WhatsApp QR code
One scan and they're already typing.
Skip the step where a customer has to save your number first. A WhatsApp QR code opens the chat directly — and can pre-fill the first message so they know what to ask.
The password is encoded into the image itself. Print it only where you’re happy for guests to scan it.
Start from a template
Design & quality
Error correction raised to H so the logo doesn’t break the code.
This logo covers a lot of the code. Switch error correction to H and test the printed result before you order a run.
Your code appears here as you type
Generated in your browser. Nothing you type is uploaded.
Building the link
The link format
WhatsApp uses a standard link, and the QR code simply carries it:
| Goal | Paste this above |
|---|---|
| Open a chat | wa.me/61412345678 |
| Chat with a pre-filled message | wa.me/61412345678?text=Hi,%20I%27d%20like%20a%20quote |
Getting the Australian number right
This is where almost every broken WhatsApp code comes from. The number must be in international format with no plus sign, no spaces and no leading zero.
| Your number | Use |
|---|---|
| 0412 345 678 | 61412345678 |
| +61 412 345 678 | 61412345678 |
| (02) 9000 0000 | 61290000000 |
Drop the leading 0, put 61 in front, and remove every space and symbol.
Pre-filled messages
Anything after ?text= appears typed in the customer’s message box. It must be URL-encoded: a space becomes %20 and an apostrophe becomes %27.
- Hi, I’d like a quote → Hi,%20I%27d%20like%20a%20quote
- Booking enquiry → Booking%20enquiry
Keep it short. A pre-filled message that fills the whole screen gets deleted before it is sent.
Where it works best
- Tradies — on the ute, so a passer-by can send a job enquiry without calling.
- Shopfronts — on the door, for questions after hours.
- Market stalls — for orders and follow-ups when the stall has packed up.
- Invoices — a quick line to query a bill beats a phone tag.
Test it with a phone that has never messaged you before — that is the real customer path.
Straight answers
WhatsApp QR questions
How do I make a QR code for my WhatsApp?
Build the link wa.me/ followed by your number in international format, then paste it above. For 0412 345 678 in Australia, the link is wa.me/61412345678.
What format does an Australian number need?
Country code with no plus and no leading zero. 0412 345 678 becomes 61412345678; (02) 9000 0000 becomes 61290000000. Remove every space, bracket and dash.
Can I add a message that appears automatically?
Yes. Add ?text= and your URL-encoded message: wa.me/61412345678?text=Hi%2C%20I%27d%20like%20a%20quote. It appears in the customer's message box, ready to send.
Is this different from the QR code inside WhatsApp?
Yes. WhatsApp's own code adds you as a contact and changes if you reset it. A wa.me code is a plain link, so it is static, never expires, and you can print it at any size.
Does it work on both iPhone and Android?
Yes. The link opens the WhatsApp app when it is installed, and WhatsApp Web in a browser when it is not.