The wa.me Link Format
A wa.me link is the whole mechanism behind every click-to-chat button, QR code and shortcut. It is a short URL with strict rules, and almost every failure is a formatting one.
Anatomy of the link
https://wa.me/212612345678
| Part | Value | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Host | wa.me | Official short domain; always https |
| Country code | 212 | Digits only, no plus sign |
| Local number | 612345678 | No leading zero, no spaces or dashes |
Encoding the message
Add a pre-filled message with ?text=. The value must be URL-encoded: spaces become %20, line breaks %0A, and & becomes %26.
https://wa.me/212612345678?text=Hi%2C%20your%20order%20is%20ready%20for%20pickup
The recipient can still edit or delete the text before sending — a pre-filled message is a draft, never something sent on their behalf.
Link variants
| Form | Behaviour |
|---|---|
wa.me/<number> | Opens a chat with that number |
wa.me/<number>?text=… | Opens the chat with a draft message |
wa.me/?text=… | Asks which chat to send the draft to |
api.whatsapp.com/send?phone=…&text=… | Older equivalent, same result |
Mistakes that break links
- Keeping the leading zero of the local number after the country code.
- Pasting a number with spaces, dots or brackets copied from a website.
- Including the plus sign, which some platforms then re-encode as a space.
- Writing the message unencoded, so everything after the first space is dropped.
- Using a landline or a number that has no WhatsApp account attached.
Build one now
The link generator applies every rule above automatically, and the QR code generator turns the same link into a scannable code. On iPhone, Click to Chat does it from a keypad with a country picker.
Frequently asked questions
What is the correct wa.me link format?
https://wa.me/ followed by the full international number in digits only — no plus sign, spaces, dashes, brackets or leading zero.
Should I include the + sign?
No. wa.me expects digits only. The plus is implied by the country code.
How do I pre-fill a message?
Append ?text= and the URL-encoded message, for example https://wa.me/212612345678?text=Hello%20there.
What is the difference between wa.me and api.whatsapp.com/send?
They resolve to the same behaviour. api.whatsapp.com/send?phone=<number>&text=<message> is the older form; wa.me is the short official one and is easier to print or share.
Can I make a link without a number?
Yes — https://wa.me/?text=<message> opens a chat picker with the message pre-filled, which is useful for share buttons.
Click to Chat is an independent utility and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by WhatsApp LLC. WhatsApp is a trademark of its respective owner.