Why your QR code stopped working (and how to make one that never expires)

What changed

Before and after

From a print shop's account (Jul 2026) and a June 2026 report on QR generators:

WhatBeforeNow

Static QR codeThe link is inside the patternWorks as long as your web page exists

Dynamic QR codePoints to the generator's redirect linkStops working if the service ends or you stop paying

Typical 'free' generatorOften makes dynamic codesSome deactivate them after a 7- or 14-day trial or a scan cap

Dynamic codes are useful if you need to change the destination after printing or count scans, and a paid plan can be worth it then. For most printed codes, a static code is simpler and can't be switched off.

Your options

Three reasonable paths

Pay for dynamic codes. Useful if you need scan stats or to change the link after printing.
Make static codes. Free forever: no account, nothing to renew, nothing to switch off.
Check codes you already printed. If a code points to a generator's short link, it's dynamic. Plan to replace it.

That last option is Forever QR

Static QR codes for links, Wi-Fi, contacts and events, with a built-in scan test, print-ready label sheets and bulk creation from a list. Free, no account, and the codes can never be switched off.

A static code can't be edited after printing and has no scan stats. That's the trade-off for never expiring.

Open Forever QR See all features

Before you switch

Practical tips

Scan your printed codes and look at the address first shown: a generator's domain means it's dynamic.
Point codes at a page you control, so you can change the page itself later.
Test-scan before you print, in real light and at real size.

Sources

Product names belong to their owners. Harborlight and Forever QR are independent and not affiliated with them. Plans change; check each vendor's current page for the latest details.