Why does scanning my QR code lead to an 'Access Denied' or similar error page?

If you scan a QR code and see an error page or a message saying the page is blocked for security reasons, your internet service provider (ISP) may have blocked the shortener domain used in the QR code.

Why Does This Happen?

Some ISPs, especially in the U.S. and Europe, use filters to block domains that are frequently used for URL shortening. Since our shortener domains are used by millions of people, some users have misused them to redirect to malicious sites. This has led to some ISPs flagging our domain as suspicious, even though we actively monitor and block harmful URLs.

How to Fix It?

1. Contact your ISP – The quickest way is to ask your ISP to remove our domain from their blocklist. Request them to unblock the shortener domains we use:

• qrch.net
• qrcc.me
• qrcc.io

2. Inform our team – Share your ISP details with us, and our tech and security team will work with them to get the domain unblocked.

A Permanent Solution: White-Labeling

To avoid this issue in the future, you can use white-labeling, which means your QR codes will use your own subdomain instead of our shortener domains. Example:

• If your website is www.mybrand.com, we can set up qr.mybrand.com as your custom shortener.
• Since your domain is unique to you, your ISP is unlikely to block it.

Note: White-labeling is currently available for ULTIMA plan users, but we are working on alternative solutions that may not require this plan. Contact our support team to learn more about your options.

For more details on white-labeling, read: Guide to QR Code White Labeling