Free Tools

WhatsApp link generator for UK numbers

A wa.me link opens a WhatsApp chat with your business the moment a customer taps it, even if they have never saved your number. Pick United Kingdom, type your mobile number as you normally write it (07700 900123 becomes 447700900123 automatically), optionally add a pre-filled message, and copy the result.

The link you get is a plain, official wa.me URL. Nothing is shortened, wrapped or tracked, so it will keep working for as long as WhatsApp exists and your number stays active.

Type the number as you would dial it locally, or paste a full international number starting with +. Spaces, dashes and a leading zero are removed automatically.

Your link

https://wa.me/

Without a number this becomes a share link: whoever opens it picks the chat to send your message to.

Want every reply in one team inbox?

Spun turns the WhatsApp number you already have into a shared team inbox with AI replies, voice note transcription, broadcasts and scheduling. Flat pricing, free trial, no Business API needed.

Try Spun free

How a click-to-chat link works

WhatsApp runs an official click-to-chat service at wa.me. A URL in the form https://wa.me/15551234567 tells WhatsApp to open a new chat with that number, on any device: on a phone it opens the app, on a desktop it opens WhatsApp Web or the desktop app.

Adding ?text= puts words into the visitor’s message box before they send. The visitor always presses send themselves, so a pre-filled message is a head start, not an automatic message. That is also why these links are safe to share anywhere: tapping one never sends anything by itself.

Getting the number format right

Most broken WhatsApp links are formatting problems. The number in a wa.me URL must be the full international number, digits only:

  • Include the country code (for example 1 for the US, 44 for the UK, 972 for Israel).
  • Drop the plus sign, spaces, dashes and parentheses. wa.me/+1 (555) 123-4567 does not work; wa.me/15551234567 does.
  • Drop the trunk zero many countries use for domestic dialing. A UK number written 07700 900123 becomes 447700900123.
  • Use the number that is actually registered on WhatsApp. A landline that was never verified on WhatsApp will open an empty screen.

Pre-filled messages and URL encoding

The text after ?text= must be URL-encoded: spaces become %20, question marks, ampersands and emoji have their own escape sequences. Unencoded text can cut your message off at the first special character, which is the second most common reason generated links misbehave.

This generator encodes the message for you, so what you type is exactly what the visitor sees pre-typed. Keep it short and give the visitor something to confirm, like “Hi! I’m interested in the apartment on Main St.”: it tells you which placement the chat came from and gives them a reason to press send.

Where a WhatsApp link earns its keep

Anywhere a customer might want to talk to you and a phone call feels heavy:

  • The contact button on your website, instead of a form nobody enjoys filling in.
  • Instagram, TikTok and X bios, where only one link is allowed and it should start conversations.
  • Email signatures, invoices and quotes, so a question becomes a chat instead of a reply-all.
  • Google Business Profile and online directories.
  • Offline: turn the same link into a QR code for packaging, receipts and counter displays.

Test it like a stranger

Before you publish the link, open it from a phone that does not have your number saved: that is exactly the state a new customer is in. Check that the right number comes up and the pre-filled text reads naturally.

Privacy note: this page builds your link locally in your browser. Your number and message are not sent to Spun or anyone else, and the finished link contains nothing except what you typed.

Read the full guide: Sending links on WhatsApp · WhatsApp QR code generator

Frequently asked questions

How do I make a WhatsApp link for my number?

Use the format https://wa.me/ followed by your full international number with digits only, for example https://wa.me/15551234567. This generator does the formatting for you: pick your country, type the number, copy the link.

How do I add a pre-filled message to a WhatsApp link?

Append ?text= followed by the URL-encoded message, for example https://wa.me/15551234567?text=Hi%20there. The generator encodes the text automatically, including emoji and punctuation.

Does a wa.me link work if someone doesn’t have my number saved?

Yes. That is the point of click-to-chat: tapping the link opens a chat with your number even for people who never saved your contact. They see your name as you registered it on WhatsApp.

Do WhatsApp links expire or cost anything?

No. wa.me is a free official WhatsApp service, the link never expires, and it keeps working as long as the number stays registered on WhatsApp. This generator is also free and adds no tracking of its own.

Can I make a WhatsApp link without a phone number?

Yes. Leave the number empty and the generator produces https://wa.me/?text=... which opens WhatsApp’s share screen: the person who taps it chooses which chat to send your message to. Useful for “share this with a friend” placements.

What is the difference between wa.me and api.whatsapp.com/send?

No practical difference. wa.me/15551234567 is the short official form; https://api.whatsapp.com/send?phone=15551234567 is the long form seen in older documentation. Both open the same chat and both accept a text parameter.