Compare three separate elements
- Write down the address you intended to share.
- Read the image actually distributed in the Qurl reader and copy its content.
- If the link is familiar and expected, open it and record the browser’s final address.
If the first two addresses differ, the issue is the encoded content or chosen file. If they match but the final address changes, investigate redirects or website behaviour. Keep the visible caption too: it may describe a different document from the QR code.
Rule out a version mix-up
Two QR codes can look very similar while encoding different destinations. A name such as “qr-final.png” is not enough to identify a campaign. Compare the exported file, the image placed in the layout and the PDF sent to the printer.
Fictional example: a “Morning workshop” poster contains the evening workshop link because the same image was copied into both blocks. Replace the image in the correct layout, then read the final output again. Renaming a file alone does not change its content.
Inspect redirects and permissions
A website may redirect to its homepage after a page is removed, select a language or ask for a sign-in. A document visible in your account may be inaccessible to the public. Test the link in a signed-out profile when the material is intended for visitors without accounts.
Ask the site owner to check the old route and its redirect. Do not remove address parameters at random: some select a session, language or document. For a form, check that you used the respondent link rather than the editor link.
Choose a lasting fix
If you control the encoded address, restore its page or fix its redirect. If the QR points to an external address you do not control, you will generally need to replace it on your materials or ask the address owner to intervene.
After fixing it, repeat the three comparisons and test a distributed copy. See changing a QR code after printing and organising your company’s access. Verify an unexpected domain asking for credentials before entering anything.