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Should I use the WhatsApp tool's built-in QR code or the separate QR generator for a printed sign?

For a screen or a small card, the built-in code is enough: a PNG you download in one click, at error-correction level M. For a large sign, or if you want a logo on top or colours other than black and white, copy the link into the QR code generator, which offers SVG that scales without blurring, higher correction levels, and control over size and colours.

Published · 3 min read

What the built-in code gives you

The WhatsApp link generator has a 'Show a QR code of the link' checkbox. Tick it and the code is drawn from the wa.me link, updates automatically with every change to the number or message, and disappears if the link becomes invalid. Its settings are fixed: correction level M, a white margin four modules wide, black on white, and six pixels per module. The download button gives you a PNG whose file name includes the number.

The resulting size depends on the length of the link. We measured it with the same library and settings, using an example number:

  • A link with no message: 25 modules per side, and a 198 × 198 pixel image.
  • A 51-character English message: 41 modules, and 294 × 294 pixels.
  • A 40-character Arabic message: 53 modules, and 366 × 366 pixels.

Notice that the shorter Arabic message gave the denser code, because each Arabic letter takes more room inside the link.

When the built-in code is enough

  • Showing the code on a screen, in a post, a story or a slide.
  • Small prints seen up close, such as a thank-you card in an order or a sticker on a bag.
  • When you want speed: the link and the code in one place, with no extra step.

When to move to the QR code generator

  • A sign or large poster: a small PNG blown up shows blocky, fuzzy edges. The SVG from the QR code generator prints at any size with crisp edges.
  • A logo over the code, or somewhere it may get dirty: pick level Q or H there, which survive damage to a larger part of the code.
  • Brand colours: the standalone tool lets you change both colours and warns you if contrast is weak or the colours are inverted.
  • A specific pixel size or a different margin that your printer asks for.

How: copy the wa.me link with 'Copy link', paste it into the 'Text or URL' field of the QR code generator, adjust what you need, and download. The content inside the code is exactly the same link.

Either way

The shorter the message, the simpler the code and the easier it scans from a distance, so for a sign that people will scan from across a room, consider a link with no message. Before printing, scan the code with your phone from where a customer will stand and make sure it opens the right chat. And remember the number is written into the code, so if you ever change it you will need to print a new one.

Common questions

Is the built-in code sent to a server to be made?

No. It is drawn inside your browser with the qrcode library, just like the link itself.

Why did I get an error instead of a code?

Most likely the message is longer than a QR code can hold. The tool shows the error rather than a partial code, so shorten or remove the message.