How to Create Email, SMS and Phone QR Codes

Choose the action the reader expects

Choose Email for a recipient address with an optional subject and message. Choose SMS for a phone number and optional text. Choose Phone Call when the main action is calling a number. Include the country code for numbers that people may use internationally.

These codes use mailto:, sms:, or tel: content. They rely on an appropriate app being available on the device. A computer without a configured email or phone application may ask the user to choose one instead of opening a ready-to-use draft.

Enter normal text, then inspect the payload

Choose the mode under “1. Choose your content” and fill in the visible fields. Enter ordinary spaces and punctuation in subjects and messages. The generator handles URL encoding; do not replace spaces with %20 yourself.

Open “Inspect encoded content” and check the destination. These fictional examples show how the values appear inside a code:

Email
mailto:[email protected]?subject=Booking%20question

SMS
sms:+447700900077?body=Please%20call%20me

Phone Call
tel:+447700900077

Keep the message short and suitable for public display

Anyone who can scan the finished code can read the address, number, and message. Generating it locally avoids uploading the payload to PageUtil; it does not hide that information in the published code.

Do not include passwords, private customer details, or messages that depend on knowing who will scan them. The generator limits encoded content to 2,000 UTF-8 bytes, and a particular error correction level may reach its QR capacity earlier. Shorten long messages if the preview reports a capacity error.

Download and test the app behaviour

Optionally customise the design, then download PNG, JPEG, or SVG. Add a label that matches the action, such as “EMAIL US”, “TEXT US”, or “CALL RECEPTION”. Use QR Code Scanner to inspect the final payload before printing.

Test the downloaded file with the phones your audience uses. Confirm the recipient, phone number, subject, and message. SMS body handling can differ across apps and devices; a decoded payload alone does not prove the text will appear in every messaging app.

A scan does not send an email or SMS automatically. A phone link also depends on the device and app. If you need a WhatsApp conversation instead of SMS, follow How to Create a WhatsApp QR Code.

Stop when

The final image opens the intended draft or call action on a target phone and the recipient details match the printed contact information. Replace the code if the address or number changes.

References

Use the linked specifications and product documentation to check behavior in your own environment.