A WhatsApp code is a shortcut. Someone points their camera at it, WhatsApp opens, and they are in a chat with you without saving your number or typing it. This page builds that code from your number, with an optional first message, and gives you a file you can print or post.
Four steps, about a minute
- Check the country code. It starts as +91; change it if your number is registered elsewhere.
- Type your digits without a leading zero, spaces or dashes. An Indian mobile is just ten digits, such as
9876543210. - Add a first message if you want one, for example "Hi, I would like to order a cake". The person can edit it before sending.
- Download the image. Scan it with your own phone first, and check that the right chat opens.
The preview redraws as you type, so there is no button to press. The line under it shows the exact text stored inside it. You can also copy the plain link to use in an Instagram bio or an email.
What is actually inside it
Nothing special. It is an ordinary QR code (ISO/IEC 18004) holding a web link that WhatsApp documents for this purpose:
https://wa.me/919876543210?text=Hi%2C%20I%20would%20like%20to%20order%20a%20cake
After wa.me/ comes the number in full international form: country code first, no plus sign, no zeros. After ?text= comes your message with spaces and symbols encoded. A phone that reads it opens the link, and WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business starts a chat with that number.
The page also accepts a group invite link, which starts with chat.whatsapp.com. Scanning that shows the Join group screen. Anyone with the link can join, so print it only where you are happy for the public to see it. If an admin resets the invite link in the group settings, the old code stops working and you have to print a new one.
Where it earns its place
It suits any spot where someone has a question and a phone in their hand. A sweet shop puts it on the counter with "Scan to order". A tutor prints it on a visiting card. A flat for rent gets it on the hoarding with a message like "Please send details of the 2BHK". A catalogue enquiry works better if the message already says "Please share your catalogue", because every chat then arrives with context.
If you want people to save your full details instead of starting a chat, the vCard code does that. At a till, a UPI payment code can sit next to this one, as long as each has its own label.
Colours, logo and file type
The Design panel lets you change the dot and corner shapes, the colours and the margin, and set a size up to 2000 px. Keep dark dots on a light background. Light-on-dark and pastel combinations fail on many phones.
If you add a logo, error correction moves to level H, which can recover about 30% of a damaged code. The logo covers some of the pattern, so keep it small and test on two or three phones.
For print, download SVG. It is a vector file, so it stays sharp on a card or a banner. PNG is fine for WhatsApp status, Instagram and websites. The printable card adds a "Chat with us on WhatsApp" heading and is the quickest option for a counter stand.
Sizes that scan from a normal distance
| Where it goes | Size | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Visiting card | 2 x 2 cm | Keep the pre-filled message to one short line |
| Table tent or counter stand | 4 to 5 cm | Leave a plain margin around it |
| A4 poster | 6 to 8 cm | Keep it away from folds and staples |
| Shop banner | 15 cm or more | About 1 cm of code for every 10 cm of distance |
A long first message adds data, and more data means smaller squares at the same print size. If the card is tiny, shorten the message before you shrink the square.
If it does not work
- Wrong chat or "number is invalid": check the country code and remove any leading 0. That number must have WhatsApp installed.
- Message missing: make sure it is typed in the message box. Very old app versions ignore the text, so update WhatsApp.
- Group says the link was reset: paste the new invite link and reprint.
- Camera ignores it: print larger, add contrast, cut glare, and shrink or remove the logo.
To see what a printed code really contains, upload a photo of it to the QR code scanner, which shows the full link before you open it.
Your number, and who gets to see it
It is made in your browser. Your number and message are not sent to this site. Because the number sits inside it, anyone who scans a printed copy will see it. If you would rather not share a personal number, use a separate WhatsApp Business number.
It is static: the link is the pattern, so it has no expiry date and keeps working until you change the number or reset a group link. For a code that points to a website or text instead, use the general QR code generator.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same as the QR code inside WhatsApp?
No. The one under WhatsApp Settings adds you as a contact and cannot carry a message or your logo. This one opens a chat through a wa.me link, so you control the message, colours and size.
Is the WhatsApp Web QR code the same thing?
No. That is a temporary login code for linking a laptop to your account. Never share it and never scan one someone else sends you.
How do I make a code for a group?
Open the group, tap its name, choose Invite via link, copy the link and paste it into this page in place of a number. Anyone who scans it can join.
Does it work for WhatsApp Business?
Yes. Enter the Business number; the wa.me link is the same format for both account types.
Do these codes expire?
No. The link is stored in the pattern itself. It stops working only if you change the number or reset a group invite link.
Can I make one on my phone?
Yes. Open this page in your phone browser, fill in the number and save the image to your gallery.
Why does my number show up for everyone who scans?
Because the chat link contains it. That is how the chat opens without saving a contact. Use a Business or spare number if you want to keep your main one private.
Updated 2026-10-14