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How Changing Your API or Branded Domain Affects Existing QR Codes

Changing your API, branded, or whitelabel domain in Chat To Clients CRM can cause existing QR codes to stop working. Learn how domain changes affect your QR codes, what to consider before making changes, and how to restore functionality if your QR codes are affected.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

What Happens to QR Codes When You Change Your Domain?


QR codes generated in Chat To Clients CRM use URLs associated with your configured API, branded, or whitelabel domain. Changing or removing that domain can invalidate existing QR code URLs, causing scans to return a 400 (Bad Request) error.


This affects users who have generated QR codes using a custom domain, particularly those distributed through printed materials, signage, packaging, business cards, or marketing campaigns.


QR codes created before the domain change continue pointing to the old domain and will no longer work once that domain becomes inactive. QR codes generated after the change will use the new domain and function normally. To restore access through existing QR codes, you must regenerate them using the new domain and replace the previously distributed versions.


Note: This includes printed and already-distributed QR codes, which cannot be recalled or reprinted easily. This is why domain changes are especially high-impact.

How to Prepare Before Changing Your Domain


Plan ahead to identify affected QR codes and minimize disruptions to active campaigns and customer-facing materials.


  1. Check for existing QR codes. If you do not use QR codes, you can proceed safely.

  2. Inventory distributed QR codes, especially those on printed materials, signage, packaging, or other customer-facing assets.

  3. Plan to regenerate and redistribute affected QR codes. Existing codes cannot be migrated automatically to the new domain.

  4. Avoid removing your existing domain unless necessary. If you only need to add a new domain, consider whether the previous one can remain active.

  5. Schedule the domain change during a low-impact period to minimize disruption.

How to Replace QR Codes After a Domain Change


Once your new domain is configured, you will need to generate replacement QR codes and update the locations where the previous versions were used.


  1. Regenerate your QR codes using the new domain.

  2. Scan a newly generated QR code to confirm it opens the correct destination without returning a 400 error.

  3. Replace existing QR codes on websites, emails, PDFs, and digital signage.

  4. Reprint and redistribute physical materials containing affected QR codes.


For instructions on generating QR codes, see QR Code Generation and Download Guide.

Frequently Asked Questions


Q: I already changed my domain and my QR codes now show a 400 error. Can they be restored?

Possibly, but with an important trade-off. If you re-add the previous domain and its DNS records are restored, the QR codes that were originally generated on that domain may start resolving again.


However, this reverses the problem for any new QR codes. If you generated new QR codes on the new domain after the change, re-adding the old domain will cause those new QR codes to stop working (they will begin returning a 400 error instead).


In other words, at any given time your QR codes will only work on the domain that is currently active. Re-adding the old domain fixes the old QR codes but breaks the new ones, and vice versa. There is no configuration where QR codes from both the old and new domain work at the same time.


If you are in this situation, please contact support before making further changes so we can help you choose the option that impacts the fewest QR codes.


Q: Will new QR codes work after the change?

Yes. Any QR code generated after the domain change will use the new domain and will work normally.


Q: Can I change my domain without breaking QR codes?

No. Any change or removal of the API / branded / whitelabel domain affects the DNS records that QR codes depend on. There is currently no automatic migration of existing QR codes to a new domain.


Q: Does this affect anything besides QR codes?

Changing your domain can affect other services that rely on the old domain's DNS records. This article focuses on QR codes, but please review all integrations before making a change.

Related Articles


TABLE OF CONTENTS

What Happens to QR Codes When You Change Your Domain?


QR codes generated in Chat To Clients CRM use URLs associated with your configured API, branded, or whitelabel domain. When this domain is changed or removed, its previous DNS records are removed, causing QR codes linked to that domain to stop working and return a 400 (Bad Request) error.


This affects users who have generated QR codes using a custom domain, particularly those distributed through printed materials, signage, packaging, business cards, or marketing campaigns.


QR codes created before the domain change will continue pointing to the old domain and will no longer work. QR codes generated after the change will use the new domain and function normally. To restore access through existing QR codes, you must regenerate them using the new domain and replace the previously distributed versions.


Note: This includes printed and already-distributed QR codes, which cannot be recalled or reprinted easily. This is why domain changes are especially high-impact.

How to Prepare Before Changing Your Domain


Plan ahead to identify affected QR codes and minimize disruptions to active campaigns and customer-facing materials.


  1. Check for existing QR codes. If you do not use QR codes, you can proceed safely.

  2. Inventory distributed QR codes, especially those on printed materials, signage, packaging, or other customer-facing assets.

  3. Plan to regenerate and redistribute affected QR codes. Existing codes cannot be migrated automatically to the new domain.

  4. Avoid removing your existing domain unless necessary. If you only need to add a new domain, consider whether the previous one can remain active.

  5. Schedule the domain change during a low-impact period to minimize disruption.

How to Replace QR Codes After a Domain Change


Once your new domain is configured, you will need to generate replacement QR codes and update the locations where the previous versions were used.


  1. Regenerate your QR codes using the new domain.

  2. Scan a newly generated QR code to confirm it opens the correct destination without returning a 400 error.

  3. Replace existing QR codes on websites, emails, PDFs, and digital signage.

  4. Reprint and redistribute physical materials containing affected QR codes.


For instructions on generating QR codes, see QR Code Generation and Download Guide.

Frequently Asked Questions


Q: I already changed my domain and my QR codes now show a 400 error. Can they be restored?

Possibly, but with an important trade-off. If you re-add the previous domain and its DNS records are restored, the QR codes that were originally generated on that domain may start resolving again.


However, this reverses the problem for any new QR codes. If you generated new QR codes on the new domain after the change, re-adding the old domain will cause those new QR codes to stop working (they will begin returning a 400 error instead).


In other words, at any given time your QR codes will only work on the domain that is currently active. Re-adding the old domain fixes the old QR codes but breaks the new ones, and vice versa. There is no configuration where QR codes from both the old and new domain work at the same time.


If you are in this situation, please contact support before making further changes so we can help you choose the option that impacts the fewest QR codes.


Q: Will new QR codes work after the change?

Yes. Any QR code generated after the domain change will use the new domain and will work normally.


Q: Can I change my domain without breaking QR codes?

No. Any change or removal of the API / branded / whitelabel domain affects the DNS records that QR codes depend on. There is currently no automatic migration of existing QR codes to a new domain.


Q: Does this affect anything besides QR codes?

Changing your domain can affect other services that rely on the old domain's DNS records. This article focuses on QR codes, but please review all integrations before making a change.

Related Articles



Last updated Wed, 14 Oct, 2026 at 11:14 AM