Franklin

Note: WhatsApp url scheme

  1. Universal link
  2. The user has WhatsApp
  3. Web-based app

The wa.me links are so called universal links. On modern systems when the user has the mobile or desktop app installed, this will directly open the app. When that is not the case they will be send to the WhatsApp website with download instructions.

Only open WhatsApp

https://wa.me/

Start chat to phone number
The number must be in international format without any symbols or spaces.

https://wa.me/1234

Start chat and prefill text field
Leave out the phone number to display the contacts list.

https://wa.me/1234/?text=Hello%20world

The user has WhatsApp

The following only work if the app is installed, otherwise the user may get an error.

Only open WhatsApp

whatsapp://

Start a chat

whatsapp://send

Start chat to phone number
The number must be in international format without any symbols or spaces.

whatsapp://send?phone=1234

Start chat and prefill the text field
Leave out the phone number to display the contacts list.

whatsapp://send?phone=1234&text=Hello%20world

Web-based app

The links below open the web version of WhatsApp. You still need the regular app or access to the phone’s SMS messages to login.

Only open the webapp

https://web.whatsapp.com

Start a chat

https://web.whatsapp.com/send

Start chat to phone number
The number must be in international format without any symbols or spaces.

https://web.whatsapp.com/send?phone=1234

Start a chat and prefill the text field
Leave out the phone number to display the contacts list.

https://web.whatsapp.com/send?phone=1234&text=Hello%20world

Changelog
2025-01-23 – Small rewrite since wa.me is now the standard.
2019-12-02 – Added url to only launch the app. Rewrite text.
There is a new url ‘wa.me’ for the redirector. Right now it is still using the old one at ‘api.whatsapp.com’, but they don’t say if it is going to be replaced. Maybe ‘wa.me’ is going to be a universal link that it tightly connected with the app. When you have the app installed it will open immediately without the web redirect. And when you don’t have it the website opens. Time will tell.

Comments

5 responses to “Note: WhatsApp url scheme”

  1. Antoine Stocker

    Is it a way to send a message without opening the app and click on send on Whatsapp?

    I just want to enter the url and the message is send…

    Reply
    1. Franklin

      I don’t believe there is a way to bypass the app using the URL schemes. The only way to directly talk to WhatsApp is by building your own solution using the Business API: https://www.whatsapp.com/business/api

      Reply
  2. Arvinthsamy M

    I don’t want to send messages or do a call, I want to open whatsapp and that’s it. what will be the URL scheme for that.

    Reply
    1. Franklin

      You can leave out the command section:

      whatsapp://

      Or

      https://api.whatsapp.com/

      Reply
  3. pruthviraj zalake

    Nice

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *