QR Codes and Short Links in Hibot – WhatsApp Business API Guide

QR Codes and Short Links make it easier for customers to start a WhatsApp conversation with your business.

Instead of manually saving your number, customers can simply:

• Scan a QR code

• Click a short link

• Instantly open a chat with your business

With Hibot – WhatsApp Business API, you can create, manage, update, and delete QR codes and short links directly through API or WhatsApp Manager.

What Are WhatsApp QR Codes and Short Links?

WhatsApp QR codes and short links are special links connected to your business phone number.

They help customers start a conversation quickly without entering your phone number manually.

Example use cases:

• Product packaging

• Flyers and posters

• Website buttons

• Social media campaigns

• Store displays

• Customer support pages

• 
  

Why Use QR Codes and Short Links?

Using QR codes with Hibot helps you:

• Increase customer engagement

• Start conversations faster

• Reduce friction for new customers

• Add pre-filled messages for specific campaigns

• Track different marketing sources manually

For example, you can create separate QR codes for:

• Sales inquiries

• Customer support

• Product information

• Festival offers

• Different locations or languages

• 
  

Key Limits

Before creating QR codes, keep these limits in mind:

Feature	Limit
Maximum QR Codes Per Number	2,000
Maximum Prefilled Message Length	140 Characters
Supported Image Formats	SVG or PNG

Create a QR Code

To create a new QR code, use:

POST /<PHONE_NUMBER_ID>/message_qrdls

You can define:

• A pre-filled message

• The image format (SVG or PNG)

• 
  

Example Request

{
  "prefilled_message": "I want more information about your WhatsApp API services",
  "generate_qr_image": "SVG"
}

Example Response

{
  "code": "4O4YGZEG3RIVE1",
  "prefilled_message": "I want more information about your WhatsApp API services",
  "deep_link_url": "https://wa.me/message/4O4YGZEG3RIVE1",
  "qr_image_url": "https://..."
}

The response gives you:

• QR code ID

• Short link URL

• Downloadable QR code image

• 
  

What Is a Prefilled Message?

A prefilled message automatically appears in the customer’s chat box when they scan your QR code or click your short link.

Example messages:

• “I want pricing details”

• “I need customer support”

• “Tell me about your latest offer”

This makes it easier for customers to begin the conversation.

Maximum allowed length: 140 characters.

Best Prefilled Message Examples

For sales:

• “I want to know more about your WhatsApp API plans”

For support:

• “I need help with my account”

For offers:

• “I am interested in your current WhatsApp offer”

For bookings:

• “I want to book a demo”

• 
  

Get All QR Codes

To view all QR codes created for your number:

GET /<PHONE_NUMBER_ID>/message_qrdls

Example Response

{
  "data": [
    {
      "code": "4O4YGZEG3RIVE1",
      "prefilled_message": "I want pricing details",
      "deep_link_url": "https://wa.me/message/4O4YGZEG3RIVE1"
    },
    {
      "code": "WOMVT6TJ2BP7A1",
      "prefilled_message": "I need support",
      "deep_link_url": "https://wa.me/message/WOMVT6TJ2BP7A1"
    }
  ]
}

This allows you to manage all your active QR codes from one place.

Get a Specific QR Code

To fetch details for a specific QR code:

GET /<PHONE_NUMBER_ID>/message_qrdls/<CODE_ID>

Example Response

{
  "data": [
    {
      "code": "4O4YGZEG3RIVE1",
      "prefilled_message": "I want pricing details",
      "deep_link_url": "https://wa.me/message/4O4YGZEG3RIVE1"
    }
  ]
}

Update a QR Code

You can edit the prefilled message at any time without changing the short link.

Use:

POST /<PHONE_NUMBER_ID>/message_qrdls

Example Request

{
  "code": "4O4YGZEG3RIVE1",
  "prefilled_message": "I want information about your latest offer"
}

Example Response

{
  "code": "4O4YGZEG3RIVE1",
  "prefilled_message": "I want information about your latest offer",
  "deep_link_url": "https://wa.me/message/4O4YGZEG3RIVE1"
}

The short link stays the same, but the message changes instantly.

Delete a QR Code

QR codes do not expire automatically.

If you no longer need a QR code, you must delete it manually.

Use:

DELETE /<PHONE_NUMBER_ID>/message_qrdls/<CODE_ID>

Example Response

{
  "success": true
}

After deletion, the QR code and short link stop working.

Customers who try to use them will see:

“This QR code or short link has expired.”

User Experience

Here is what customers see when using your QR code or short link:

Scenario	Result
User scans active QR code	Opens WhatsApp chat with prefilled message
User clicks short link on desktop	Opens WhatsApp Desktop or asks to install it
User scans deleted QR code	Shows expired message
User previously blocked your number	WhatsApp asks them to unblock before continuing

Best Format for Printing

For the best print quality, use:

• SVG format for posters, packaging, and banners

• PNG format for websites and digital use

SVG is recommended because it stays sharp at any size.

Best Practices

To get the best results with QR codes:

• Use short and clear prefilled messages

• Create separate QR codes for different campaigns

• Use SVG for printed materials

• Do not over-customize the QR code colors or design

• Test the QR code before sharing it publicly

Example:

• One QR code for support

• One QR code for sales

• One QR code for festival offers

This helps you organize customer conversations better.

Important Note About Analytics

WhatsApp does not provide analytics for QR code scans or short link clicks.

This is done to protect user privacy.

You can still manually identify the source of the customer by using different prefilled messages.

Example:

• “I came from Instagram”

• “I came from your website”

• “I saw your poster”

• 
  

Final Thoughts

QR Codes and Short Links are one of the easiest ways to bring customers into WhatsApp conversations.

With Hibot – WhatsApp Business API, you can create unlimited customer entry points, personalize messages, and improve customer engagement across all your marketing channels.