Available on: Pro and Max plans
Overview
Disabling a QR code temporarily stops it from redirecting to your destination URL. Instead of deleting a code you might need again, you can disable it and re-enable it later with all your settings and history intact.
When to Disable a QR Code
Common scenarios:
- Promotion ended: A sale or offer has finished but might return
- Event concluded: Conference or event is over but you want to keep the data
- Content update needed: Destination page is being redesigned
- Seasonal campaigns: Holiday promotions between seasons
- Testing purposes: Temporarily stop redirects during troubleshooting
- Compliance hold: Need to pause while reviewing content
How It Works
When a QR code is disabled:
| What Happens | Details |
|---|---|
| Redirects stop | Scanners don’t reach your destination URL |
| Message displayed | Scanners see “This QR code is currently inactive” |
| History preserved | All existing scan data remains intact |
| QR image unchanged | The printed/shared QR code itself doesn’t change |
| Settings saved | All configuration remains for when you re-enable |
Disabling a QR Code
- Go to QR Codes in the sidebar
- Click on the QR code you want to disable
- Find the Status section
- Click Disable
- Confirm the action
The QR code status will change to indicate it’s disabled.
What Scanners See
When someone scans a disabled QR code, they see a message page instead of being redirected:
This QR code is currently inactive
The content you’re looking for is temporarily unavailable.
You can customize this message:
- Go to the disabled QR code’s settings
- Find Inactive Message
- Enter your custom text
- Save changes
Example custom messages:
- “This promotion has ended. Visit oursite.com for current offers.”
- “Check back soon—we’re updating our content.”
- “This event has concluded. Thanks for attending!”
Re-enabling a QR Code
To turn a disabled QR code back on:
- Go to QR Codes in the sidebar
- Click on the disabled QR code (marked with a disabled indicator)
- Find the Status section
- Click Enable
- Confirm the action
Redirects start working immediately—no delay or propagation time.
Disabling vs Deleting
| Action | Redirects | Scan History | Settings | Recoverable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disable | Stopped | Kept | Kept | Yes (re-enable) |
| Delete | Stopped | Lost | Lost | No |
Choose disabling when:
- You might need the QR code again
- You want to preserve analytics data
- The change is temporary
- You’re troubleshooting an issue
Choose deleting when:
- The QR code is no longer needed
- You made an error and need to start fresh
- You want to free up QR code slots (on limited plans)
- The associated campaign is permanently finished
Disabling and Analytics
While Disabled
- Scans are still recorded (someone scanned, even though they weren’t redirected)
- Analytics show the disabled period
- You can track how many people attempted to scan during the time the code was off
After Re-enabling
- New scans add to the existing history
- No data is lost
- Analytics continue seamlessly
This is valuable for understanding:
- Ongoing interest in retired campaigns
- Whether printed materials are still being encountered
- When to bring seasonal content back online
Status Indicators
QR codes show their status visually:
| Status | Indicator | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Active | Green dot/badge | Redirecting normally |
| Disabled | Yellow/orange dot | Temporarily off |
| Expired | Red dot | Past expiration date |
Check these indicators on the QR codes list and detail pages.
Combining with Other Features
Disabled + Expiration
If a QR code has both:
- Disabled before expiration: The disabled state takes effect, scanners see the inactive message
- Expired while disabled: Expiration takes over when it passes, scanners see the expiration message
- Re-enabled after expiration: Still expired, you’ll need to remove the expiration date first
Disabled + Scan Limits
If a QR code has both:
- Disabled before limit: The disabled state takes effect
- Limit reached while disabled: Scans during the disabled period count toward the limit
- Re-enabled after limit: Limit still in effect
Troubleshooting
Disable not taking effect
- Refresh the QR code detail page
- Check that the change was saved
- Allow a moment for the system to update
Can’t find the Disable option
- Verify the QR code has tracking enabled (static codes can’t be disabled)
- Check your subscription level
- Look for the Status section on the detail page
Scanners still being redirected
- CDN caching may cause brief delays
- Verify the change is actually saved
- Test with a fresh scan (not from browser history)