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Does my Slido QR code even time out?

  • February 3, 2026
  • 5 comments
  • 32 views
S

Hello,

I’m new to Slido and have held two in-person events where I ran into the same problem. I added the QR code to my paper agendas, as well as my welcome slide in PowerPoint, urging attendees to answer the first question as they got settled in their seats. Throughout my morning prep time, I noticed the first question seemed to “time out” or go inactive. I made sure I engaged/activated the question about 30 minutes prior to the event start time but had to do that several times. What am I doing wrong? Thanks!

 

Best answer by Adrian from Slido

Hi ​@SaraTAT —

 

I think the confusion here may be between the QR code for the entire Slido event and the individual poll within it.

The QR code never times out, it always brings participants to your Slido event. However, only one poll can be active at a time.

Since you mentioned you ran through the slide deck before the event started, here’s likely what happened:

When using the PowerPoint integration, polls activate and deactivate automatically based on the slide you’re currently presenting. So if you:

  • Activated the poll in the web interface

  • Then ran through your presentation and moved away from that poll slide

The integration would automatically deactivate it.

The good news is nothing is broken. If that happens again, simply re-launch the poll from the Slido sidebar or the web admin, and it will immediately become active for participants again.

So in short:
• The QR code doesn’t expire
• The poll didn’t time out
• It was likely deactivated when you navigated away from the interactive slide

Hope that helps clarify what you were seeing!

    5 replies

    C
    Forum|alt.badge.img

    Hi ​@SaraTAT!

    Are you using our PowerPoint integration? If so, the polls will activate based on what you are presenting at that time in your presentation.  So if you presented the first question, and went to the next slide in the presentation, it will deactivate that poll.

    If you want to share a poll in advance and you are also using the integration, I would recommend sharing a direct link to that opening poll instead of the QR code for the whole slido.  As the QR code will only show whats active currently. And the direct link will allow the participant to answer that poll at any time whether it’s active or not. 

    Hope this helps!

     

    Christyn from Slido
    S
    • SaraTAT
    • Author
    • Participant
    • February 3, 2026

    Thanks for responding. I don’t think the direct link is necessary, as that poll question is only relevant for the beginning/opening remarks and doesn’t need to stay active. My question is whether, my opening poll is time-sensitive… as it seemed to “time out” after severa minutes. Thoughts? 

      Mika from Slido
      Forum|alt.badge.img

      Hello ​@SaraTAT, 

      Mikaella here from Slido -  happy to help! 

      QR codes shouldn’t ever time out as you’ve described. Based on your use case, when you activate the poll, it should be available for participants to vote, even after 30 minutes let’s say. Could I check, did you use the presentation before the event started by any chance and was the poll activated on it’s own within the slido admin host mode? 

      We can always troubleshoot this with more by coming to support@slido.com. 

      Let me know if you have anymore questions! 
      My best, 
      Mikaella from slido 

      Mikaella from Slido Customer Care 😊
      S
      • SaraTAT
      • Author
      • Participant
      • February 11, 2026

      Hi There,

      I ran through the slidedeck a few times before the event began. I activated the poll question via the Slido web version first so folks could answer the question via the QR code on their agenda as they were settling in. 

      Adrian from Slido
      Forum|alt.badge.img

      Hi ​@SaraTAT —

       

      I think the confusion here may be between the QR code for the entire Slido event and the individual poll within it.

      The QR code never times out, it always brings participants to your Slido event. However, only one poll can be active at a time.

      Since you mentioned you ran through the slide deck before the event started, here’s likely what happened:

      When using the PowerPoint integration, polls activate and deactivate automatically based on the slide you’re currently presenting. So if you:

      • Activated the poll in the web interface

      • Then ran through your presentation and moved away from that poll slide

      The integration would automatically deactivate it.

      The good news is nothing is broken. If that happens again, simply re-launch the poll from the Slido sidebar or the web admin, and it will immediately become active for participants again.

      So in short:
      • The QR code doesn’t expire
      • The poll didn’t time out
      • It was likely deactivated when you navigated away from the interactive slide

      Hope that helps clarify what you were seeing!

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