QR code not scanning? How to fix it
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Why a QR code won't scan or shows “not active” or “expired”: contrast, logo size, print size, glare, phone settings and code status, with a fix for each.
A QR code that won't scan is usually one of three things: the phone can't read the pattern, the phone reads it but can't open it, or it opens and QR Crab shows a page saying the code isn't available. Work out which one you have, then use the matching fixes below.
- Nothing happens when you point the camera: a design or print problem (contrast, size, logo, margin, glare).
- The phone shows a notification but nothing loads: check the internet connection and what the code contains.
- A QR Crab page says “isn't active” or “has expired”: the code's status. It can be fixed in the dashboard without reprinting.
The phone doesn't react at all
This means the camera can't find or decode the pattern. First, open the code in the editor and look at the scan check under the preview. If it says May be hard to scan or Won't scan, the design is the problem: see Scan check: will my QR code scan?. If it says Scans well, the problem is in the print or the setting. Go through this list:
Low contrast
Phones need a clear difference between the dots and the background. Light colors, pastel gradients, a code printed on colored or kraft paper, or faded ink all lower it. Use dark dots (black, navy, dark brown) on white or a very light background.
Inverted colors
A light code on a dark background works in most modern phone cameras, but not in some scanner apps. For anything printed in quantity, use dark on light.
Logo too big
A logo covers part of the code, and error correction has to rebuild that part. Keep the logo's Size modest, set Error correction to High (30%) under Advanced, and keep Clear the dots behind the logo ticked.
No quiet zone
Phones need a blank border around the code to tell where it starts. If the code was cropped tight, or text, a photo or a pattern touches its edge, give it space. Set Margin (quiet zone) under Advanced and don't trim it off in your design app.
Too small, or too far away
A code that's fine on a business card can be useless on a poster across a room. Make it at least about 2 cm (0.8 in) wide for close-up use, and roughly one-tenth of the scanning distance for signs. Ask people to come closer, or reprint it larger. More on sizes in How to download and print your QR code.
Glare, curves and damage
Glossy laminate and shop windows reflect light right across the code; matte finishes are easier. Codes wrapped around bottles or cups bend out of shape, so put them on the flattest part or make them smaller relative to the curve. Creases, scratches, rain and smudged ink can break a code. Error correction helps a bit, but a damaged code needs replacing.
Too much content in a static code
Static codes that hold their content (a long text, a full contact card) have a denser pattern with tiny dots, which is harder to scan when printed small. The editor shows how full a static code is (“{n} of {max} bytes used”). Shorten the content, print it bigger, or make a trackable code instead: it only holds a short link, so the pattern stays simple whatever the content.
The phone itself
- Clean the camera lens, and hold the phone steady about 15–30 cm (6–12 in) from a small code, until the code fills a good part of the screen.
- Add light, but avoid shining it straight onto glossy print.
- On iPhone, QR scanning in the Camera app can be switched off. Check Settings → Camera → Scan QR Codes.
- On Android, it depends on the phone: most camera apps read QR codes directly, some need it switched on in the camera settings, and Google Lens works on almost all of them.
- Try a second phone. If one phone works and another doesn't, it's the phone or its app, not your code.
The phone reads it but nothing opens
- No internet: trackable codes, static link codes and hosted pages (menus, PDFs, coupons…) need a connection. Static Wi-Fi, contact, text, email, phone, SMS and event codes work offline.
- Wi-Fi code reads but doesn't connect: check the network name, password and Security type exactly, and tick Hidden network if the network is hidden. A static Wi-Fi code can't be edited after printing, so make a new one if the details changed. A trackable Wi-Fi code can be updated.
- It opens the wrong page: for a trackable code, open it, fix the content and click Save changes. The printed copies follow straight away. A static code can't be pointed elsewhere, so make a new one.
- The website itself is down: open the destination in a browser. Problems on the destination site aren't fixed by the QR code.
QR Crab shows “not active”, “expired” or a password page
These pages mean the code was read correctly and reached QR Crab, but its status stops it from opening:
| People see | Why | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| This QR code isn't active | The trackable code was switched off (shown as Paused in your list), the code was deleted, or it or its account was disabled by an administrator. | Tick Active under Name & link and click Save changes. A deleted code can't be restored: make a new one and reprint. If an admin disabled it, contact support. |
| This QR code has expired | On Pro, the code reached the date in Stops working after or the number in Max scans. | Under Options → Expiry & scan limit, clear or change the date or the limit, then save. |
| This page is protected | The code has a password (Pro). | Share the password, or tick Remove the password under Options. |
Hitting your monthly scan limit never stops a code: extra scans just aren't counted. Codes locked after a downgrade keep working too. If you move from Pro to a lower plan, saved passwords, expiry dates and scan limits stop being applied, so those codes open normally.
Common questions
My code worked yesterday and now says “This QR code isn't active”. Why?
Someone switched it off, deleted it, or it was disabled. Open it in your dashboard: a Paused badge means the Active box is off, and Disabled by admin means we switched it off. If it's no longer in your list, it was deleted, and a deleted trackable or static link code can't be brought back.
Do my codes stop working when I go over my plan's monthly scans?
No. Codes keep working for everyone who scans them. Scans above the monthly limit just aren't counted until the next month.
I downgraded and some codes say “Locked”. Do they still scan?
Yes. Locked codes keep working for people who scan them. Their scans aren't counted and you can't change their content until you upgrade or delete other codes. See What happens to my QR codes after I downgrade?.
Will people see ads when they scan my code?
No. QR Crab never shows ads to people who scan, on any plan. On the Free plan, hosted pages show a small “Made with” badge.
Can I fix a printed code without reprinting it?
If it's trackable and the problem is where it goes (wrong link, expired page, switched off), yes: edit it in the dashboard and the printed copies follow. If the problem is the print itself (too small, low contrast, damaged), you need to reprint.