About whatsapp QR codes
A WhatsApp QR code opens a chat with your number, optionally with a message already typed. The customer does not need your number saved as a contact first, which is the usual friction.
It works well on shop signage, menus, delivery notes, and packaging — anywhere you would rather field a message than a phone call.
How to make one
- Enter the number registered with WhatsApp, including the country code.
- Optionally pre-write the opening message — a specific one makes replies far easier to triage.
- Scan the preview and confirm WhatsApp opens the right chat.
- Download and print with "Message us on WhatsApp" next to it.
What gets encoded
The code holds plain text in a format phones recognise. For this type it looks like this:
https://wa.me/15551234567?text=Hi%21%20I%20have%20a%20question
WhatsApp’s official wa.me link. The number must be digits only with the country code and no leading +, which the generator handles for you.
Tips
- The country code is required. Without it wa.me cannot resolve the number and the link fails.
- Pre-fill something that identifies the context, like "Question about the lunch menu" — it saves a round trip.
- This is a normal https link, so it also works if someone opens it on a desktop with WhatsApp Web.
- The number must be registered with WhatsApp or the link opens to an error.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same as WhatsApp’s own QR code?
No. WhatsApp generates codes for adding a contact or linking WhatsApp Web. This makes a wa.me link that opens a chat with your number directly, which works even for people who have never saved you as a contact.
Does it work with a WhatsApp Business account?
Yes. wa.me links work with both personal and Business accounts, as long as the number is registered.
Do you see what I type here?
No. The code is generated entirely in your browser. Nothing you enter on this page is sent to our servers or stored anywhere.
Does this QR code expire?
No. The details are encoded directly into the pattern itself, so the code does not depend on this site or any account. It keeps working even if this site disappears, with no scan limit and no watermark.
Other QR code types
New to this? The QR code guide covers error correction, sizing for print, and the four reasons codes fail to scan.