SMS QR Code Generator
Create a QR code that opens a text message with the number and message filled in. SMSTO: or sms: format, SMS segment count, PNG and SVG downloads.
An SMS QR code opens the messaging app with a phone number and a ready-written text filled in, so people only have to tap Send. It suits text-to-join lists, feedback lines, competition entries and support numbers on packaging. The code is built in your browser — the number and message are not uploaded — and the tool counts the SMS segments and checks that the image scans.
How to use this tool
- Enter the phone number, with + and the country code if people abroad may scan it.
- Type the message to pre-fill, or leave it empty.
- Choose SMSTO: for the widest scanner support, or the sms: link format.
- Set size, error correction and colours, then download the PNG or SVG.
Formula
SMSTO:<number>:<message> or sms:<number>?body=<percent-encoded message>
Spaces, dashes, dots and brackets are removed from the number; a leading + is kept. SMSTO: is the ZXing convention that most scanner apps and phone cameras recognise. The sms: form follows RFC 5724 and percent-encodes the body as UTF-8. Segments: plain GSM-7 text fits 160 characters in one SMS or 153 per part when split; a single character outside the GSM alphabet switches the whole message to UCS-2, which fits 70, or 67 per part.
Example
+1 555 123 4567 with the message Hello becomes SMSTO:+15551234567:Hello, or sms:+15551234567?body=Hello in link form. A 161-character plain-English message is one character too long for a single SMS, so it is sent as 2 segments of up to 153 characters.
Frequently asked questions
Does scanning send the text automatically?
No. The phone only opens a draft; the person reviews it and taps Send, and normal text rates from their own plan apply.
SMSTO: or sms: — which should I use?
SMSTO: is the default because camera apps and scanners support it most widely. The sms: link is the web standard and also works as a link on web pages, but platforms have handled its body parameter differently over the years, so test with the phones your audience uses.
Why did my message switch to Unicode?
One character outside the GSM-7 alphabet — an emoji, Korean or Chinese text, letters such as ç or ê, or curly quotes pasted from a word processor — makes the whole message UCS-2 and cuts the limit to 70. The tool lists the characters responsible.
Do I need the country code?
Without it, the number is treated as local to the country of the phone that scans it. For posters, products or anything seen abroad, use + and the country code.
Last updated: 2026-10-30