← All guidesURL/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.
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
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
Exact WIFI: payload format, what “Encryption” means, and how to avoid scan failures on iPhone/Android (special chars, hidden networks).
Which vCard fields actually get saved on iOS/Android, what to keep minimal, and how to avoid bloating the QR for better scans.
Generate a QR code for your Wi-Fi network to allow guests to join without manually typing the password.
How to generate QR codes for different social media platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook for easy access to social profiles.
Exact mm/in recommendations, quiet zone rules, and print tips so your QR scans fast on real phones from typical distances.
The real-world reasons QR codes fail (contrast, quiet zone, blur, density, glossy print) and the quickest fixes that work on iPhone/Android.
Try it now
Generate QR codes locally in your browser — no uploads.