WhatsApp QR Code: Share Your Contact in One Scan

To share your WhatsApp in one scan, you can either use the QR code built into the app or create a custom wa.me QR code that opens a chat directly. The built-in code adds you as a contact, while a custom code can start a conversation and even pre-fill the first message. This guide covers what WhatsApp QR codes do, how to use the built-in one, how to make a custom code with a pre-filled message, how WhatsApp Business codes work, and where to display your code for the best results.

What Do WhatsApp QR Codes Do?

A WhatsApp QR code removes the friction of exchanging phone numbers. Instead of dictating your number and having someone type it in, they point their phone at your code and are connected to you in a moment (Denso Wave). There are two main kinds, and it helps to know the difference:

• The built-in personal code. Found inside the WhatsApp app, this code saves you as a contact when someone scans it.
• A custom wa.me code. Built from WhatsApp's click-to-chat link, this code opens a chat with you directly, even if the person has never saved your number, and it can carry a pre-filled first message.

The built-in code is perfect for meeting people in person. The custom code shines on printed materials and websites, where you want a scan to start a conversation with as little effort as possible.

And there's a good reason to make WhatsApp your scan-to-chat channel. It passed 3 billion monthly active users as of early 2025, according to Statista, and users send more than 100 billion messages a day, per Business of Apps. It's also the most popular messaging app in over 100 countries, as reported by Backlinko. So when you put a WhatsApp QR code on a flyer or a shelf tag, you're pointing people to an app they almost certainly already have open.

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How Do You Use the Built-In WhatsApp QR Code?

WhatsApp includes a personal QR code for every account. To find and share yours, according to the WhatsApp Help Center:

• On Android: tap the three-dot menu, then Settings, then the QR icon next to your name.
• On iPhone: tap Settings at the bottom right, then the QR icon next to your name.

From there you can show the code for someone to scan, or share the code image through another app. To scan someone else's code, open the same QR screen, tap Scan code, and point your camera at their code, then tap to add them as a contact. You can also scan a saved photo of a code using the image icon on the scanner.

How Do You Create a Custom WhatsApp QR With a Pre-Filled Message?

For posters, packaging, and websites, a custom code built from WhatsApp's official click-to-chat link is usually the better choice, because a scan opens a chat with you without the person needing to save your number first.

Start with the wa.me format. It is https://wa.me/ followed by your phone number in full international format, using digits only, with no plus sign, spaces, dashes, parentheses, or leading zeros. For example, a Singapore number would look like https://wa.me/6591234567.

To pre-fill the first message, add ?text= and your message, with spaces and special characters URL encoded. A space becomes %20. So a full link might read https://wa.me/6591234567?text=Hi%2C%20I%20saw%20your%20flyer, which opens a chat with that message ready to send. This format is documented in WhatsApp's click-to-chat guide.

Once you have your link, paste it into a URL QR code generator to produce a scannable code. Our batch QR code generator can also create several at once if you run different campaigns or numbers. Because this is a static QR code, it is free, permanent, and needs no subscription.

1. Build your wa.me link with your international number.
2. Add an optional pre-filled message with ?text= and URL encoding.
3. Paste the link into a free QR generator and download the code.
4. Test it by scanning with another phone before you print or publish.

Create a Free WhatsApp QR Code →

How Do WhatsApp Business QR Codes Work?

WhatsApp Business offers the same building blocks with a more commercial focus. The Business app has its own built-in QR code that customers can scan to start a chat with your business account, and you can pair it with a short greeting message so every new conversation begins consistently.

The custom wa.me approach works just as well for a business number, and it is often the more flexible option for printed marketing. A pre-filled message such as a product name or a promo reference can help you understand where an enquiry came from, since the customer arrives with that context already typed. For a wider view of using codes across a business, see our guide to QR codes for small business.

Where Should You Display Your WhatsApp QR Code?

A WhatsApp QR code is only useful where people can comfortably scan it. Some of the most effective placements are:

• Business cards and flyers, so a new contact can reach you on WhatsApp without typing your number.
• Shop windows and counters, where customers can ask a question or place an order while they are thinking of it.
• Product packaging and receipts, to open a support or feedback channel after a purchase.
• Websites and social profiles, giving visitors a one-tap way to start chatting.
• Event booths and posters, to capture interest in the moment.

Wherever you place it, add a short prompt such as "Scan to chat on WhatsApp" so people know what to expect, keep the printed code large enough to scan easily, and test it with a real phone before it goes out. Our QR code size guide covers reliable print dimensions.

What Else Do People Ask?

What does a WhatsApp QR code do?

A WhatsApp QR code lets someone add you or start a chat with you in one scan, without typing your phone number. WhatsApp has a built-in code that saves you as a contact when scanned, and you can also make a custom wa.me QR code that opens a chat, optionally with a message already typed in.

How do I find my WhatsApp QR code?

Open WhatsApp and go to Settings. On Android, tap the three-dot menu, then Settings, then the QR icon next to your name. On iPhone, tap Settings at the bottom right, then the QR icon next to your name. You can share the code image or let someone scan it to add you as a contact.

What is a wa.me link?

A wa.me link is WhatsApp's official click-to-chat format. It is https://wa.me/ followed by your phone number in full international format using digits only, with no plus sign, spaces, dashes, or leading zeros. Scanning a QR code built from this link opens a chat with you even if the person has not saved your number.

Can I add a pre-filled message to a WhatsApp QR code?

Yes. Add ?text= followed by your message to a wa.me link, so it becomes https://wa.me/15551234567?text=your%20message. Spaces and special characters must be URL encoded, for example a space becomes %20. When the person scans the QR code, the chat opens with that message ready to send.

Is a WhatsApp QR code free?

Yes. WhatsApp's built-in QR code is free inside the app, and a custom wa.me QR code can be created for free in a browser QR generator with no account. A static wa.me QR code is permanent and works without any subscription.