QR code types
WhatsApp QR codes: one scan opens a chat
A WhatsApp QR code is a code pointing at a wa.me link, so scanning it opens a chat with your business number directly, with no need to save the contact first.
WhatsApp's own link format is https://wa.me/<countrycode><number>, optionally followed by ?text=<prefilled message>. That URL is what the QR code actually stores. 123QR wraps it in a dynamic short link so you can change the destination number later, and see how many scans it gets, both things a plain static wa.me QR code cannot do.
Building the wa.me link correctly
- 01
Use the full country code, no leading zero
wa.me links need the number in international format with no plus sign, spaces or dashes: 14155551234 for a US number, 447911123456 for a UK mobile. Drop any leading 0 from the local number.
- 02
Add a prefilled message if useful
Append ?text=Hi%2C%20I%27d%20like%20to%20book%20a%20table to open the chat with a message already typed in, spaces and punctuation URL-encoded. The customer can edit or send it as-is.
- 03
Test from an actual phone
Open the link on both an Android and iPhone before printing anything. WhatsApp Web and the desktop app behave differently and are not what most scanners will hit.
- 04
Point a 123QR code at it
Paste the finished wa.me URL as the destination. If your business number changes, or you want to route to a different team's number seasonally, edit the destination without reprinting.
What people use it for
- Customer support: a code on a receipt or invoice that opens a chat with a support number instead of listing an email address nobody wants to type out.
- Ordering: takeaway and market stalls printing a code that opens a chat pre-filled with 'I'd like to order', skipping phone calls during busy periods.
- Booking and enquiries: salons, tradespeople and small clinics using a single code on a van, window sticker or business card so people can ask about availability without dialing.
- Event and market stalls: a table sign that opens a chat for questions the seller would otherwise have to answer verbally to each visitor.
Placement on receipts and shopfronts
On a receipt, keep the code small but printed clearly in black on white, away from the fold line thermal printers tend to crease. A line above it like 'Questions about your order? Scan to WhatsApp us' sets the expectation.
On a shopfront or window, place the code at a height and distance people naturally stand at, not up near the top of the glass where reflections make it hard to scan. Outdoor codes should use a matte, weatherproof sticker; gloss laminate glares in daylight and can prevent phones focusing on it.
Anywhere the code sits next to your phone number in text, make sure the two obviously match — a mismatch reads as suspicious, even if it is just a typo.
Privacy of the number behind the code
The phone number in a wa.me link is visible to anyone who inspects the link, including in the URL preview some phones show before opening WhatsApp. If you don't want your personal number publicly discoverable, use a dedicated business number or WhatsApp Business account rather than a personal line.
A dynamic 123QR code adds one layer of separation: the printed code shows only a 123qr.net short link, and the wa.me destination is not visible until the scan resolves. That is not the same as hiding the number from WhatsApp itself, but it does keep the raw number out of the printed material and any photo someone takes of it.
When to re-point the code
- You switch business phone numbers or move to a WhatsApp Business account.
- You want a seasonal message change, for example switching the prefilled text from 'booking enquiry' to 'holiday hours question' during a busy period.
- You route different printed material to different teams — a code on delivery boxes going to logistics support, a code on marketing flyers going to sales.
Common questions
- What does a WhatsApp QR code actually contain?
- A link in the format https://wa.me/<number>, optionally with a prefilled message. Scanning it opens a chat with that number in WhatsApp. It does not contain a phone call number or SMS payload.
- Can I prefill a message when someone scans?
- Yes. Add ?text=your%20message to the end of the wa.me link with the text URL-encoded. WhatsApp opens the chat with that text already in the input box, which the customer can edit before sending.
- Can I change the number the code opens later?
- Yes, if you use a dynamic code. Update the destination wa.me link in your dashboard and the same printed code opens a chat with the new number on the next scan.
- Does WhatsApp Business change how this works?
- No, the wa.me link format is the same. A WhatsApp Business account adds things like a business profile and quick replies on your end, but the QR code and link work identically.
- Is my phone number visible to whoever scans the code?
- The number is embedded in the wa.me link that the code ultimately resolves to. Use a dedicated business number if you do not want a personal number exposed this way.
Keep reading
- Restaurant menusTable codes that survive menu changes, price updates and seasonal specials.
- Dynamic QR codesHow editable QR codes work and why they beat static codes in print.
- QR code analyticsSee when, where and on what device your printed material gets scanned.
- Google review QR codeSend customers straight to your Google review form.
Print once. Change the destination anytime.
Create a free account, generate your code and edit where it points whenever you need to.