wa.me, api.whatsapp.com and whatsapp://: which link to use in each case
There are several ways to write a link that opens a WhatsApp chat. They all end up in the same place, but they don't behave the same in every context.
The formats, side by side
| Format | Example | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Official short link | https://wa.me/529981234567?text=Hola | Almost always. It is short, works on phones and computers, and is the one WhatsApp documents. |
| Long link | https://api.whatsapp.com/send?phone=529981234567&text=Hola | This is where wa.me redirects. Useful if a platform doesn't accept the short domain. |
| App scheme | whatsapp://send?phone=529981234567&text=Hola | Only inside your own mobile apps. It doesn't work if WhatsApp isn't installed. |
| No number | https://wa.me/?text=Mira%20esto | For “Share on WhatsApp” buttons: the person chooses who to send it to. |
Why wa.me is the default choice
- It is a normal web address. It starts with https, so it can be pasted in social media bios, in emails and in any field that validates URLs.
- It adapts to the device. On a phone it opens the app; on a computer it offers WhatsApp Web or the desktop app.
- It has a fallback if the app isn't installed: it shows a page with the download link instead of doing nothing.
The problem with the whatsapp:// scheme
A link that starts with whatsapp:// talks straight to the app. It is fast, but if the app isn't on the device the tap does nothing at all. Also, many email services, social networks and web editors reject or strip it because it isn't an http address. Keep it for your own apps where you have already checked that WhatsApp is installed.
Other WhatsApp links that aren't direct chats
- Group invite:
https://chat.whatsapp.com/CODE. Generated from the group info, under “Invite link”. - Channel:
https://whatsapp.com/channel/CODE. Copied from the channel info. - WhatsApp Business short link:
https://wa.me/message/CODE. Created by the Business app under Tools, and it lets you change the pre-filled message without changing the link. - Catalog:
https://wa.me/c/NUMBER, for Business accounts with a catalog set up.
Rules that apply to all of them
- The number goes in international format, digits only, without + or leading zeros.
- The value of the
textparameter must be URL-encoded: spaces as%20, line breaks as%0A. - The message is never sent by itself: it is left typed and the person decides whether to send it.
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