# Email QR code generator

> Create a QR code that opens a new email with the address, subject and body already filled in. Free, no expiry, works with any mail app.

Source: https://qr-code-build.com/email-qr-code-generator/  
Last reviewed: 2026-08-24  
Publisher: QR Code Builder

## Summary
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.

## 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.

## What the mailto link looks like underneath
```
mailto:orders@example.com?subject=Reorder%20%E2%80%94%20Table%206&body=Item%3A%0AQuantity%3A
```

Spaces, line breaks and punctuation are percent-encoded, which is why a short human-readable message becomes a longer string. A two-line prefilled body typically adds 60–90 bytes to the code. The generator handles the encoding; the readout shows the real cost.

## 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.

## Frequently asked questions
### 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.

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Licence: this page may be quoted with attribution to QR Code Builder (https://qr-code-build.com/email-qr-code-generator/).