WhatsApp link generator for wa.me click to chat links
A wa.me link opens a WhatsApp chat with your number when someone taps it. Enter the number with its country code and an optional message; the link and its URL-encoded text are built in your browser.
How it works
- Enter the number. Pick the country and type the number. The tool removes the plus sign, spaces, brackets, dashes and a leading zero, as the wa.me format requires.
- Write the message. Write the message the customer will see pre-filled. It is URL-encoded for you: spaces become %20 and line breaks become %0A.
- Copy the form you need. Copy the short wa.me link for bios, signatures and buttons, or the long api.whatsapp.com form if a platform rejects the short one.
The wa.me link format
| Part | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Base link | https://wa.me/ followed by the phone number | https://wa.me/15551234567 |
| Phone number | Full international format: country code, then the number. No plus sign, no leading zeros, no brackets, no dashes. | +1 (555) 123-4567 becomes 15551234567 |
| Pre-filled message | Add ?text= and the URL-encoded message | https://wa.me/15551234567?text=Hi%2C%20I%20saw%20your%20site |
| Spaces and line breaks | %20 for a space, %0A for a line break | Hi%0AI%20have%20a%20question |
| Long form | https://api.whatsapp.com/send?phone=NUMBER&text=ENCODED does the same job | https://api.whatsapp.com/send?phone=15551234567&text=Hi |
| Message without a number | https://wa.me/?text=ENCODED opens a contact picker | https://wa.me/?text=Check%20this%20out |
| On a computer | The link opens WhatsApp Desktop if it is installed, or WhatsApp Web in the browser |
The rules above follow WhatsApp's own click to chat help article. The link is a plain URL, so it works anywhere a URL does.
Where to use the link
- A button on your website, using the HTML snippet above.
- Your Instagram, TikTok or LinkedIn bio.
- An email signature line: "Message us on WhatsApp".
- Invoices, quotes and order confirmations.
- A QR code for print, from the WhatsApp QR code generator.
What happens after someone taps the link
A chat with your number opens with the message ready to send. When the customer sends it, a customer-initiated conversation starts on your side. On the WhatsApp Business Platform that opens a 24-hour customer service window in which you can reply in free text; after it closes, a reply needs an approved template. A shared WhatsApp inbox lets several people answer one number without sharing a phone.
Questions, answered
The format, tracking and what happens after the tap. If your question is not here, ask us.
How do I create a WhatsApp link for my number?
Write https://wa.me/ followed by your number in full international format with no plus sign, leading zeros, brackets or dashes. The generator above does it and adds the encoded message.
What is the wa.me link format?
https://wa.me/NUMBER for a bare link and https://wa.me/NUMBER?text=ENCODED for one with a pre-filled message. NUMBER carries the country code with no plus sign; ENCODED is the URL-encoded message.
Can I add a message to a WhatsApp link?
Yes. Add ?text= and the URL-encoded message. Spaces become %20 and line breaks %0A. The generator encodes it for you.
Does a wa.me link work without WhatsApp Business?
Yes. Any number registered on WhatsApp works, personal or business.
Does a wa.me link work on desktop?
Yes. On a computer it opens WhatsApp Desktop if it is installed, or WhatsApp Web in the browser.
Can I track clicks on a wa.me link?
Not directly: wa.me ignores UTM parameters. Put a source word in the pre-filled message, or wrap the link in a short link service that counts clicks.
Is there a WhatsApp Business link generator?
This is one. The format is the same for personal and business numbers. The short link the WhatsApp Business app gives you, wa.me/message/CODE, is a different format tied to that account.
What happens after someone clicks the link?
A chat opens with your number and the pre-filled message ready to send. On the WhatsApp Business Platform, the customer's message opens a 24-hour window in which you can reply without a template.
One link, one number, a whole team answering
Sektra puts your WhatsApp Business number in a shared inbox with assignment, notes and a typing indicator when a teammate is replying, synced with your email.