Why is my QR code not scanning on iPhone?

Check that the camera app is allowed to scan codes (Settings, Camera, Scan QR Codes), that the code is big enough for the distance and has a blank margin, and that the lighting is not casting glare. Bitly lists disabled scanner permissions among the common causes.

How big should a QR code be?

Bitly gives at least 1 inch for every 10 inches of scanning distance, and 2 cm by 2 cm at arm’s length. Bigger is safer on a curved or glossy surface.

Why does my QR code say it is inactive or expired?

It is a dynamic code and the vendor switched off its redirect, typically when a free trial or paid plan ended. Static codes do not do this.

Can a QR code stop scanning after a few months?

The pattern does not change, but paper fades and gets scuffed, and a dynamic code can be switched off. The fix is a fresh print for the first, an editable code with no plan to lapse for the second.

Answer

QR code not scanning? Start here

Most codes that will not scan have a print problem: too small, too little contrast, no blank margin or a blurry file. If the phone does see the code but the page fails to load, the link is dead or the code was a dynamic one that was switched off. Work through the list in that order.

Step 1: does the camera see the code at all?

If nothing happens when you point the camera, it is almost always the print:

Size: Bitly says a code should be at least 1 inch for every 10 inches of scanning distance, and 2 cm by 2 cm at arm’s length. QR Code Generator PRO also gives 2 cm by 2 cm as the minimum.
Blank margin: leave a margin of at least four modules (the little squares) on every side. Text, borders and photos that crowd the edge stop the scanner from finding the code.
Contrast: dark modules on a light background. Black on white scans best, and inverted codes (light on dark) fail on many scanners.
Resolution: export at 300 dpi or more, or use SVG for print. A stretched small PNG goes blurry.
Density: a long link in a static code makes the pattern crowded. Shorten the link, or use a code that points to a short link.
Damage and glare: the three corner squares must be intact, and glossy paper or glass can blank out part of the code.

Step 2: the camera sees it but the page fails

Now it is the destination. Open the link by hand. If it is a 404, fix the page or make a new code. If the link opens fine on your phone but not for others, check the share setting (Drive, Canva and Notion links default to private).

Step 3: it worked before and stopped

A code that used to work and now lands on a vendor page or says “inactive” is usually a dynamic code whose trial or plan ended. The pattern is fine; the vendor switched off the redirect behind it. Paste the code’s link into the checker below to see whether it runs on a service known to do that.

Check your own code

Paste the link or upload a picture. We follow the redirects and say whether it runs on a service known to switch codes off. Nothing is stored. Launch price €6.30 until 22 November 2026, then €9.

Sources

Read from the vendors’ own pages on 4 November 2026.

Questions people ask

Why is my QR code not scanning on iPhone?: Check that the camera app is allowed to scan codes (Settings, Camera, Scan QR Codes), that the code is big enough for the distance and has a blank margin, and that the lighting is not casting glare. Bitly lists disabled scanner permissions among the common causes.
How big should a QR code be?: Bitly gives at least 1 inch for every 10 inches of scanning distance, and 2 cm by 2 cm at arm’s length. Bigger is safer on a curved or glossy surface.
Why does my QR code say it is inactive or expired?: It is a dynamic code and the vendor switched off its redirect, typically when a free trial or paid plan ended. Static codes do not do this.
Can a QR code stop scanning after a few months?: The pattern does not change, but paper fades and gets scuffed, and a dynamic code can be switched off. The fix is a fresh print for the first, an editable code with no plan to lapse for the second.