How to Create a WhatsApp Click-to-Chat Link With a Message

A WhatsApp link lets anyone start a chat with you in one tap, without saving your number first. Put it in your Instagram bio, website, email signature, Google Business Profile or on a flyer as a QR code. With a pre-filled message, the customer doesn't even have to think about what to type. Here is how it works and how to avoid the mistakes that break the link.

The link format

WhatsApp's official "click to chat" format is:

https://wa.me/<number>?text=<message>

For example, with the fictional US number +1 (555) 123-4567:

https://wa.me/15551234567?text=Hi%2C%20I%27d%20like%20a%20quote

When someone opens it on a phone, WhatsApp starts a chat with that number and the text "Hi, I'd like a quote" already typed. On a computer it opens WhatsApp Web or the desktop app.

Step 1: write the number in international format

This is where most links break. The number must be:

• the country code first (1 for the US and Canada, 44 for the UK, 55 for Brazil, 351 for Portugal…);
• followed by the full number without a leading zero from the area code;
• with no "+", spaces, dashes or parentheses.

How people write it	How the link needs it
+1 (555) 123-4567	15551234567
+44 07700 900123	447700900123
+55 (11) 91234-5678	5511912345678

Step 2: encode the message

URLs can't contain spaces or many special characters, so the message has to be URL-encoded:

• space → %20
• comma → %2C
• apostrophe → %27
• line break → %0A
• question mark → %3F

Emojis and accented letters are encoded too. Doing this by hand is error-prone, which is exactly what the WhatsApp link generator does for you: type the number and the message normally and copy the finished link.

Step 3: test it

Open the link on your phone and on a computer before you publish it. Check that it opens the right number and that the message looks correct, including line breaks and emojis.

Turn the link into a QR code

For printed materials (menus, business cards, shop windows, packaging) a QR code works better than a URL. Customers point their camera at it and the chat opens. Our generator creates the QR code at the same time as the link, ready to download.

Ideas for pre-filled messages

• Online store: "Hi! I'd like to know more about [product]."
• Restaurant: "Hi, I'd like to place an order for delivery."
• Services: "Hello, I'd like to schedule an appointment."
• Ads and campaigns: include a code, such as "I saw your ad – CODE10", so you know where the lead came from.

Keep it short and written as the customer would write it. A good pre-filled message removes friction; a long one feels robotic.

Other formats you may see

• https://api.whatsapp.com/send?phone=15551234567&text=… also works and does the same thing.
• https://wa.me/?text=… (without a number) opens WhatsApp and lets the user choose who to send the message to. It's useful for "share this" buttons.

Troubleshooting

• "The phone number shared via URL is invalid": check the country code and remove the "+", spaces and the leading zero.
• The message shows strange symbols: it wasn't URL-encoded correctly; regenerate it with a tool.
• It opens the wrong account: on phones with two WhatsApp apps (personal and Business), the system may ask which one to use.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need WhatsApp Business to create a wa.me link?

No. Click-to-chat links work with both regular WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business accounts.

Why doesn't my WhatsApp link work?

Usually the number is in the wrong format. Use the country code followed by the number, without "+", spaces, dashes or a leading zero.

Can I add a line break to the message?

Yes. Use %0A in the encoded text, or simply press Enter in a link generator, which encodes it for you.

Is it free to create WhatsApp links?

Yes. The wa.me format is provided by WhatsApp at no cost, and the CoringaWeb generator is free as well.

Informational content only. For legal, financial or health decisions, consult a qualified professional.