How do I set an expiration date for my links and QR Codes?

This feature is available with some paid plans

Quick Answer: You can set links and QR Codes to automatically expire at a specific date and time. Go to your link's Advanced Settings during creation, or access Link Expiration from the more menu (⋯) on any existing link. Expired content redirects to either a Bitly 410 page or your custom error page.

Link expiration gives you automatic control over when your short links and QR Codes stop working. Instead of manually managing outdated content, you can set it and forget it—your links will automatically expire when you need them to.

In This Article:

• What is link expiration?
• How to set an expiration date

• How to remove or edit expiration

• What happens when a link expires?
• Frequently asked questions

What is link expiration?

Link expiration is a built-in control that lets you set an end date and time for your Bitly links and QR Codes. Once that date passes, anyone who clicks the link or scans the QR Code gets redirected to an error page instead of your original destination.

This is useful for:

• Limited-time promotions that shouldn't be accessible after a sale ends
• Event registrations that close on a specific date
• Seasonal campaigns with defined start and end dates
• Temporary access to resources or content
• Time-sensitive content like early-bird offers or flash sales
• Trial or beta program access windows

How to set an expiration date

During link creation

1. Click on Create new and select Link.
2. Enter your destination URL and customize your link as needed.
3. Scroll down to Advanced Settings.
4. Toggle on Link Expiration.
5. Select your expiration date and time.
6. Click Create to save your link with the expiration set.

During QR Code creation

1. Click on Create new and select QR Code.
2. Enter your destination URL.
3. Scroll down to Advanced Settings.
4. Toggle on Link Expiration.
5. Select your expiration date and time.
6. Click Design your code.
7. Customize your code and click Create your Code.

For an existing link

1. Click Links in the left sidebar.
2. Find the link you want to expire and click the more menu (⋯).
3. Select Link Expiration.
   
4. Choose your expiration date and time.
5. Click Save.
   

For an existing QR Code

1. Click QR Code in the left sidebar.
2. Find the QR Code you want to expire and click the more menu (⋯).
3. Select Code Expiration.
   
4. Choose your expiration date and time.
5. Click Save.
   

How to remove or edit expiration

For a link

1. Click Links in the left sidebar.
2. Find the Link you want to Edit and click the more menu (⋯).
3. Select Link Expiration.
   
4. To remove expiration, click Remove expiration or make edits to the expiration date and time and click Save.
   

For a QR Code

1. Click QR Codes in the left sidebar.
2. Find the QR Code you want to Edit and click the more menu (⋯).
3. Select Code Expiration.
   
4. To remove expiration, click Remove expiration or make edits to the expiration date and time and click Save.
   

What happens when a link expires?

When someone clicks an expired link or scans an expired QR Code, they're redirected to an error page. The specific page depends on your setup: 

What does the Bitly 410 error page look like for an expired link?

Want to customize where expired links go? Set up a custom error page for your domain. Go to your Custom Domains settings and configure your 404/error page URL.

Frequently asked questions

What Happens to Analytics?
Once a link expires, Bitly stops tracking clicks and scans. Your historical data stays intact—you just won't see new engagement after expiration.

If I have a QR Code coupled to my link, does it expire too?
Yes. If your link and QR Code are coupled, the QR Code inherits the same expiration. When the link expires, the QR Code stops working as well.

What happens if I change my link's back-half?
The expiration carries over. Changing the back-half doesn't affect your expiration settings.

What if I redirect my link to a new destination?
The expiration stays in place. Redirecting your link updates where it points, but doesn't change when it expires.

Can I add expiration to multiple links at once?
Not currently. Expiration needs to be set individually for each link or QR Code.

Can I delete an expired link?
No, expired links cannot be deleted. You can reactivate them if needed.

Can I add an expired link to a Campaign or Bitly Page?
No. Expired links can't be added to Campaigns, have new QR Codes created for them, or be added to Bitly Pages. Reactivate the link first if you need to use it in these ways.

How far in advance can I set an expiration date?
You can set expiration from a minimum of 5 minutes to a maximum of 1 year from the current time.