How to make a Wi-Fi QR code so guests join without typing

A WiFi QR code lets guests join your network by pointing their phone camera at it and tapping Join, with no password to spell out or type. You can make one for free with our QR code generator: choose Wi-Fi, enter the network name and password, pick the security type, and download a PNG or SVG to print. The code works forever, as long as the network name and password stay the same.

Below is how it works, what to watch for (hidden networks, unusual characters, security), and how big to print it.

How to make a WiFi QR code in four steps

1. Open the QR code generator and choose Wi-Fi.
2. Type the network name (SSID) exactly as it appears in your phone's Wi-Fi list, including capital letters and spaces.
3. Type the password, then choose the security type: WPA / WPA2 / WPA3 for nearly every modern router, WEP only for very old ones, or No password for an open network. Tick Hidden network if your router does not broadcast its name.
4. Download the code as PNG (2048 px for print) or SVG, and test it with your own phone before you print it.

The code is made in your browser as you type, so the password is not sent to our server. Codes you download, copy or save are listed under "Your codes" in that browser only, so remove a code from the list if other people use the same computer.

What is inside a Wi-Fi QR code?

A Wi-Fi QR code is just a short line of text in a format phones recognise. For a normal home network it looks like this:

WIFI:T:WPA;S:MyHomeWiFi;P:my-secret-pass;;

Each part has a job:

Part	Meaning	Example
WIFI:	Tells the phone this is a network to join	WIFI:
T:	Security type: WPA, WEP, or nopass for an open network	T:WPA
S:	Network name (SSID)	S:MyHomeWiFi
P:	Password (left out for open networks)	P:my-secret-pass
H:	true if the network is hidden	H:true
;;	End of the code	;;

T:WPA covers WPA and WPA2 networks, and our generator also uses it when you pick WPA3. If your router runs WPA3 only and an older phone refuses to join, try the router's mixed WPA2/WPA3 mode.

Hidden networks

If your router hides its name, a phone will not find it in a normal scan. Ticking Hidden network adds H:true so the phone knows to look for it directly:

WIFI:T:WPA;S:Office-5G;P:Gr33n-Tea-2026;H:true;;

Special characters in the name or password

The semicolon, colon, comma, backslash and double quote have special meaning in this format. If your password contains one of them, it must be "escaped" with a backslash in front, or the phone reads the password wrong and the join fails. A password like tea;time:2 is written as:

P:tea\;time\:2;

Our generator escapes these characters for you, so type the name and password exactly as they are. Spaces at the start or end of the network name are trimmed, while the password is kept exactly as typed.

How guests join with the code

• iPhone and iPad: open the Camera app, point it at the code, and tap the Wi-Fi banner that appears. The Code Scanner in Control Center works too.
• Android: most camera apps show a Join or Connect prompt. If yours does not, use Google Lens, or the QR scanner in Quick Settings or in the Wi-Fi settings screen, depending on the phone.
• Laptops: most cannot scan a code, so keep the password written somewhere for them.

Android 10 and later can also show a Wi-Fi QR code: open the connected network in Wi-Fi settings and tap Share. That is handy for a one-off, but a printed code is better for a shop, office or guest room.

Is a WiFi QR code safe?

A WiFi QR code is as safe as writing the password on a card, because that is what it is. Anyone who scans it with a QR app can read the password in plain text, and anyone who photographs it can join later.

Sensible precautions:

• 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 cameras. Put that network's details in the code, not your main one.
• Use a strong password. The code does the typing, so length is no problem for guests. Make a long random one with the password generator.
• Change it now and then, especially for a shop or office, and print a fresh code each time.
• Do not post the code online unless you mean the network to be public.
• Check printed codes in public places. Someone could stick their own code over yours to send people to a different network.

How big should you print it?

A QR code needs enough size and contrast for a phone to read it from where people will stand. Practical rules:

• Size: as a rough rule of thumb, make the code at least 3 cm (about 1.2 inches) wide for scanning from close up, and much larger for a wall or a counter sign. Many people use a ratio of about 1 cm of code for every 10 cm of scanning distance.
• Quiet border: keep a plain margin around the code. Our generator uses 4 modules, the standard, and warns you if you go below 2.
• Contrast: use a dark code on a light background. The generator warns you if the colours are too close or inverted, because many phone cameras then fail.
• Format: SVG stays sharp at any size and suits print shops; the 2048 px PNG is fine for home printers.
• Logo: you can add one, and the generator switches to the highest error correction (H) so phones can still read the covered part. Test it before printing.

Under the code, print the network name and a short line such as "Scan with your camera to join". Guests with laptops still need the password, so you may want it written below as well, if you are comfortable with that.

Troubleshooting

The phone sees the code but will not connect

Check the network name and password for typing mistakes, including capital letters. Make sure the security type matches the router. If it is a hidden network, tick Hidden network and print the code again.

Nothing happens when scanning

Move closer, clean the camera lens, and make sure there is enough light and no glare on glossy paper. If the code is small, print it bigger.

It worked before, now it does not

The router's password or network name probably changed, perhaps after a reset or by your internet provider. Make a new code with the current details.

Quick checklist

• Use the guest network's name and password, not your main network.
• Enter the SSID and password exactly; let the generator handle special characters.
• Choose WPA / WPA2 / WPA3 for modern routers; tick Hidden network if needed.
• Print it large enough, dark on light, with a quiet border.
• Test with an iPhone and an Android phone before you put it up.
• Make a new code whenever the password changes.

Want more ways to share things with a code? The same generator makes codes for links, contact cards, WhatsApp chats, email, phone numbers and SMS. If you are putting a link in a code for social media, our guide on why Facebook shows the wrong image explains how to make the shared preview look right.