Free WhatsApp QR Code Generator

By Sheraz Khan

Make a QR code that opens a WhatsApp chat with your number, with a ready message already typed. Our free WhatsApp QR code generator makes a code that anyone can scan to start a chat with you in seconds. No sign-up, no app and no cost. Type your number, add a message, and download the code for your shop, your business card or your poster.

How to make a WhatsApp QR code

Making a WhatsApp QR code takes less than a minute. Follow these steps.

1. Type your WhatsApp number with the country code. For the United States and Canada, start with +1. For the United Kingdom, start with +44. Do not add spaces or dashes, and do not add a leading zero after the country code.
2. Type a short ready message. This is the message that will appear in the chat box when someone scans the code. A good message is short and clear, such as Hello, I would like to order, or Hi, I need help with my order.
3. Check the live preview. Your code updates as you type, and the text under the preview shows the full WhatsApp link.
4. Download the code as a PNG for a screen or a small print, or as an SVG for a large print. Test it with your own phone before you print it, and check that the chat opens with the right number and the right message.
5. Print the code or show it on a screen. Put it where customers can see it, such as on a counter, a business card, a menu, a product label or a poster.

What is a WhatsApp QR code

A WhatsApp QR code holds a link to a WhatsApp chat. The link looks like wa.me, followed by your phone number, and then a message. When a phone scans the code, it opens WhatsApp and starts a chat with you. The person does not have to save your number first, type it by hand, or search for you. They tap the link, and the chat is open.

This is different from a QR code that only shows a phone number. A phone number code makes a call. A WhatsApp code starts a chat. For a business, a chat is often better than a call, because the customer can write at any time, send a photo, and keep a record of the order or the question.

Where to use a WhatsApp QR code

Shops and small businesses use WhatsApp codes on counters, on menus, on product labels and on receipts. A customer scans the code to ask about a product, to place an order, or to get help after a purchase. Restaurants use them on tables so guests can order or ask for the bill by chat. Service businesses, such as plumbers, cleaners and tutors, use them on flyers and business cards so a new customer can message in seconds.

Real estate agents use WhatsApp codes on property signs and flyers, so a buyer can message about a house without calling. Doctors and clinics use them on appointment cards so patients can message to book or reschedule. Event organisers use them on posters so visitors can message for tickets or help. If your customers use WhatsApp every day, a WhatsApp code is the fastest way for them to reach you.

Writing a good ready message

The ready message is the text that appears in the chat box after the scan. Keep it short and make it easy for the customer to send. A good message tells you what the customer wants, such as Hello, I would like to book a table for two, or Hi, I want to ask about the price of the blue shirt. A message that is too long will put people off, and they may delete it.

Do not use a message that is pushy or that asks for personal details. The customer should feel free to change the message before they send it. A short, polite message with a clear topic is best. You can change the message for each use, such as a different message for a menu, a poster or a business card.

WhatsApp QR codes for business

For a business, a WhatsApp code is a direct line to the customer. It removes the need for a contact form, an email, or a phone call at a bad time. The customer messages when they are ready, and you reply when you can. This works well for orders, for support, and for questions before a purchase.

Put a different code on each product or each service if you want to know where the message came from. The ready message can name the product, such as Hello, I want to order the large pizza. That way you know at once what the customer wants, and you can reply fast. Keep your WhatsApp business profile up to date, with your hours and your address, so people who message you can see that you are a real business.

Printing a WhatsApp QR code

Print the code dark on white, with a white border around it. A code of about 4 cm works for a table card or a business card. For a poster or a window, make it at least 10 cm so people can scan it from a few steps away. Use the SVG download for large prints, because it stays sharp. Test a print with an iPhone and an Android phone, in the place where it will be used, and check that it opens the right number with the right message.

Troubleshooting a WhatsApp QR code

If the code scans but WhatsApp does not open, check the phone number first. A missing country code is the most common mistake. The number must start with the country code, with no leading zero and no spaces. If the number is wrong, the chat will open with the wrong person or not at all. Make a new code with the correct number.

If the code will not scan, it may be too small, printed with low contrast, or on a shiny surface. Make it bigger and print it dark on white. If the ready message looks wrong, check for special characters. A message with a line break or with symbols that WhatsApp does not like may need to be shortened. Keep the message plain and short, and test it again.

Privacy and WhatsApp codes

A WhatsApp code shows your phone number to anyone who scans it. Do not put a personal number on a public code. Use a business number, or a second number for work, for public codes. If you change your number, make a new code, because the old code links to the old number.

Your code is made in your browser. We do not store the number or the message you type, and we do not ask for your email to make a code. The details are only in the code you download.

FAQs

How do I make a QR code for WhatsApp?

Type your WhatsApp number with the country code in the generator above, add a ready message, and download the code. Anyone who scans it will open a chat with you.

Does the other person need my number saved first?

No. A WhatsApp QR code opens a chat even if your number is not in their contacts. They do not have to save you first.

What is a ready message?

A ready message is the text that appears in the chat box after the scan. It helps the customer start the chat. Keep it short, such as Hello, I would like to order.

Can I use a WhatsApp QR code for my business?

Yes. It is a fast way for customers to reach you. Put it on your counter, menu, business card, website or poster, with a short line such as Scan to chat with us.

Is a WhatsApp QR code free?

Yes. It is free, with no sign-up, no watermark and no limit on how many codes you make.

Does a WhatsApp QR code expire?

No. It is a static code, so it works for as long as your number stays the same. It never expires and there is no fee.