Change a QR Code's Type Without Reprinting | QRTRAC Help

How to Change a QR Code's Type (e.g. Image Gallery to Website)

Sometimes the QR code type you picked when you first created a campaign no longer fits — a common example is a QR code originally set up as an Image Gallery that a business later decides should just redirect straight to their website. This guide walks through exactly how to switch a dynamic QR code's type without touching the printed code.

Quick Answer: How do I change a QR code's type?

Open the QR code and click Edit. Inside edit mode, click the Back button — this returns you to the QR code type selection screen. Picking a different type there (for example, Website instead of Image Gallery) is the change-type action. Confirm the warning that your previous content will be replaced, fill in the new type's details, then click Continue and Finish. The printed QR code keeps scanning correctly — nothing needs to be reprinted.

Step-by-Step: Image Gallery → Website URL

Here's what the flow looks like end to end, using the most common example — switching a QR code away from Image Gallery to a plain Website URL:

  1. Open the QR code and click Edit. Find the QR code in your dashboard and click the Edit option to enter edit mode.
  2. Click the Back button. Instead of exiting, the Back button inside edit mode takes you to the QR code type selection screen. This is the actual mechanism for changing a QR code's type — there's no separate "change type" setting hidden elsewhere.
  3. Select the new type. Choose "Website URL" (or whichever type you need) from the type selection screen.
  4. Read the warning before continuing. Before you click Next, QRTRAC will warn you that the data you created earlier — in this example, the uploaded gallery images — will be lost once you switch to the new type. You do not need to reprint the physical QR code; only the in-app content tied to the old type is discarded.
  5. Click OK to continue. Confirming the warning moves you into the setup screen for the new type.
  6. Fill in the new details and finish. Enter your website URL (or the relevant fields for whatever type you picked), then click Continue and Finish to save.

What you lose vs. what stays the same

  • Lost: Content specific to the old type — uploaded images in a gallery, PDF files, form fields, or any other type-specific data entered before the switch.
  • Kept: The printed QR code image, the short redirect link behind it, and all historical scan analytics.

Why the Printed Code Doesn't Need to Be Reprinted

A dynamic QR code's printed pattern only encodes a short redirect link, not the destination content itself. Changing the QR code's type changes what that redirect link points visitors to — from an image gallery page to your website, for instance — but the redirect link, and therefore the printed code, stays exactly the same. Anyone who scans an already-printed code will simply land on the new destination instead of the old one.

Common Reasons to Change a QR Code's Type

Image Gallery → Website URL

A retailer initially used an Image Gallery QR code to showcase product photos on packaging, then decided to send scans straight to their live product page instead.

PDF Document → Website URL

A restaurant printed table tents linking to a static PDF menu, then moved to a live, always-current online menu page.

Website URL → Digital Business Card

A sales rep's QR code originally pointed to a generic company page, then switched to a personal vCard once they wanted printed cards to share direct contact details.

Related Resources

Explore these topics to get more out of your QR code campaigns:

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I change a QR code's type after it has already been created?

Yes, as long as it's a dynamic QR code. Open the code, click Edit, then click the Back button — this takes you to the QR code type selection screen where you can pick a different type, such as switching from Image Gallery to Website URL.

2. Will I lose my old content when I switch a QR code from one type to another?

Yes. The content tied to the original type — for example, uploaded images in an Image Gallery QR code — is not carried over once you switch to a new type. Make a note of anything you need before confirming the switch, since it cannot be recovered afterward.

3. Do I need to reprint the QR code after changing its type?

No. Changing the type of a dynamic QR code does not change the physical black-and-white pattern or the underlying redirect link. Anyone scanning the already-printed code will simply be routed to whatever the new type now displays.

4. Why does clicking Back change the QR code type instead of just canceling the edit?

Inside edit mode, the Back button returns you to the QR code type selection screen rather than exiting the editor. Landing on that screen and picking a different type is the actual mechanism for changing a QR code's type — there is no separate "change type" menu.

5. Can I switch a QR code from Image Gallery to Website URL?

Yes. Open the QR code, click Edit, click Back to reach the type selection screen, choose Website URL, confirm you want to discard the existing gallery images, enter your destination URL, then click Continue and Finish.

6. Does changing a QR code's type reset its scan analytics?

No. Scan history, counts, and location data are tied to the QR code itself, not to the content type it currently displays. Changing the type does not clear analytics collected before or after the switch.

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