Adding Expiration Dates to QR Codes

Available on: Pro and Max plans

Overview

QR code expiration allows you to set a date and time after which scanning the QR code will display a custom message instead of redirecting to the destination URL. This is useful for time-limited promotions, event tickets, or temporary access links.

Requirements

• Dynamic QR Code: Expiration is only available for QR codes with tracking enabled (dynamic QR codes)
• Subscription: Pro or Max plan required for analytics features

Adding an Expiration Date

1. Navigate to QR Codes in the left sidebar

2. Click on the QR code you want to edit to open its detail page

3. Find the Expiration card (only visible for tracked/dynamic QR codes)

4. Click Add Expiration button

5. In the “Edit Expiration” modal:

   • Expiration Date & Time: Click “Pick a date” to select when the QR code should expire
   • Custom Message (optional): Enter a message to display when someone scans the QR code after it expires (e.g., “This promotion has ended”)

6. Click Save Expiration to apply

Note: You can also add an expiration during the QR code creation process.

Editing an Existing Expiration

1. Navigate to the QR code’s detail page
2. In the Expiration card, click Edit Expiration
3. Modify the date/time or custom message
4. Click Save Expiration

Removing an Expiration

1. Navigate to the QR code’s detail page
2. In the Expiration card, click Edit Expiration
3. Click Remove Expiration to remove the expiration date entirely

The QR code will now work indefinitely.

Understanding Expiration Status

The Expiration card shows different states:

Status	Display
No expiration set	”This QR code does not have an expiration date set.”
Active with expiration	”Expires on [date]” with an orange indicator
Expired	”Expired on [date]” with a red indicator

What Happens When a QR Code Expires

When someone scans an expired QR code:

1. They will NOT be redirected to the destination URL
2. Instead, they will see your custom expiration message (or a default message if none was set)
3. The scan is still recorded in analytics (if tracking is enabled)

Important Notes

• Expiration dates must be at least 15 minutes in the future when setting
• Expiration only works with dynamic QR codes (tracking enabled)
• Static QR codes cannot have expiration dates because the URL is encoded directly in the QR pattern
• The expiration applies to the scanning behavior—the QR code image itself doesn’t change

Use Cases

• Limited-time promotions: Automatically end a sale or discount
• Event tickets: Invalidate tickets after an event date
• Temporary access: Provide time-limited access to content or locations
• Seasonal campaigns: Expire holiday or seasonal marketing materials
• Contest entries: Close contest submissions after a deadline

Next Steps

• Set scan limits on QR codes
• Enable scan tracking
• View your analytics