Dynamic QR codes: edit the destination after you print
A normal QR code is permanent: the moment it's printed, the destination is locked in. A dynamic QR code breaks that rule. It encodes a short link you control, so you can change where it points whenever you like, long after the posters are up, and see how often it gets scanned.
Static vs dynamic: what's actually different
A static QR code stores your URL character for character inside the image itself. Nothing sits in the middle: it never expires, needs no account, and Reticle generates it entirely in your browser without uploading anything. The tradeoff is permanence. If the destination moves, every printed copy is now wrong.
A dynamic QR code stores a short redirect link instead, like
reticle.cloud/r/a1b2c3. When someone scans it, that link forwards them to whatever
destination you've currently set. The printed image never changes; only the forwarding rule does.
As a bonus, the redirect can count scans, which a static code can't do by design.
There's a second, less obvious benefit: the encoded text is short and always the same length. A long URL full of parameters makes a dense, hard-to-scan code, while a dynamic code stays crisp no matter where it points. If the scanability tag under Reticle's preview says "Dense", switching to dynamic is often the easiest fix.
When to stay static
If the destination will never change, static is the better default: it's private (nothing is stored anywhere), free forever, and immune to anything happening to the redirect service. Business cards pointing at your homepage, a table tent for a permalink, Wi-Fi codes, contact cards: all great static candidates. Choose dynamic when the destination might change, when you're printing at real cost, or when you want to know whether anyone actually scans.
Create one in Reticle
- 1. Sign in. Dynamic links need an account so they belong to you; Google sign-in in the top right is all it takes. The free plan includes 3 links.
- 2. Switch the URL tab to Dynamic. On the URL type, flip the Static/Dynamic toggle. Paste your destination and Reticle previews the code live before you commit.
- 3. Create the link. Hit "Create dynamic link". You get a short reticle.cloud address, and the preview switches to the real code.
- 4. Style and export. Colors, gradients, module shapes, a center logo, a "Scan me" frame: everything works exactly like a static code. The style is saved on the link itself, so you can re-download the same design later. Run Test scan to prove it reads, then download, copy, share, or print.
Managing links after printing
Everything lives under My links: rename a link, edit its destination, copy the short URL, or download its PNG again in the exact style you saved. Each link shows its total scan count with a 30-day activity chart, so a poster campaign's performance is visible at a glance.
You can also switch a link off without deleting it. A paused link shows scanners a simple "turned off by its owner" page instead of redirecting, which is handy for a promotion that has ended; switch it back on and the same printed code springs back to life.
What gets stored (and what doesn't)
Reticle's default is that nothing leaves your browser. Dynamic links are the one opt-in exception: the link stores the destination you set, the style you saved, and anonymous daily scan totals. That's it. No profiles of the people who scan, and your static codes remain entirely local. The details are in the privacy policy.
Frequently asked questions
Do dynamic QR links expire?
No. A dynamic link keeps working for as long as it exists in your account and is switched on. There is no renewal date, and the free plan does not time out.
Can I turn a printed static QR code into a dynamic one?
No. A static code has its destination baked into the image, so a printed static code is permanent. To get an editable code you need to print a dynamic one in the first place, which is exactly why it pays to choose dynamic before a big print run.
How many dynamic links do I get for free?
The free plan includes 3 dynamic links. You can delete a link you no longer need to free up a slot.
What happens if I switch a link off?
Scans of a paused link see a simple page saying the link has been turned off by its owner, instead of being redirected. Switch it back on and the same printed code works again.
What data does a dynamic link store?
The destination URL you set, the code's saved style, and anonymous daily scan totals. No personal information about the people who scan is collected. Static codes store nothing at all; they are generated entirely in your browser.
Ready to try it? Open the QR generator, switch the URL tab to Dynamic, and your first editable code is a minute away. Free, 3 links included.