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SMS QR Code Generator

This SMS QR code generator opens a pre-filled draft on any phone so people can send a message in one tap.

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What is an SMS QR code and how it works

An SMS QR code is a scannable square that opens the phone’s default messaging app with the recipient number and message already filled in, so the user just taps Send. It is a QR code that encodes the RFC 5724 sms URI scheme, based on the core SMS protocol defined in 3GPP TS 23.040. It works natively across iPhone and Android devices.

Add your logo, brand colours and AI-generated designs so the code matches your visual identity. Print it on receipts, table tents, vehicle wraps, signboards, restaurant menus, healthcare appointment cards or event banners. You can encode keywords such as JOIN, RSVP or INFO so customers reply with one tap. Every SMS QR is dynamic by default, so the destination number and message body stay editable in your dashboard and each scan can be tracked without reprinting.

Encode a pre-filled SMS in 3 quick steps

Enter the number with country code, write the message body under 160 characters, add your logo and AI-generated designs, then download in PNG, SVG or PDF for receipts, vehicle wraps or table tents.

  1. Step 1

    Enter the recipient number

    Add the destination phone number in international format (+1 555 123 4567) or a 5-digit shortcode for marketing campaigns. Format: sms:+15551234567?body=JOIN.

  2. Step 2

    Draft the pre-filled message body

    Type the message customers will see, ready to send. Keep it below 160 characters for a single SMS segment. Use keywords such as JOIN, RSVP or INFO for one-tap replies.

  3. Step 3

    Customise and download the QR code

    Add your logo, brand colours and pixel patterns. Choose from 1200+ templates or generate QR Art for receipt footers, vehicle wraps or table tents. Export in PNG, SVG or PDF.

Frequently asked questions about SMS QR codes

Sending texts and pre-filled messages with SMS QR codes.

Enter the recipient phone number in international format, such as +1-415-555-0100, in QR Code AI and write the message body, ideally under 160 characters for a single SMS segment. The generator packages both into an sms: URI, for example sms:[number]?body=[text], and encodes it into the QR code. You can then add your logo and brand colours before downloading it in PNG, SVG or PDF. When scanned, the phone’s messaging app opens with the recipient and message already filled in.

Yes. SMS QR codes are free to create on QR Code AI. You can generate the code, customise it with your logo, brand colours and AI-designed templates, then download it in PNG, SVG or PDF without watermarks. SMS QR codes are dynamic by default, so the destination stays editable after printing and each scan can be tracked in your dashboard with country, device, browser and timestamp data.

Yes, an SMS QR code can include both the recipient number and the message body. The RFC 5724 sms URI scheme supports a phone number plus a body parameter, so the messaging app opens with both fields ready. The user reviews the draft and taps Send. A common format is sms:+15551234567?body=JOIN. Most modern messaging apps also handle special characters through URL encoding.

Yes, an SMS QR code works on both iPhone and Android in most cases. The RFC 5724 sms URI scheme has been supported natively on modern iOS and Android phones for years. Most users can scan directly from the camera app without installing anything extra. On iPhone it usually opens Apple Messages, while on Android it opens Google Messages or the phone’s default messaging app.

To scan a QR code received inside a text message, iPhone users can usually long-press the image and tap the QR action if available. On Android, the usual method is to save or screenshot the image and open it with Google Lens from the gallery. This lets the phone detect any embedded link or content. The same approach also works for QR codes received by email or chat apps.

To send a QR code via SMS, save the generated QR image first, usually as a PNG or JPEG file, then attach it like any other photo in your messaging app. Open Messages on iPhone, Google Messages on Android, or your default SMS app, start a new text, tap the attachment icon, choose the saved image and send it. The recipient can then long-press the image on iPhone or use Google Lens on Android to read it.

An SMS QR code is better when you want broad reach across phones with a SIM card, because it works through the carrier network and does not depend on an app or mobile data. A WhatsApp QR is better for users who already have WhatsApp and want richer chats over data. If your audience is mixed, such as locals and overseas visitors, printing both side by side is often the most practical option.

Ready for one-tap text replies?

Open the messaging app with the recipient and message ready in a single scan, run text-to-join opt-in flows or quick-reply campaigns, and edit the destination any time in your dashboard. Print on receipts, table tents or vehicle wraps so every scan opens a real draft.