How Redirect Rules Work
Understand what redirect rules are, the exact priority order they follow, and how to combine them effectively.
What are Redirect Rules?
Redirect rules let a single QR code send different people to different destinations based on specific conditions. Instead of one QR → one URL, you can set up a QR code that behaves like a smart router:
- An iPhone user gets sent to the App Store, an Android user to the Play Store
- Someone scanning at 7 AM sees a breakfast menu; at 6 PM, a dinner menu
- The first 100 scanners get an exclusive offer; everyone after sees a 'sold out' page
- Your A/B test splits traffic between two landing pages during off-peak hours
All from a single printed QR code — no reprinting needed.
Available Rule Types
SMLLR supports four dynamic redirect rules, each designed for a different use case:
There are also two hard expiry options (Expire by Date and Expire after N Scans) that permanently deactivate the QR — these are not redirect rules and are handled before any redirect rule is checked.
| Rule | What it does | Plan Required |
|---|---|---|
First-N Offer Redirect | First N scans → offer URL; everyone after → fallback URL. QR stays active. | Basic+ |
Scheduled Redirect | Route scans to different URLs based on day of week and time of day | Pro+ |
Device Redirect | Route iOS, Android, and Desktop visitors to different URLs | Basic+ |
A/B Test | Split traffic between multiple URLs for testing | Per-package |
Priority Order — Which Rule Wins?
When multiple redirect rules are active on a QR code, SMLLR evaluates them in a fixed priority order. Higher priority always wins. Here is the order from lowest to highest:
| Priority | Rule | Behaviour |
|---|---|---|
| Base | Default URL | Always the starting point; used when nothing overrides |
| 1 (lowest) | A/B Test | Only runs if no other rule matched |
| 2 | Scheduled Redirect | Overrides A/B and default during active time windows |
| 3 | Device Redirect | Overrides Scheduled for matched device types |
| 4 (highest) | Scan-Limit Offer Redirect ★ | Terminal — always wins, A/B/Scheduled/Device are all skipped |
The ★ means terminal: once the Scan-Limit rule fires, no other rule runs for that scan. This ensures your promotional cap is always honoured.
A/B Test is the lowest-priority rule — it is overridden by Scheduled, Device, and Scan-Limit rules. If you have all three device slots filled (iOS + Android + Desktop), your A/B test will never run. SMLLR will warn you about this conflict in the QR editor.
Hard Stops (Before Any Redirect Rule)
Before any redirect rule is checked, SMLLR runs a set of hard-stop checks. If any of these trigger, the scan is terminated immediately and no redirect rules run:
- QR not found or deleted → /qr-not-found page
- QR manually set to Inactive → /qr-inactive page
- Expire by Date — QR has passed its expiry date → expiry page
- Expire after N Scans — QR has hit its total scan cap → expiry page
- Monthly plan scan limit — account has used all scans for the month → /qr-inactive
Think of hard stops as gates that close the QR entirely, whereas redirect rules route active scans to different destinations.
The Default URL
Every QR code has a default URL — the destination used when no redirect rules apply (or when you have no rules set at all). It is what you entered when you first created the QR code.
Always keep your default URL updated. It is the fallback for every scan that does not match any of your active redirect rules.
How to Add a Redirect Rule
Open your QR code
Go to QR Codes in the sidebar and click Edit on the QR code you want to configure.
Go to Step 3 — Configure
The wizard will open at the Configure step where all redirect rules live.
Find the rule section
Scroll down past the name and expiry settings. You will see Scheduled Redirects and Device-Based Redirects as collapsible sections.
Expand and configure
Click any section to expand it and fill in your URLs and conditions.
Check the priority bar
A priority bar shows which rules are currently active and their order. Active rules are highlighted in purple; the winning rule (Scan-Limit) is highlighted in black.
Save
Click Save QR Code or Update QR Code. Rules are active immediately — no reprinting needed.
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