301 redirect
A 301 redirect ("Moved Permanently") says an address has changed for good. Browsers and search engines may remember the new address and stop asking the old one.
Updated September 24, 2026
Example
Your site moves from old-site.com to new-site.com: a 301 on each page passes visitors and search rankings to the new address.
Why it matters
For a website, a 301 is best practice when moving: Google transfers the old page's signals to the new one. For a QR code, it is a trap: a browser that cached it will ignore your next edit. A dynamic QR code should use a 302 redirect. If it is your landing page that moves, put a 301 on your site; or, simpler, just update the code's destination.
Frequently asked questions
Can a QR code point to a page that 301-redirects?
Yes, phones follow the redirect. But each extra hop slows the page a little: use the final address.
How do I know if a page returns a 301?
Your browser's developer tools, Network tab, show the response code for each address.
Sources
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