The pattern itself does not have a timer
A QR image is simply encoded information. If it directly contains a working web address, the printed pattern does not suddenly expire on a date. Problems usually come from what the QR points to or from the service used to create it.
Why a working QR can later fail
The destination page may be deleted, the domain may lapse, a redirect service may be disabled, or a subscription-based QR provider may stop forwarding scans. Physical damage and poor print quality can also make a code difficult to read.
Static and managed QR codes
A static QR typically encodes its final URL directly. A managed or dynamic QR often points first to a redirect that can later send visitors somewhere else. Redirects provide flexibility, but they also introduce another service that needs to remain available.
For menus, stability matters
Restaurants reprint table cards, stickers, posters and counter signs. A stable menu URL lets you change menu content behind the same address, reducing the chance that a routine menu update forces you to replace every printed QR.
Before a large print run
Test the final production URL, not a temporary preview link. Scan the exported artwork after it has been placed into the actual table-card design. Confirm the domain is one you control or a service you expect to keep using.
Related: QR printing and testing checklist →
Keep the original asset
Store a high-quality SVG or PNG of the approved QR and record the destination it represents. This avoids accidentally mixing old and new codes when staff reorder printed material months later.
Review occasionally
A permanent QR should still be checked. Add QR scanning to a simple monthly opening or marketing checklist, and always retest after domain, hosting or menu-system changes.
Related: QR code security routine →
Your menu can change. Your QR doesn't have to.
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