Reading out a Wi-Fi password like Tr0pical-Mango-7741 to every guest gets old fast. A Wi-Fi QR code solves it: guests point their phone camera at the code, tap the prompt, and they're connected. No typing, no typos. Here's how to make one, which phones can scan it, and how to print it so it works first time.
How to create a Wi-Fi QR code
- Open the free QR Code Generator and choose Wi-Fi.
- Enter the network name (SSID) exactly as it appears in your phone's Wi-Fi list. It is case-sensitive, so "HomeNet" and "homenet" are different networks.
- Enter the password.
- Choose the encryption type. Pick WPA/WPA2 for virtually any router made in the last 15 years, WEP only for very old equipment, and None for an open network.
- Tick Hidden Network only if your network doesn't broadcast its name.
- Adjust the colours or add a border if you like, then download the PNG.
Before you print it, test it: turn off Wi-Fi on your phone (or forget the network), scan the code, and check that you connect.
What's inside a Wi-Fi QR code?
The code stores a short line of text in a standard format that phone cameras recognise:
WIFI:S:HomeNet;T:WPA;P:Tr0pical-Mango-7741;H:false;;S is the network name, T the security type, P the password and H whether the network is hidden. Characters that have a special meaning in this format (semicolons, commas, colons, quotation marks and backslashes) have to be "escaped" with a backslash, so a network called Cafe;Guest is stored as Cafe\;Guest. The generator does this for you, which is one of the most common reasons hand-made codes fail.
Which phones can scan it?
- iPhone and iPad: the built-in Camera app recognises Wi-Fi QR codes (iOS 11 and later). Point the camera at the code and tap the "Join network" banner.
- Android: most phones running Android 10 or later can scan Wi-Fi codes from the camera app or Google Lens. On older phones, use any QR scanner app.
Both systems can also do the reverse and show a QR code for the network you're connected to. On Android, open the network in Wi-Fi settings and tap Share (menu names vary by manufacturer). On iPhone with iOS 18 or later, the Passwords app can show a QR code for saved Wi-Fi networks.
Is a Wi-Fi QR code secure?
The password is stored in plain text inside the code. Anyone who scans it, or photographs it and scans the photo later, can read the password. A few habits keep that risk small:
- Use a guest network. Most routers can run a separate guest network that gives internet access but keeps visitors away from your computers, printers and smart devices. Put the guest network in the QR code, never your main one.
- Keep it where only guests see it. Inside the house or the café, not in a window or an online post.
- Change the guest password now and then and print a new code. The old one simply stops working.
- Use a strong password. Since nobody has to type it any more, it can be long and random. Our password generator creates one in a click, and our guide on how long a password should be explains how long to make it.
Printing tips so it scans first time
- Size: at least 3 × 3 cm (about 1.2 inches) for a code people scan up close. A handy rule of thumb is to make the code at least one tenth of the scanning distance, so a code on a wall scanned from 1 metre away should be about 10 cm wide.
- Contrast: dark code on a light background. Inverted codes (light on dark) and low-contrast colour combinations confuse many cameras.
- Margins: leave clear space around the code. Borders and frames are fine as long as they don't touch the pattern.
- Finish: matte paper or a matte laminate avoids glare under ceiling lights.
- Label it: add "Scan to join Wi-Fi" plus the network name, so people with older phones can still connect manually.
Troubleshooting
- "Unable to join the network": check the network name's capitalisation, the password and the encryption type. Most failures come from a small typo in one of these.
- The phone doesn't react to the code: on iPhone, make sure Scan QR Codes is switched on under Settings > Camera. On Android, try Google Lens.
- Separate 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks: if your router shows two network names, the code only connects to the one you entered. Make a second code if needed.
- Hidden network: if the network doesn't broadcast its name, tick Hidden Network when you create the code.
Frequently asked questions
Does a Wi-Fi QR code expire?
No. It keeps working until you change the network name or password. After that, generate and print a new one.
Do I need internet access to scan it?
No. The phone reads the network details directly from the code; it just needs to be within range of the network.
Can I see the password stored in a Wi-Fi QR code?
Yes. Any QR scanner app shows the text inside, including the password, which is why a guest network is the safer choice.
Can I add my logo to the code?
Yes. With a free account, the QR Code Generator can place your logo in the centre and add a text label under the code. It automatically raises the error-correction level so the code still scans with the logo in place.