A phone QR encodes a tel: link. Scanning opens the user's phone dialer with your number already entered — they only have to press Call.
Useful for after-hours support stickers, reception signage, taxi-stand cards, restaurant takeout menus, anywhere you want a frictionless 'call us now' path.
Free forever. No signup. No watermark. No expiry. The code you download today still works in ten years.
At a glance
| Payload format | tel:+<country code><number> |
|---|---|
| URI standard | RFC 3966 — the 'tel' URI scheme — RFC 3966 |
| Number format | ITU-T E.164 international format, maximum 15 digits |
| Extensions | Comma after the number = one-second pause before extension digits |
| Scan behavior | Opens the dialer pre-filled; iOS and Android both block silent auto-dial |
“This document specifies the URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) scheme 'tel'. The 'tel' URI describes resources identified by telephone numbers.”
Format the number correctly
Use international format with the leading +: +1 415 555 0100, +44 20 7946 0958. Spaces and dashes are stripped during encoding so the dialer sees a clean number.
Without the country code, the call may fail or route to the wrong region when scanned by visitors from another country.
Privacy and call cost
The number is visible to anyone who scans the printed QR. Don't print a personal mobile if you wouldn't print it on a business card.
Call charges follow whatever the caller's plan normally costs. The QR itself can't bill anything.
Frequently asked questions
- Does scanning place the call automatically?
- No. Scanning opens the dialer. The user must press the call button — both iOS and Android prevent silent auto-dial for privacy reasons.
- Can I include an extension?
- Yes — write the number followed by a comma and the extension, e.g. +1 415 555 0100,1234. The comma is a one-second pause; the dialer waits, then enters the extension.
- Will it work on a desktop?
- If the desktop has FaceTime or another tel: handler installed, yes. Most don't, so desktop scans typically do nothing.