Why Some Free QR Codes Stop Working (and How to Make One That Won't)

You print a QR code on a menu, a flyer, a business card — a few hundred copies. Months later someone scans it and gets an error page, or nothing at all. The code didn't wear out; the service behind it changed. It's one of the more expensive small mistakes in print, and it's entirely avoidable once you know why it happens.

The redirect trap

Many free QR generators don't encode your link directly. Instead they encode a short link on their domain that redirects to your URL. That lets them track scans — and, less helpfully, means your code only works as long as that company keeps the redirect alive. If they shut down, change pricing, move to a paid plan, or delete your account, every printed code you made stops working at once. You can't edit paper, so the whole print run is dead.

A QR code that encodes your destination directly has no middleman. There's nothing to expire, nothing to bill you for, and nothing that can be switched off. As long as the thing it points to exists, the code works.

How to make a permanent one

Our QR Code Generator encodes your content straight into the code — no redirect, no account, no tracking link in the middle. You can download it as a PNG for screens and most print, or as an SVG for large formats like posters and signage, where a vector stays sharp at any size. It's generated in your browser, so nothing is uploaded, and the code doesn't depend on us staying online.

Printing so it actually scans

Contrast — keep it dark on a light background; low contrast is the most common reason a code won't read.
Size — print it large enough for the scanning distance; tiny codes on a poster fail.
Quiet zone — leave clear white space around all four sides.
Test before the run — scan the final artwork with a couple of phones before you print hundreds of copies.

Frequently asked questions

Do these codes track how many people scan them?

No — and that's the point. Because the code encodes your content directly rather than a link on our domain, there's nothing to track and nothing that can expire. If you need analytics, that's a deliberate trade-off you'd make with a different kind of service.

PNG or SVG?

PNG for screens, documents and most printing; SVG when the code will be scaled large, since it's a vector and stays perfectly crisp at any size.

Is anything uploaded when I generate a code?

No. The code is created in your browser — nothing you type is sent to a server, and the code keeps working with no dependency on us.