How to create a WhatsApp link
- Choose the country of the phone number and type the number the way you would dial it locally. You can also type the full number with a plus sign and leave the country box on No country.
- If you want the chat to open with a message already typed, write it in the message box.
- Copy the link, the HTML code or the QR code. The link updates as you type.
When someone opens the link, WhatsApp starts a chat with that number. If a message was added, it appears in the typing box, and the person only needs to press send.
What the tool does with the number
A WhatsApp link needs the full international number, written with digits only. The tool takes care of the parts that people usually get wrong:
- It adds the country code of the country you chose.
- It removes the zero that many countries put at the start of local numbers. A UK mobile number 07911 123456 becomes 447911123456.
- It removes spaces, dashes, brackets and the plus sign, and the 00 that is used in some countries in place of the plus.
- It tells you if the number is too short or too long. A full number has between 7 and 15 digits.
The link formats
| Format | Example | Use |
|---|---|---|
| wa.me | https://wa.me/15551234567 | The standard short link. Use this one. |
| api.whatsapp.com | https://api.whatsapp.com/send?phone=15551234567 | The older form of the link. It still works. |
| App link | whatsapp://send?phone=15551234567 | Opens the app directly on a phone. It does nothing on a device without the app. |
The QR code
The QR code contains the wa.me link. A phone that scans it opens the chat. You can download it as an SVG, which stays sharp at any size and suits print, or as a PNG image. Leave a blank margin around it and print it in dark ink on a light background so that it scans well.
Good to know
- The person who owns the number needs a WhatsApp account, or the link will offer to invite them to WhatsApp.
- Anyone who gets the link can see the phone number, so think before you put a private number on a public page.
- Everything is made in your browser. The number and message are not sent to a server.
To put a floating chat button on a website, use the click to chat button generator. For longer messages and templates, see message link. To check a link that you already have, use the wa.me link checker. The guide explains all of this step by step.