Open WhatsApp links in the app
Paste a WhatsApp URL and get a link that opens the WhatsApp app instead of the browser — with a web fallback for everyone else.
Free forever. No login. Works with wa.me links.
Which WhatsApp links work
toThe.App recognises links on wa.me, whatsapp.com, api.whatsapp.com, chat.whatsapp.com. These URL shapes are handled:
- https://wa.me/15551234567
- https://wa.me/15551234567?text=Hello
- https://api.whatsapp.com/send?phone=15551234567
- https://chat.whatsapp.com/INVITE_CODE
- https://whatsapp.com/channel/CHANNEL_ID
On iPhone
Click-to-chat links open a conversation with the number in the link, carrying any prefilled message across. Channel and group invite links open on their own screen in the app.
On Android
Handled the same way as on iPhone: WhatsApp opens directly when it is installed.
Known limitations
No link can force a phone to open an app. These are the cases where a WhatsApp link falls back to the web:
- The recipient number must be in full international format with no spaces or dashes.
- Prefilled text is a suggestion — the sender can edit or delete it before sending.
- Any other whatsapp.com address opens in the browser, which is where WhatsApp handles it.
Questions
How do I make a WhatsApp link open in the app?
Paste the WhatsApp URL into the generator above and select Make short link. Share the result. On a phone with WhatsApp installed, the link offers to open the app; otherwise it continues to the WhatsApp website.
Which WhatsApp URLs are supported?
Links on wa.me, whatsapp.com, api.whatsapp.com, chat.whatsapp.com are recognised. Typical shapes: https://wa.me/15551234567 · https://wa.me/15551234567?text=Hello · https://api.whatsapp.com/send?phone=15551234567 · https://chat.whatsapp.com/INVITE_CODE · https://whatsapp.com/channel/CHANNEL_ID.
What happens on iPhone?
Click-to-chat links open a conversation with the number in the link, carrying any prefilled message across. Channel and group invite links open on their own screen in the app.
What happens on Android?
Handled the same way as on iPhone: WhatsApp opens directly when it is installed.
Why did the WhatsApp app not open?
The device makes the final call. Common reasons: the app is not installed, the specific URL type is not covered (The recipient number must be in full international format with no spaces or dashes.), or the link was tapped inside another app's in-app browser, which will not hand off to a native app. The web fallback always works.
