How to make an email QR code
- Enter the recipient addressFor example support@yourcompany.com.
- Add a subject and message (optional)A clear subject like "Feedback: Store 12" makes incoming emails easy to sort.
- Design and downloadAdd a frame such as "EMAIL US" so people know what will happen.
- Test itScan the code; your mail app should open a new draft with everything filled in.
How an email QR code works
The code contains a standard mailto: link, for example:
mailto:hello@example.com?subject=Feedback&body=Hi%20team
Phones hand mailto: links to the default email app: Mail on iPhone, Gmail on most Android phones, or Outlook. The address, subject and message appear in a new draft, and the person only has to press Send. Special characters, spaces and line breaks are encoded properly so they come through exactly as you typed them.
Good uses for email QR codes
- Feedback and complaints: on receipts, tables and hotel rooms. Pre-fill the subject with the location so you know where the feedback came from.
- Customer support: on product packaging and manuals: "Problem with your order? Scan to email us."
- Newsletter sign-ups at events: pre-fill "Please add me to the newsletter" in the body.
- Job fairs: "Scan to send us your CV" with the job reference as the subject.
- Lost & found tags: on luggage or equipment with a subject like "I found your bag".
Email QR code tips
- Use a shared inbox (support@, hello@) rather than a personal address, so the code keeps working when staff change.
- Pre-fill the subject with a reference: a store number, table number or campaign name, to track where emails come from.
- Keep the body short. A long message makes the code dense and harder to scan.
- Tell people what happens. Add a frame with "EMAIL US" or "SEND FEEDBACK" so they know to expect their mail app.
Email vs. a contact form
An email QR code needs no website and no backend, and replies land straight in your inbox. If you want structured answers (ratings, checkboxes), make a Google Form and use a URL QR code instead. For a full set of contact details, use a vCard QR code.
Real examples
| Business | To | Subject | Body |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel room card | frontdesk@hotel.com | Room 214: request | "Hi, could we please have…" |
| Product manual | support@brand.com | Model X200 support | Serial number placeholder |
| School notice | office@school.org | Absence: [child's name] | "My child will be absent on…" |
| Market stall | orders@bakery.com | Pre-order for Saturday | "I'd like to order…" |
Pre-filled subjects with a reference (room number, model, store) save you from asking follow-up questions.
Troubleshooting
Nothing happens when the code is scanned. The phone has no email account set up. Most people do, but to be safe print the email address in words next to the code.
Line breaks disappear. Some mail apps ignore line breaks in pre-filled bodies. Keep the body to one or two short sentences.
The subject shows "%20" characters. That means the link was encoded twice by another tool. Codes made here are encoded once and display correctly; scan yours with our QR scanner to check the exact content.
Email QR code or contact QR code?
An email code starts a message right now. A vCard code saves your address (and phone and website) for later. On a business card the vCard is usually more useful; on a feedback sign the email code wins because people act immediately. You can put both on a flyer if you label them clearly.
Privacy note
The address, subject and message are built into the code by your browser. We never see them, and the code doesn't pass through any server, so there is no tracking of who scans it.
Frequently asked questions
What happens when someone scans an email QR code?
Their default email app opens a new message with your address, subject and text already filled in. They just tap Send.
Can I add more than one recipient?
Yes. Separate addresses with a comma in the "Send to" field, e.g. a@example.com,b@example.com. Some mail apps only show the first address, so test it.
Is the email sent automatically?
No. Phones never send email without the user pressing Send, so people can edit the message first.
Will it work if the person has no email app set up?
They need some mail app (Gmail, Mail, Outlook). Most phones have one by default; if not, the phone will ask which app to use.
Can spammers read my email address from the code?
Anyone who scans it can see the address, just as if it were printed. Use a shared support address if you are concerned.
Does the email QR code expire?
No. The mailto link is stored in the code itself and works forever.
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Last updated October 27, 2026 by the QR Code Haven team. Found a problem? Tell us.
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