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URL/Phone/SMS/Email/Maps QR payloads: what scanners do after scanning

Practical payload formats (tel:, sms:, mailto:, geo:) and tips so users land on the expected action screen on iOS/Android.

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On this page
  1. Most common payload formats
  2. Practical tips
  3. Templates you can use

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Scanners don’t just “read a QR” — they interpret the payload into an action (open a website, call a number, compose an email).

Most common payload formats#

URL
https://example.com
Phone (dial screen)
tel:+14155552671
SMS (compose)
sms:+14155552671?body=Hello%20QRFlow
Email (compose)
mailto:hello@example.com?subject=Hi&body=Message
Maps (location)
https://maps.google.com/?q=48.8584,2.2945

Practical tips#

  • Always test both iPhone and Android (behavior differs for sms/mailto parameters).
  • Encode full international phone numbers with “+”.
  • For Maps, using a normal HTTPS maps URL is the most universal.

Templates you can use#

Continue reading

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How to get your Google Business Profile review link (or Place ID), create a Google review QR code, and print it so it scans reliably.
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Mailto QR code guide: QR code that opens email
Create a mailto QR code (email QR code) that opens an email draft with recipient, subject, and message — with examples and print tips.

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Quick answers

Common questions

Which payload is most reliable?
Standard URL and tel: formats work best across devices.
Do SMS and email parameters always work?
Behavior varies by device, so test on iPhone and Android.
Which QR format works best?
Use standard formats like URL, WIFI, vCard, or wa.me and keep the data short.
How do I keep QR content scannable?
Remove extra fields, shorten URLs, and print larger for dense data.
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