How to make a WiFi QR code
- Type your network name (SSID) exactly as it appears in your phone's WiFi list. Capital letters and spaces count.
- Enter the password and pick the security type. Most home and office routers use WPA, WPA2 or WPA3, which all share the same setting.
- Tick Hidden network only if your router doesn't broadcast its name.
- Style it if you like, then download it and test it with your own phone before you print.
Passwords with semicolons, commas, colons or quote marks are fine. Those characters have special meaning inside a WiFi code, so we escape them for you.
What phones do with it
Every iPhone since iOS 11 and nearly every Android phone from the last several years reads WiFi codes straight from the camera app. The phone shows a prompt to join the network, the person taps it, and they're connected. The password never appears on screen, which helps if you'd rather guests didn't copy it down.
Older Android phones may need Google Lens or the scanner built into the WiFi settings screen. Look for a small QR icon next to Add network.
Where WiFi codes earn their keep
- Front desks, waiting rooms and lobbies
- Cafe tables and restaurant counters
- Rental properties and hotel rooms, framed by the door
- Meeting rooms and coworking spaces
- Your own fridge, for when friends come over
Change your WiFi password and the old code stops working. Print a new one and swap it out the same day.
Keep the guest network separate
A QR code makes your password easy to share, so share the right one. Most routers can run a guest network that reaches the internet but can't see your computers, printers or cameras. Put that network in the code and keep the main one private.
Set up the guest network in your router's admin page first. Then come back, make the code for that network, and check the size and printing guide before you frame it.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to put my WiFi password in a QR code?
The password is stored in the code as plain text, so anyone who scans it can join. That's the point, but it means you should use a guest network for public spots and keep the code out of reach of strangers if the network is private.
Why won't my WiFi QR code connect?
The usual cause is a typo in the network name, since it's case-sensitive. Check the security type too: if your router uses WPA3 or WPA2, choose WPA/WPA2/WPA3. Networks that need a username, like many corporate and university ones, can't be joined from a QR code.
Does a WiFi QR code expire?
No. It keeps working until you change the network name or password.
Can one code work for both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz?
Yes, if both bands share one network name and password. If your router names them separately, make a code for the one you want guests on.