qr-code-build

Generator · Email QR code

Email QR code generator

Scanning opens a new message with the address, subject line and body already written. The sender only has to press send — which is the difference between a form filled in and a form abandoned.

  • Free
  • No sign-up
  • No expiry
  • Commercial use
Short answer

An email QR code encodes a mailto link. Scanning it opens the phone's default mail app with the recipient, subject and message body prefilled. The person can edit anything before sending, and no email is sent automatically.

Prefilled subject

The subject line is doing real work

An empty subject line is a lost thread. Encode one that routes the message for you: Reorder — Table 6, Warranty claim — Model X400, Site visit request — North branch. Now your inbox filter can sort it before you read it.

If you print codes across several locations, put the location in the subject. You get free attribution with no tracking pixel and no analytics platform.

Limits

What an email code cannot do

  • No attachments. The mailto standard does not support them.
  • No guaranteed send. The user has to press send, and can edit or delete anything first.
  • No webmail on some setups. A phone with no configured mail app may do nothing. If your audience is mostly on webmail, link to a contact form instead.
  • Address harvesting. A printed address is scrapeable by anyone with a camera. Use a role address like hello@ rather than a personal one on public-facing material.
Questions

Frequently asked

Does it send the email automatically?
No, and it should not. It opens a prefilled draft in the mail app. The person reviews it and presses send.
Can I attach a file?
No. The mailto standard has no attachment field. Link to a page where the file can be uploaded instead.
What if the phone has no mail app set up?
Nothing happens, which is a real failure mode on shared or corporate devices. If that is likely for your audience, use a contact page URL.
Can I include multiple recipients?
Technically yes with commas, but support is inconsistent across mail clients. One address is the reliable choice.

Last reviewed 24 August 2026 · Checked by the QR Code Builder team