Guide · Analytics
How to Track QR Code Scans: A Practical Guide to QR Analytics
You can only track scans with a dynamic QR code, because every scan routes through a redirect that counts it before forwarding. Here is how QR code scan tracking works, what metrics you get — scans, unique visitors, device, country — and how to read them.
On this page
To track scans, you need a dynamic QR code. Every scan routes through a short redirect that counts it before forwarding the visitor on — so a dynamic code can tell you how often, where, and on what devices it’s being scanned. A static code can’t.
Only dynamic codes can be tracked
A static code encodes the destination directly, so a scanner jumps straight there with nothing in between to record the visit. A dynamic code points at a short redirect URL you control; each scan lands on that redirect for a fraction of a second, gets counted, and is then forwarded to your real destination. That redirect step is the entire reason analytics are possible.
What you can measure
For every dynamic code you get a handful of metrics that actually drive decisions:
- Total scans: how much traffic the code is pulling overall.
- Unique visitors: roughly how many distinct people scanned, not just raw taps.
- Device category: mobile, tablet, or desktop — useful for landing-page decisions.
- Country: where your scans are coming from, at country level.
- Referrer: where a scan was forwarded from, when available.
How to read the numbers
The value of tracking is comparison. Put a different dynamic code on each poster, table tent, or channel and the scan counts tell you which placement actually worked. Watch when scans peak to time a follow-up, and use the country split to decide where to localize. Because a dynamic code is editable, you can act on what you learn — repoint a weak campaign’s code to a better page without reprinting anything.
Privacy-first by default
Useful analytics don’t require surveillance. GlyphIQ stores no raw IP addresses, sets no cookies on the scan path, and never profiles the people who scan — visitors are pseudonymized at collection and location is country-only. You see how a code performs without building a file on anyone who scanned it.
How to start tracking
Create a dynamic code and analytics turn on automatically — there’s nothing extra to wire up. History runs 30 days on Starter and 90 days on Pro, while live counts update in real time. You can create a dynamic code to start, and if you want it to keep tracking without a subscription, attach a standalone pack.
Create a dynamic QR code you can update anytime
Free static codes need no account. Add a dynamic destination and real-time analytics when you sign up.
Frequently asked questions
Can you track scans on a static QR code?
No. A static code sends people straight to the destination with nothing in between, so there is no point at which a scan can be counted. Only a dynamic code, which routes each scan through a redirect, can be tracked.
What data does QR code scan tracking collect?
GlyphIQ reports total scans, unique visitors, device category (mobile, tablet, desktop), country, and referrer. It does not collect names, precise location, or a scan history tied to a person.
Does scan tracking use cookies or store my visitors’ IP addresses?
No. The scan redirect path sets no cookies and stores no raw IP addresses — visitors are pseudonymized at collection and geolocation is country-only. You measure performance without profiling the people who scan.
How far back does the analytics history go?
Analytics history depends on your plan: 30 days on Starter and 90 days on Pro. The live scan counts update in real time.
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