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Why is my QR Code disabled?

Learn why Uniqode automatically disables certain QR Codes and how to restore them.

Written by Joy Arputha

There could be multiple reasons.

Step 1: Check to see if your QR Code has an 'expiration date':

  • Click "Edit" on your QR Code

  • Go to the "Customize" tab

  • Scroll down to the Advanced Options section.

Step 2: Check to see if your QR Code was flagged for spam:


Uniqode maintains a blacklist of phishing URLs that is continuously updated. Whenever a website URL is linked to a QR Code created on Uniqode, the phishing URL detection framework cross-references it. It disables any QR Codes that are associated with malicious websites immediately.

If you’re receiving an email about Uniqode automatically disabling your QR Code, it means that the QR Code created in your account was leading to a malicious link. This email will also contain instructions to update the malicious URL attached to the QR Code with a valid link.

Resolving False-Positive Security Flags

If your QR code’s URL is flagged as malicious:

  1. Identify the security vendor(s) responsible (e.g., VirusTotal, CRDF).

  2. Submit a false-positive review to the vendor(s) using their dedicated forms or portals.

  3. Provide your domain/URLs and justification for review.

  4. Once cleared, use the "Recheck" option in Uniqode to update the QR code’s status.

Note: Any account found creating phishing QR Codes repeatedly will be disabled and deleted at the discretion of the Uniqode team.

Step 3: Recovering Deleted or Inactive QR Codes If a QR code was deleted:

  1. Navigate to the Trash section under the QR Codes tab in Uniqode.

  2. Use Filters to search by QR Name or QR Link (e.g., the short URL encoded in the QR code).

  3. Locate the QR code and click "Restore."

If you only have the printed QR or its destination URL:

  1. Go to the Trash view in Uniqode.

  2. Use Filters to search by QR Name or paste the full URL from the printed/scanned code.

  3. Restore the QR code from the results.

Step 4: Addressing Network-Related QR Code Errors If QR codes show errors like "server not found" or "broken link":

  1. Disable any active VPN and test again.

  2. Switch networks (e.g., from Wi-Fi to mobile data) to isolate the issue.

  3. Restart your router to refresh the connection.

  4. Ensure your network or security software isn’t blocking the domain (e.g., "uniqode.io").

Step 5: Resolving URL Redirection and Update Issues When a QR code’s domain is changed, previously distributed QR images may stop working:

  • Option 1: Revert the domain to the original one used by the distributed QR images.

  • Option 2: Redistribute updated QR images with the new domain. Ensure the QR’s domain matches the encoded URL in distributed images.

Scanned QR codes may append a uq parameter for tracking, causing errors if blocked by your website’s security settings:

  • Update your Web Application Firewall (WAF) or security rules to allow unexpected query parameters like uq.

  • No changes are needed to the QR codes themselves.

Learn more about URL-based phishing detection for safer QR Codes. For further assistance, contact Uniqode support if the issue persists.

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