smartwaThe WhatsApp link format is https://wa.me/ followed by a full phone number in international format, with an optional ?text= parameter that pre-fills the first message. Anyone who opens the link lands in a chat with that number.
Last updated: · By SmartWA
The parts of a wa.me link
A WhatsApp link has three parts: the domain wa.me, the phone number, and an optional query string. For example, https://wa.me/15551234567?text=Hello opens a chat with the number +1 555 123 4567 and places the word Hello in the message box.
The number is the only required part. The text parameter is optional, and everything after the question mark is ignored when you leave the message out. You can build one by hand or with the free WhatsApp link generator.
How to write the phone number
Use the full international number: country code first, then the national number. Leave out the plus sign, spaces, dashes, brackets and any leading zeros. A Malaysian mobile number written as 012-345 6789 becomes 60123456789 in the link.
The country code decides who can reach you, so check it for each market. The country pages show local examples, for instance the WhatsApp link generator for Malaysia and the WhatsApp link generator for India.
How to add a pre-filled message
Add ?text= after the number and then the message with special characters percent-encoded. A space becomes %20, so "Hi, I saw your ad" is written as Hi%2C%20I%20saw%20your%20ad. A generator does this encoding for you.
A ready message gives each conversation context from the first line. It also makes the later WhatsApp UTM tracking setup easier, because a different pre-filled message per campaign can tell conversations apart even when the link itself does not carry tags.
Common mistakes that break a WhatsApp link
The most common mistakes are keeping the plus sign or a leading zero, leaving spaces in the number, and forgetting to encode the message. Each of these makes the link open an error page or the wrong chat.
A second class of mistake is structural. A wa.me link has the number baked in, so it cannot be redirected, counted or switched. That limitation is the reason to put a WhatsApp link with a backup number behind printed codes and ads, and the reason a plain link cannot be measured on its own, as explained in WhatsApp link tracking.
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Start free for 3 daysWhatsApp link format: frequently asked questions
Does a WhatsApp link need the plus sign?
No. Write the country code and number only, with no plus sign, spaces, dashes or leading zeros.
How do I put a message into a wa.me link?
Add ?text= after the number and the message after it, with spaces and symbols percent-encoded. For example, a space becomes %20.
Can the same format be used for any country?
Yes. The structure is the same everywhere. Only the country code and the national number change.