QR code help
Why don't my QR scan numbers match my website visits?
Scans and website visits measure different things. People scan and leave before the page loads, previews and security tools can trigger requests, unique scans are counted per code per day rather than per person, and your website analytics may be blocked or declined. The numbers should be similar, not identical.
Common causes
- A visitor scanned but the page failed or was abandoned.
- Link previews or security scanners opened the code.
- Unique scans count per code per UTC day using a hashed IP and device type, not people.
- Website analytics blocks or consent choices hide some visits.
- Static codes are not counted at all.
- Location shows Unknown when no location lookup is configured.
How to fix it
- Compare totals over the same dates and time zone. Reports use UTC.
- Add campaign tags to the destination, so your website analytics can attribute visits to each code.
- Treat unique scans as an activity measure, not a count of people.
- Use a managed code for anything you want to measure.
- Check page speed on mobile; slow pages lose scanners.
How to prevent it
Define one success metric, such as visits with the campaign tag or form submissions, rather than relying on scan counts alone.
Frequently asked questions
Are scan locations exact?
No. They are approximate and may be unknown.
Do static codes show analytics?
No. Static codes never contact the service. Only managed codes are counted.