How to create a WiFi QR code with your password

Tired of spelling out your WiFi password letter by letter? A WiFi QR code fixes that: guests point their camera at it and the phone connects on its own. It works at home, in a café, in a holiday rental or in a meeting room. Here's how to make one for free, how to get one straight from your phone, and what to do when it doesn't work.

How a WiFi QR code works

A QR code stores text. For WiFi, that text follows a standard format that iPhone and Android recognise as network details: the network name (SSID), the security type and the password. For example:

WIFI:T:WPA;S:MyHome_5G;P:password123;;

When the phone reads it, it doesn't open a website: it offers to join the network. You don't need to write that text yourself; the generator builds it from the form fields and escapes special characters (such as ; or :) that would otherwise break the code.

Create your WiFi QR code step by step

1. Open the QR code generator and choose the WiFi tab.
2. Type the network name exactly as it appears on your phone, with the same capitals and spaces.
3. Type the password.
4. Choose the security: WPA/WPA2/WPA3 on almost every modern router, WEP only on very old ones, or "No password" for an open network.
5. If your network doesn't show up in the list of available networks, tick "Hidden network".
6. Click "Generate QR", download the PNG and test it with your phone before printing.

Everything happens in your browser: the password is never sent to a server or stored anywhere. You can also add your logo in the middle of the code.

Get a WiFi QR code from your phone

• Android 10 or later: Settings → Wi-Fi → tap the network you're connected to (or the gear icon) → Share. After you unlock the phone, it shows a QR code someone else can scan. Menu names vary slightly between manufacturers.
• iPhone with iOS 18 or later: open the Passwords app, go to Wi-Fi, pick the network and use the option to show its QR code.

That's handy for sharing on the spot. For a printed sign or card, generate it on a computer and download it at a good resolution.

Where to put your WiFi QR code

• At home: a small card by the router, at the entrance or on the fridge.
• Cafés and restaurants: on the table, next to the menu QR code.
• Holiday rentals and hotels: in the welcome folder or framed in the living room.
• Offices and meeting rooms: on the table or next to the screen.

To make it easy to scan, print it at least 3 × 3 cm (1.2 in) for close range and 6 × 6 cm (2.4 in) or more if people will scan it from a metre away. Add a short line above it, such as "Scan to join our WiFi".

Security: what to keep in mind

• The QR code doesn't hide the password: any QR reader app can display it. It's as safe as writing it on paper.
• Use a guest network for businesses and rentals. Most routers let you create one, so visitors can't reach your own devices.
• If you change the password, the printed code stops working: generate a new one and replace it.

If the phone won't connect

• Check the network name: it's case-sensitive and includes spaces. "MyHome" and "myhome" are different networks.
• Check the security type: if your router uses WPA2 or WPA3, choose WPA/WPA2/WPA3.
• Hidden network: if your network doesn't appear in the list, tick the box when generating the code.
• Older phones: some don't support WPA3 or the 5 GHz band. Try the 2.4 GHz network if your router separates them.