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Generator · SMS QR code

SMS QR code generator

Scanning opens the messages app with the number and the message already typed. Useful when the reply itself is the action — a keyword opt-in, a check-in, a shortcode entry.

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

An SMS QR code encodes a phone number and an optional message body. Scanning opens the messaging app with both filled in, so the person only presses send. The message is never sent automatically.

Contents
Keyword campaigns

Why the prefilled body matters

If you want a written reply rather than a text, the email QR code generator does the same job through a mail app.

Keyword campaigns fail on the typing step. Asking someone to text WINTER to a five-digit shortcode loses people at every stage: remembering the word, finding the number, spelling it right. A code that opens the app with WINTER already in the box removes all three.

Keep the keyword uppercase and short. Many shortcode platforms match exactly and will silently ignore anything with extra punctuation.

Rules

Opt-in law before you print anything

An SMS code invites someone to message you first, which is why it is a cleaner starting point than buying a list. What happens next is regulated, and the rules differ by market:

  • The first message is theirs, not yours. Because the customer sends it, you have an inbound enquiry rather than an unsolicited marketing message.
  • Marketing replies need consent. Most countries restrict unsolicited marketing messages and require prior consent. Sending a keyword is treated as consent for that campaign only — not for everything you send later.
  • Say what they are opting into. Print the frequency and what the messages will contain next to the code, not just the keyword.
  • Every marketing message needs an opt-out. STOP to unsubscribe is the convention, and it must actually work.
  • Rates apply. Some jurisdictions require you to say that standard message rates apply. Two words on the printed material covers it.
  • Keep the consent record. The inbound message is your evidence. Retain it with a timestamp.

None of this is onerous, but it is much cheaper to design in than to retrofit after a complaint.

Format support

SMSTO is the compatible choice

Two competing formats exist. The generator uses SMSTO:number:message, which is the more widely supported of the two — it is what Android's scanner stack and most iOS scanner apps expect. The alternative sms:number?body= form is handled inconsistently, particularly on older Android builds.

Shortcodes work, but only within their own country. A UK shortcode scanned on a roaming foreign SIM will usually fail — use a full international number if your audience travels.

Questions

Frequently asked

Is the message sent automatically?
No. It opens the messaging app with everything prefilled. The person presses send.
Can I use a shortcode?
Yes, but shortcodes are country-specific and will not work for people on foreign SIMs. Use a full international number for a travelling audience.
Will standard message rates apply?
Yes, the person's normal carrier rates apply. Say so on the printed material — some jurisdictions require it.
Does it work on iPhone?
Yes. iOS recognises the SMSTO format and opens Messages with the number and text in place.
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Last reviewed 24 August 2026 · Checked by the QR Code Builder team