How to create a WhatsApp QR code
- Type your phone number with the country code, e.g.
+1 555 123 4567. - Optionally, write a message the customer will send you when they open the chat — useful for tagging where the scan came from ("I'm at the shop", "saw your menu").
- Download the QR as PNG (for screens and small print) or SVG (for posters, vinyl, any size).
How it works
The QR encodes a click-to-chat URL in WhatsApp's official format: https://wa.me/<number>?text=<message>. When scanned, the phone opens WhatsApp (or WhatsApp Business, whichever is installed) and pre-loads the chat with you. The user just taps Send.
This is the same link format WhatsApp recommends on their click-to-chat help page — the QR just saves your customer from typing it.
Where a WhatsApp QR shines
- Storefronts & windows — "Scan to message us" on the front door. Works after hours when the shop is closed.
- Restaurant menus & tables — "Scan to order on WhatsApp" instead of building an ordering system.
- Business cards & flyers — skip the dial, land in chat. Much more likely to get a reply than a phone number.
- Ads & posters — each campaign can have its own prefilled message so you know which ad drove the lead.
- Customer support stickers — on packaging, boxes, product labels. Customers scan when they need help.
- Real estate signs — "Scan to ask about this property" beats a missed call.
Getting the phone number format right
The number must be in international format — that means the country code is required, even if you and your customer are in the same country.
- US / Canada:
+1 555 123 4567 - UK:
+44 20 7946 0958 - India:
+91 98765 43210 - Brazil:
+55 11 91234 5678 - Mexico:
+52 55 1234 5678
Spaces, dashes, and parentheses are fine — we strip anything that isn't a digit. The + sign is also stripped for the wa.me link, but leave it in when typing so the country code is clear.
Using prefilled messages for tracking
Different QR codes with different prefilled messages let you tell campaigns apart. Print one QR with "Scanned from storefront" for the window, another with "Saw the Instagram ad" for your social media, another with "From the menu" for the table tent. When messages land, you see in WhatsApp exactly which channel they came from.
This is the poor-man's version of UTM tracking — free, no analytics account needed.
FAQ
Does the customer need WhatsApp installed?
Yes. If they don't have WhatsApp, the wa.me link opens a page prompting them to install it. For most markets (India, Brazil, Mexico, UK, most of Europe/LATAM/SEA) WhatsApp is near-ubiquitous. In the US it's less common — consider a generic SMS QR as a fallback if your audience is US-heavy.
Does this work with WhatsApp Business?
Yes — the wa.me link opens whichever WhatsApp app is installed. If you're using WhatsApp Business for that number, customers will chat with your business account.
Can I edit the prefilled message later without reprinting?
Not with a static QR — the message is baked into the code. If you need an editable QR (change destination or message anytime without reprinting), that's what dynamic QRs are for. Coming soon to qrbake paid tiers.
Can I add styling, colors, or a logo?
For full styling — colors, logo in the center, custom shapes, frames — use the main generator. Paste your wa.me link into it and customize from there.
Do I need a WhatsApp Business API account?
No. Click-to-chat works with any WhatsApp number — personal or Business. The API (for bulk messaging, automation) is a separate product and isn't needed for a QR to work.
Can I print the QR on a poster or sticker?
Yes. Download the SVG for infinite-resolution prints, or PNG at the displayed size. Keep a white border around the code so scanners can find it.