Free Tel Link Generator

A tel link is a URI that initiates a phone call when clicked or tapped. The format is tel:+15551234567, the tel: scheme followed by the phone number in E.164 international format. On mobile, tapping the link opens the phone dialer with the number pre-filled. On desktop, behavior varies: macOS Safari can call through a paired iPhone via Continuity; Windows 11 with Phone Link routes the call through a connected Android.

Use the tel: scheme followed by the phone number in E.164 format (leading + and country code). Example: tel:+15551234567 opens the dialer for a US number. The HTML anchor is <a href="tel:+15551234567">Call us</a>. Our generator auto-formats to E.164 from your country selection and local number, then produces both the raw URL and HTML snippet.

Use E.164 international format: leading +, country code, then full local number with no spaces, dashes, or parentheses. US: (555) 123-4567 → +15551234567. UK: 07911 123456 → +447911123456 (drop the leading 0). India: 98765 43210 → +919876543210. E.164 is defined by ITU-T and ensures every phone number worldwide is uniquely and unambiguously formatted.

Per RFC 3966, use ;ext= for a post-dial extension: tel:+15551234567;ext=1234. This pauses briefly after connecting and then dials the extension via DTMF. Support varies. iOS handles it well; Android depends on the default dialer. For best reliability, include the extension in your visible copy too ("Call us at +1 555-123-4567 ext. 1234") so users can manually dial if automatic extension fails.

DTMF sequences can be added after the number to send additional key presses once the call connects. Common characters: , (comma) is a 2-second pause; ; (semicolon) is also a pause on some platforms. Example: tel:+15551234567,,1234 dials the number, waits ~4 seconds, then sends 1-2-3-4. Useful for automated IVR menus ("press 2 for billing, then your account number"). Support is inconsistent across devices, test on your target platforms.

Yes on any smartphone. iOS (Safari, Chrome, in-app browsers): taps open the Phone app with the number pre-filled. Android (Chrome, Firefox, every app): opens the default dialer. On both platforms, the user still confirms the call, browsers and apps cannot auto-dial for security reasons. The tel: scheme is defined in RFC 3966 and has universal smartphone support since 2004.

Yes, with caveats. macOS with a paired iPhone via Continuity: Safari opens FaceTime to route the call via phone. Windows 11 with Phone Link to Android: Chrome/Edge can initiate through the paired phone. Google Voice, Skype, and other VoIP apps can register as tel: handlers. Otherwise, desktop users may see an "unable to open" dialog, always display the number in visible text as a fallback so they can copy-paste.

You should strip formatting for best compatibility. tel:+15551234567 works universally. tel:+1-555-123-4567 works on most devices but not all. tel:+1 (555) 123-4567 with spaces requires percent-encoding and is risky. Our generator outputs canonical E.164 format with no separators, the most reliable format across every modern device. Display-format the number in visible text, but use E.164 in the href.

tel: is the IETF standard (RFC 3966) supported by every modern device. callto: was a proprietary Skype scheme that triggered Skype-to-Skype calls; Microsoft deprecated it in favor of tel: support. Unless you specifically need legacy Skype desktop behavior, always use tel:, it has universal compatibility across iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and VoIP applications.

tel: links only open the dialer, they cannot initiate a call automatically. The user must tap the call button to actually dial. This is a browser security feature preventing malicious sites from racking up charges on premium-rate numbers. That said, always verify the displayed number matches your expectation before calling, especially on unfamiliar sites. Our tool shows the full E.164 number so there are no hidden surprises.

Short codes don't use country codes, they're dialed directly. The tel: scheme supports them without the + prefix: tel:911, tel:112, tel:311. These work only in the country where the short code is valid. Avoid using emergency short codes (911 US, 112 EU, 999 UK, 000 AU) in tel: links unless in critical contexts like an emergency-service app, accidental clicks waste dispatcher time.

No. All tel: link building happens 100% in your browser using client-side JavaScript. Your phone number, extensions, and DTMF sequences never leave your device and are never logged or stored on our servers. The optional history feature uses localStorage on your browser only. Safe to use with internal numbers, VIP contacts, or anything confidential.