Guide
Why printed QR codes go dead when you cancel — and how cancel-to-static fixes it
A dynamic QR code doesn't store your real link in the printed pattern — it stores a short redirect link that forwards to wherever you point it. That's what lets you change the destination without reprinting. The catch: if the company that runs the redirect deletes it when you stop paying, every sticker, flyer, and sign you printed stops working. MyQR's cancel-to-static is built to prevent that — when paid plans launch, a paid code keeps redirecting to its last destination even after you cancel.
Why does a printed QR code stop working when I cancel?
Because a dynamic code points at a short redirect link the provider hosts, not at your real page. If they delete that redirect when your subscription ends, the printed pattern still scans but lands on nothing.
Here's the chain. A dynamic QR code is printed once, and the pattern encodes a short link like a forwarding address. When someone scans it, that short link looks up your real destination and sends them there. You never reprint the code to change where it goes — you just update the destination behind the short link. That's the whole point of dynamic, and it's why dynamic codes beat static ones for anything you put on paper.
But the short link lives on the provider's servers. If they treat it as a paid feature and remove it the moment you stop paying, the printed code becomes a dead end. The camera still reads the pattern fine — there's just nothing on the other side. Every sign you already printed is now scrap.
What is cancel-to-static, and how does it prevent dead codes?
Cancel-to-static means that if you stop paying for a dynamic code, MyQR freezes it on its last destination and keeps redirecting there instead of deleting it. The printed code keeps working — it just can't be re-pointed anymore.
Think of it as a safety net under the redirect. While you're a paying customer, the code is fully dynamic: change the destination, update a promotion, fix a typo, anytime. If the subscription ever lapses, MyQR doesn't pull the rug — it locks the code to whatever you pointed it at last and keeps forwarding scans there. You lose the ability to edit it, but you never lose the codes you already printed and placed.
When paid plans launch, if a paid dynamic code ever loses its subscription, MyQR keeps it redirecting to its last destination — that's cancel-to-static. No re-pointing after that, but every scan still lands where you left it. See exactly what happens on cancel in our help article.
Paid plans aren't live yet — everything on MyQR is free today — but the free tracked QR you can make on the homepage already runs on this same redirect model, no signup required.
How do other QR tools handle cancellation?
It varies, and it's worth checking before you print at scale. In our 2026 review of two competitors' public sites, one says it deletes your data on cancellation and one pauses your codes — neither keeps a paid code redirecting the way cancel-to-static does.
These notes come from our own review of each company's public site and terms, captured around May 2026. Policies change, so treat them as a snapshot and confirm the current terms before you rely on them.
| What happens on cancel | Cancel friction | |
|---|---|---|
| MyQR | Cancel-to-static: paid dynamic code keeps redirecting to its last destination | One-click cancel, no save-offer loops; one-click data export and instant account deletion |
| QR Tiger | Terms state data is deleted from servers after cancellation; no cancel-to-static observed | Terms state a 15-day notice is required before the term ends |
| qr.io | Refund policy states codes go into 'paused' mode and can be reactivated by resubscribing | Public email-only cancel form exists; in-dashboard cancel requires a paid membership |
Swipe the table sideways to see more →
On QR Tiger, as of our 2026 review, the terms we read stated plainly that your data is deleted from the servers after cancellation, and we saw no cancel-to-static behavior — so a paid dynamic code stops redirecting once you cancel. The terms we reviewed also described a 15-day notice requirement before the end of a term. See the full breakdown in our MyQR vs QR Tiger comparison.
On qr.io, as of our 2026 review, the refund policy described codes going into a 'paused' mode after cancellation, reactivatable by resubscribing. That's gentler than deletion, but a paused code still doesn't redirect — so a scanner hits a stopped code until you start paying again. It's not the same as a code that keeps forwarding on its own.
Does cancel-to-static apply to free QR codes too?
MyQR's free dynamic codes work on the same redirect model and don't expire. Cancel-to-static specifically protects paid dynamic codes if you ever stop paying, so the codes you printed under a paid plan keep working.
The free tier is free to use, not a trial that quietly switches off your codes later. You get one dynamic QR code, a landing page, full scan analytics, custom shapes, and printable stickers at no cost. There's no card to start and nothing that flips your free dynamic code dead after a clock runs out.
Cancel-to-static is the protection on top of that for paid plans, which are coming at launch — an early-bird rate around $5/mo that isn't finalized yet. It exists so that scaling up to a paid plan never means your printed codes are stuck behind your next invoice. See where things are headed on pricing.
What should I check before printing QR codes at scale?
Confirm three things: that your dynamic code never expires, what the provider does to your code if you cancel, and how hard it is to cancel and get your data out. Cancel-to-static answers the first two; one-click cancel and export answer the third.
- 1.Does the dynamic code expire? Some 'free' generators quietly kill dynamic codes after a trial. A code printed on 500 flyers shouldn't have an expiry date.
- 2.What happens to the code if you cancel? This is the one most people miss. Deletion or a permanent 'pause' means dead printed codes. Cancel-to-static means they keep working.
- 3.Can you cancel and leave cleanly? Look for a real one-click cancel with no save-offer loops, plus a way to export your scan data and delete your account without a fight. MyQR uses magic-link sign-in, one-click CSV export, and instant account deletion.
If you want to know what those scans actually tell you once codes are out in the world, here's what scan data you get and a plain-English take on how many scans count as good. MyQR's scan data is coarse and pseudonymous — it doesn't store the scanner's raw IP address — and the full details of how your data is handled live in the Privacy Policy.
Frequently asked questions
If I cancel, can I still change where my QR code points?
No. Cancel-to-static keeps a paid dynamic code redirecting to its last destination, but it freezes that destination — re-pointing is a paid feature. If you need to change where a frozen code goes, you'd resubscribe or print a new code.
Will my scan analytics keep recording after I cancel?
A cancel-to-static code keeps redirecting scanners to your page, so the link itself stays alive. The editing and analytics features come with a paid plan, and you can export your scan history to CSV in one click before you go.
Is this only for paid codes?
Cancel-to-static is the protection for paid dynamic codes if a subscription lapses. MyQR's free dynamic code runs on the same redirect model and doesn't expire, so the free tier doesn't have a 'goes dead on cancel' problem in the first place.
Can I try MyQR right now?
Yes. The free QR generator on the homepage is open to everyone — no signup needed to make a tracked code. And accounts are open and free: create one to save your codes and see their full scan history.
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Create a free MyQR account and everything here is yours at no cost: a QR code you can re-point anytime without reprinting, a landing page, full scan analytics, custom shapes, and sticker printing. Paid plans are coming; today it's just free.