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All QR codes created in the HoopAI platform are dynamic by default. Understanding how dynamic QR codes work — and how they differ from static codes — helps you get the most out of your campaigns and avoid costly reprinting mistakes.

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How dynamic QR codes work

A static QR code encodes the destination directly into the pattern itself. The URL, phone number, or other data is baked permanently into the black-and-white matrix. Any change means you need a completely new code. A dynamic QR code works differently. The code itself stores only a short redirect URL hosted by the platform. When someone scans the code, their device sends a request to that short URL, and the platform instantly forwards them to whatever destination you have configured. The printed or downloaded QR image never changes — only the forwarding destination stored in the platform changes. This architecture gives dynamic codes two fundamental advantages over static codes:
  1. Updatable destinations — change where the code goes at any time, on any device that scans it, without touching the physical materials
  2. Analytics tracking — because every scan passes through the platform’s redirect server, each scan can be logged with metadata including time, device type, and location

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Updating a QR code destination

You can change the destination of any saved QR code at any point after creation.
1

Open the QR code library

Go to Sites > QR Codes. Your library of saved codes appears in the main view.
2

Find the code to update

Locate the QR code by name. Use the search bar or browse folders if you have many codes organized.
3

Open the edit panel

Hover over the code to reveal the action icons, then click the three-dot menu and select Edit. Alternatively, click directly on the code name to open it.
4

Update the destination

Navigate to the content details step for your code type. Change the URL, phone number, selected form, or other destination information.
5

Save the update

Click Save. The update takes effect immediately. Any device that scans the existing printed code from this point forward will be directed to the new destination.
If the QR code is embedded as an element on a HoopAI website or funnel page, you must republish that page after updating the destination for the change to be visible to page visitors.

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Use cases for updating destinations

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Seasonal campaigns

Print a QR code on permanent signage — a window cling, a banner, or an outdoor sign. Point it to a summer promotion page in June. When the promotion ends in August, update the destination to the fall campaign without touching the sign.

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Post-print corrections

If a mistake is caught in a printed URL after flyers have already been distributed, update the QR code destination to the corrected page. Anyone scanning the existing flyer will reach the right content.

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Event to post-event content

At a conference or trade show, a QR code on your booth display can point to a lead capture form during the event. After the event, update the destination to a thank-you page, a recorded presentation, or a follow-up offer — without reprinting anything.

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A/B destination testing

Change the destination of a QR code to compare how different landing pages perform with the same physical audience. Run page A for two weeks, then swap to page B and compare analytics.

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Rotating offers

For businesses that run frequent promotions, a single permanently placed QR code (on a menu, in a window, on a product) can cycle through different landing pages as promotions change. Customers always have a fresh experience.

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Dynamic codes and analytics

Because every scan routes through the platform, dynamic QR codes automatically generate analytics data. Every scan event records:
  • The date and time of the scan
  • Whether the scanner is a unique visitor or has scanned before
  • The device and operating system used
  • Geographic region when available
This data appears in the QR code analytics dashboard, giving you a real-time view of engagement across all your codes. See QR code analytics for the full reporting guide.

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When not to use dynamic codes

Dynamic QR codes require an active redirect server. In nearly all practical situations this is not a problem — the redirect happens in milliseconds. However, for use cases where the destination is guaranteed never to change and offline encoding is required (such as certain industrial or government applications), a static code encodes data directly in the pattern without any redirect dependency. For all marketing, business, and customer-facing use cases — flyers, signage, business cards, product packaging, receipts, event materials — dynamic codes from the HoopAI platform are the correct choice.

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Identifying a dynamic code

When you save a QR code in the HoopAI platform, a shareable smart link is also created. This link resolves to the same destination as the QR image. Copy it by clicking the link icon on any code in the library. You can share this link digitally in emails, social posts, or SMS campaigns, and both the link and the QR image always point to the same current destination.
If you update a QR code destination that is currently driving active traffic, do it during a low-traffic period to avoid sending users mid-session to an unexpected page. Changes take effect immediately.
Last modified on March 5, 2026