# SMS QR code generator > Free SMS QR code generator. Create a code that opens a text message with the number and message already written. Ideal for keyword campaigns and opt-ins. Source: https://qr-code-build.com/sms-qr-code-generator/ Last reviewed: 2026-08-24 Publisher: QR Code Builder ## Summary 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. ## Why the prefilled body matters If you want a written reply rather than a text, the [email QR code generator](/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. ## 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. ## 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. ## Frequently asked questions ### 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. --- Licence: this page may be quoted with attribution to QR Code Builder (https://qr-code-build.com/sms-qr-code-generator/).