WhatsApp QR code

The wa.me format

A WhatsApp QR code is a URL QR code pointing to WhatsApp's official click-to-chat link. The base form is:

https://wa.me/15550100123

The number is in full international format with no plus sign, no spaces, and no dashes — just country code followed by the number. To add a pre-filled message, append a ?text= parameter (URL-encoded):

https://wa.me/15550100123?text=Hi%2C%20I%27d%20like%20to%20order

When scanned, the link opens WhatsApp on a chat with that number, message ready to send. The person still taps send.

When to use it

• Customer enquiries — a storefront or flyer code that opens a chat with your business line.
• Orders and bookings — pre-fill a message like "I'd like to book a table."
• Support — route people to a chat without them saving your number first.
• Lead capture — let prospects message you with a campaign keyword already filled in.

Gotchas worth knowing

• Use a WhatsApp-registered number. The link only works if that number actually has a WhatsApp account.
• Encode the message text. Spaces, commas, and apostrophes must be percent-encoded in the ?text= value.
• Keep the message short. Long starter messages make a denser code and read awkwardly.
• It relies on WhatsApp's domain. wa.me is run by WhatsApp; the link works as long as that service operates, which is effectively a third-party dependency baked into your static code.

WhatsApp Business, groups, and catalogs

The wa.me link works the same whether the number is on a personal account or WhatsApp Business — the difference is on your side, in the features and automation you get. Beyond a one-to-one chat, a couple of related links are worth knowing:

• Pre-filled message only (no number). https://wa.me/?text=Hello opens WhatsApp with the message ready and lets the user pick who to send it to — useful for "share this" prompts.
• Group invites. WhatsApp generates a chat.whatsapp.com/… invite link for a group; encode that to let people join by scanning. Anyone with the code can join, so treat it like an open door.
• Business greeting. Pair the link with a ?text= that matches a keyword your WhatsApp Business auto-reply expects, so the conversation starts on rails.

Finally, remember the country-code rule that catches most people out: the wa.me number is digits only, with the country code and no leading + or separators. If a tester reports "phone number shares via WhatsApp is invalid," the format is almost always the cause — re-check it before you commit the code to print.

Make a WhatsApp QR code

Build your wa.me link with the number in international digits (no plus), optionally add an encoded ?text= message, and paste it into the Link tab.

Frequently asked questions