QR Code Not Working? Here Are 6 Ways to Fix it

QR codes can be incredibly useful for sharing information with people. They are a low-tech solution with a large number of use cases. 

You can scan QR codes with your smartphone to access various information, such as web links, contacts, images, videos, documents, and PDFs.

But there can also be times when QR codes fail. 

It can be frustrating when you try to scan a QR code; it just doesn’t work even after multiple tries. But there are ways to fix this problem. 

Let’s look at the different ways to fix the QR codes not working error. 

Top reasons behind QR codes not working (and how to fix them)

1. 1. QR code is too small

When QR codes are too small, scanners can have difficulty encoding the information. This can directly affect the number of scans, leading to frustrated customers. The problem usually arises when you save the QR code image in a PNG or JPG format or screenshot the QR code instead of downloading it. 

How to fix it: QR code minimum size should be 2cm x 2cm, whether on printed material or digital screens. They should also not be so large that customers can’t scan them from a close distance. Getting test prints and ensuring QR codes function properly is always a good idea.

2. 2. QR code is too dark or placed in a dark environment

The QR code must be properly visible for camera phones to scan. If the surrounding light is too dim or weird, it can make QR codes unscannable. Similarly, if the QR code background blends with the actual code, smartphones may be unable to accurately detect all the black and white squares. 

How to fix it: Your QR code should be placed in a well-lit area. The background colors for your QR code shouldn’t be too dark or similar to the QR code colors. The pixels should stand out against the background and other designs in the code. 

3. 3. QR code is too blurry

Sometimes, the QR code looks good while designing it, but when you print it or display it on a wide digital screen, it gets pixelated and blurry. A blurry QR code is useless because people cannot scan it, no matter which QR code scanner app they use. QR codes usually get blurry when the dimensions of the QR code image are smaller than the required dimensions or the image quality is low. 

How to fix it: Download high-quality QR code images that can be scaled up or down for print and digital screens without losing quality. For digital screens or the web, choose JPG or PNG formats. For printing, go for PDF, EPS, or SVG formats that can print images without losing quality.

4. 4. Expired QR codes

If you used a free QR code generator tool, there is a chance your QR code isn’t working because it has expired. Since these QR code creators are free tools, they can have scan limits or time limits over the QR code you generate with them. The most frustrating part is that you won’t even realize your QR codes have expired until your customers notify you.

How to fix it: If you are going to be using QR codes for professional or business purposes, it’s best to shift to better-quality QR code generators that support QR codes indefinitely without any scan or time limits. With Mobiqode’s QR code generator, you can create QR codes that never expire. And even when you face any kind of issues, our support team is always here to help. 

5. 5. QR code with too much content

The black and white squares on a QR code encode the information you want to share with other users. The shape and size of these squares directly depends on the size and type of encoded information. If your QR code is overloaded with too much content, it can lead to longer scan times or inability to scan anything at all. 

How to fix it: If you are sharing a URL that is too long, consider using a URL shortener to avoid overloading the QR code. URL shorteners can keep QR codes less crowded and clean. In case you want to share a lot of information at once with the end users, you can set up multi-URL landing pages to simplify accessibility for the end users. 

6. 6. Missing or broken links 

One of the top reasons QR codes stop working is broken or missing links. When users try to scan QR codes that lead to broken links, they are shown a 404 error. Broken or incorrect links can impact user experience and render your QR codes useless.

How to fix it: Always re-check links and ensure they are up-to-date. If you use a link shortener for URLs, ensure it offers unlimited support. Also, consider using a dynamic QR code generator to edit or update the URL linked to the QR code anytime. 

Run tests on QR codes regularly

There can be many reasons why QR codes stop working suddenly. While you can’t completely avoid them, you can proactively address these issues before they become major problems. Test your QR codes regularly to ensure there aren’t any problems. Ensure you can scan the QR codes and view the encoded content before and after publishing the QR codes. 

You can also use Mobiqode’s QR code generator to track scan analytics. That way, if the number of scans suddenly decreases, you can re-check the QR code and ensure it is functioning properly.

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Ready to create QR codes with interrupted access? Sign up with Mobiqode. 

FAQs

Why is my QR code not working?

QR codes can stop working for many reasons, such as the QR code being too blurry or small, expired codes, or broken links. QR codes can also expire if the QR code generator you used had limitations on the number of scans. 

Why is my phone not scanning QR code?

Your phone may be unable to scan a QR code because of an issue with the QR code scanner or the QR code itself. Try scanning a different QR code to ensure your scanner is working properly. If the scanner can read other QR codes, that means there is an issue with the QR code and not your phone. If your phone cannot scan any QR code, try changing your QR scanner app.