Available on: Pro and Max plans
Overview
Pausing a QR code temporarily stops it from redirecting to your destination URL. Instead of deleting a code you might need again, you can pause it and reactivate it later with all your settings and history intact.
When to Pause a QR Code
Common scenarios for pausing:
- Promotion ended: A sale or offer has finished but might return
- Event concluded: Conference or event is over but you want to keep the data
- Content update needed: Destination page is being redesigned
- Seasonal campaigns: Holiday promotions between seasons
- Testing purposes: Temporarily stop redirects during troubleshooting
- Compliance hold: Need to pause while reviewing content
How Pausing Works
When a QR code is paused:
| What Happens | Details |
|---|---|
| Redirects stop | Scanners don’t reach your destination URL |
| Message displayed | Scanners see “This QR code is currently inactive” |
| History preserved | All existing scan data remains intact |
| QR image unchanged | The printed/shared QR code itself doesn’t change |
| Settings saved | All configuration remains for when you unpause |
Pausing a QR Code
- Go to QR Codes in the sidebar
- Click on the QR code you want to pause
- Find the Status or Tracking section
- Click Pause or toggle the status to paused
- Confirm the action
The QR code status will change to indicate it’s paused.
What Scanners See
When someone scans a paused QR code, they see a message page instead of being redirected:
This QR code is currently inactive
The content you’re looking for is temporarily unavailable.
You can customize this message in some plans:
- Go to the paused QR code’s settings
- Find Pause Message or Inactive Message
- Enter your custom text
- Save changes
Example custom messages:
- “This promotion has ended. Visit oursite.com for current offers.”
- “Check back soon—we’re updating our content.”
- “This event has concluded. Thanks for attending!”
Unpausing a QR Code
To reactivate a paused QR code:
- Go to QR Codes in the sidebar
- Click on the paused QR code (may be marked with a paused indicator)
- Find the Status section
- Click Resume or Unpause
- Confirm the action
Redirects start working immediately—no delay or propagation time.
Pausing vs Deleting
| Action | Redirects | Scan History | Settings | Recoverable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pause | Stopped | Kept | Kept | Yes (unpause) |
| Delete | Stopped | Lost | Lost | No |
Choose pausing when:
- You might need the QR code again
- You want to preserve analytics data
- The pause is temporary
- You’re troubleshooting an issue
Choose deleting when:
- The QR code is no longer needed
- You made an error and need to start fresh
- You want to free up QR code slots (on limited plans)
- The associated campaign is permanently finished
Pausing and Analytics
During Pause
- Scans are still recorded (someone scanned, even though they weren’t redirected)
- Analytics show the pause period
- You can track how many people attempted to scan during the pause
After Unpausing
- New scans add to the existing history
- No data is lost
- Analytics continue seamlessly
This is valuable for understanding:
- Ongoing interest in paused campaigns
- Whether printed materials are still being encountered
- When to reactivate seasonal content
Status Indicators
QR codes show their status visually:
| Status | Indicator | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Active | Green dot/badge | Redirecting normally |
| Paused | Yellow/orange dot | Temporarily disabled |
| Expired | Red dot | Past expiration date |
Check these indicators on the QR codes list and detail pages.
Combining with Other Features
Pausing + Expiration
If a QR code has both:
- Paused before expiration: Pause takes effect, scanners see pause message
- Expired while paused: Expiration takes over when it passes, scanners see expiration message
- Unpaused after expiration: Still expired, need to remove expiration first
Pausing + Scan Limits
If a QR code has both:
- Paused before limit: Pause takes effect
- Limit reached while paused: Scans during pause count toward limit
- Unpaused after limit: Limit still in effect
Troubleshooting
Pause not taking effect
- Refresh the QR code detail page
- Check that the change was saved
- Allow a moment for the system to update
Can’t find pause option
- Verify the QR code has tracking enabled (static codes can’t be paused)
- Check your subscription level
- Look for Status, Tracking, or Settings sections
Scanners still being redirected
- CDN caching may cause brief delays
- Verify the pause is actually saved
- Test with a fresh scan (not from browser history)