at once — a lapsed plan takes every dynamic code offline together, not one at a time.
- Scan the printed code with a phone. The page title tells you which of the five situations applies.
Your scan history is never deleted when a plan lapses. Analytics stay readable, and reactivating brings every code back at the same address.
Common problems
All my codes stopped on the same day
That is a plan problem, not a code problem. A trial that ran out or a payment that failed takes every dynamic code offline at once. See what happens when a subscription ends.
One code stopped and the rest are fine
Look for an archive, an expiry date or a scan limit on that code — see scheduling, pausing and scan limits.
The code works for me but not for a customer
That is rarely expiry. Check print size, contrast and damage first — a page-level error would show for you too.
Do I have to renew or re-register codes each year?
No. There is no per-code renewal, no registration to keep up, and no expiry clock running in the background.
Frequently asked questions
Do QRCodeStack codes have a built-in expiry date?
No. A code only expires if you set an Expires On date or a scan limit yourself.
What happens to my codes if I stop paying?
Dynamic codes stop redirecting and show a neutral "taking a short break" page. Your codes, settings and analytics stay in the account and start working again the moment the plan is active.
Do static codes stop when a plan ends?
No. Static codes do not touch our servers, so a lapsed plan makes no difference to them.
Can I remove an expiry date I already set?
Yes. Edit the code, open Rules & Limits, and switch Date Schedule off.
Does a scan limit count bots?
Obvious bot traffic is discarded before anything is counted. The limit is measured against recorded scans, which includes link previews and repeat hits as well as people.
Related articles
How does the 7-day free trial work, and what happens when it ends?
Seven days, no card, 5 dynamic QR codes and 25 short links with full downloads and the scan map. When it ends, codes stop redirecting until you subscribe.
What happens to my QR codes if my subscription ends?
Dynamic codes stop redirecting and scanners see a 'taking a short break' page. Nothing is deleted — subscribing again reactivates the same printed codes.
How do I schedule, pause, or cap the number of scans on a QR code?
Scan Limit and Date Schedule sit in Rules & Limits on the Content step and need Pro or Business. To pause a code on any plan, archive it.
Why does my QR code show Unavailable, Expired or Not Yet Active?
The page title tells you which setting stopped the scan: archived, paused, scan limit reached, a date schedule, a lapsed plan, a password, or a safety block.
Still stuck?
Email support@qrcodestack.com with the email on your account and, if it is about one code, its name or short link. A person replies within one business day, usually sooner.