Create an email draft QR code for a classroom resource

Want students to scan a code and start an email about a class resource? A QR code can open a new email draft with the recipient, subject, and a short message already filled in. Students can review it, add their name or question, and choose whether to send it.

Use the QR Code Generator to make a code from an email link. The code does not send mail by itself, and a student still needs an email app or service that can handle the link.

Make the email draft QR code

1. Decide what the draft should contain. Choose a school or teacher email address, a short subject, and a brief message that students can edit. Avoid putting student names or private details in the shared QR code.
2. Build an email link in this format: mailto:teacher@school.edu?subject=Question%20about%20the%20reading&body=Hi%2C%20I%20have%20a%20question%20about%20the%20reading. Replace the example address and message with the right details for your class.
3. Open the QR Code Generator and use its link option. Paste the complete mailto: link into the link field, then create the QR code. If the generator asks you to choose a type, select the option for a link or URL.
4. Scan the finished code with a phone before printing or sharing it. Check that the email app opens, the recipient and subject are correct, and the message is readable. Do not send the draft during the test.

The parts after the question mark fill in the draft. In the example, subject= sets the subject, and body= sets the message. Spaces are written as %20, and punctuation may need encoding too. For example, a comma is %2C, and a line break is %0D%0A. Encoding keeps spaces and punctuation from being misread as part of the link.

For a longer draft, encode the whole subject and body, not just the spaces. Many URL encoders can do this, but check the result before turning it into a code. The mailto format is not a place to include a password, a student ID, or confidential information.

Choose what students see in the draft

Use a clear recipient and subject

Use an address that is monitored and appropriate for student questions. A subject such as Question about the reading tells the recipient what the email concerns. Avoid a vague subject such as Help if students may use the code for different resources.

Keep the message as a prompt

A short opening gives students a starting point without speaking for them. For example: Hello, I have a question about [resource]. They can replace the bracketed text with a page, topic, or question. You can leave the student's name out of the link so each student enters their own name before sending.

Let students review before sending

A QR code made from a mailto: link opens a draft, not a sent email. The email program may show a compose window, ask which app to use, or display a webmail page. The student must still review the address and message, then send it themselves.

Fix common scanning problems

1. Check the link for typing errors. Confirm that the address is spelled correctly and that the subject and body are separated by the right characters. If the draft has the wrong text, correct the link and make a new code.
2. Make the printed code easier to scan. Use a dark code on a light background, leave clear space around it, and avoid shrinking it too much. Print a sample and scan it from the distance students will use in the classroom.
3. Test with another phone. A code may work on your device but behave differently on a device with another email app. Test on at least one other phone or tablet if students use different devices.
4. Set up an email app if the scan opens nothing. The phone needs an app or service that can handle email links. On iPhone, check Settings › Apps › Default Apps › Email and choose an available email app. On Android, check Settings › Apps › Default apps › Email app; the exact wording can vary by device. If a choice prompt appears, select the app students should use.
5. Check default email handling on a computer. On Windows 11, open Settings › Apps › Default apps, search for the email app, and check its supported link types. On macOS, open the Mail app and go to Mail › Settings › General › Default email reader. Menu wording can vary with operating system versions and installed apps.

Keep classroom information private

The email address, subject, and message are stored in the QR code itself. Anyone who scans or decodes the code can see those details, so treat a printed code as public classroom material. Use a general classroom prompt rather than personal information, and do not include grades, private student details, or sensitive topics in the prefilled text.

Before sharing the code, test it as a student would: scan it, read the draft, confirm the recipient, and close it without sending. This catches mistakes while leaving the final choice to the student.