How to make a WiFi QR code
- Type your network name exactly as it appears when you connect. It is case sensitive.
- Enter the password, or choose No password for an open network.
- Pick the security type. Almost every home and business router today uses WPA/WPA2/WPA3.
- Download the PNG for screens or the SVG if it is going to print.
What is actually inside a WiFi QR code
Unlike a link, a WiFi code contains no web address at all. It holds a short structured string
that phones recognise as network credentials. For a network called CafeGuest with the
password latte2024, the code contains exactly this:
WIFI:T:WPA;S:CafeGuest;P:latte2024;;
T is the security type, S the network name, and P the
password. The double semicolon at the end terminates the record. Nothing is stored on any server —
the credentials live in the pattern itself, which is why the code works offline and why we never
see your password.
Because the password is written in the code in plain text, anyone who can photograph the code can read it. Treat a printed WiFi code the way you would treat the password written on a whiteboard: fine for a guest network, not for the network your till or servers sit on.
Characters that need escaping
If your password or network name contains a semicolon, comma, colon, backslash or double quote, those characters have to be escaped with a backslash or the record breaks. This generator does that for you, so paste your password in exactly as it is and do not add escapes yourself.
Which phones can scan it
This is the part almost nobody explains, and it is the usual reason a WiFi code appears not to work. Support depends on the phone, not on the code.
| Device | Behaviour |
|---|---|
| iPhone, iOS 11 and later | Works from the built-in Camera app. A banner appears offering to join the network. |
| Android 10 and later | Works from the built-in camera or Google Lens on most devices. |
| Android 9 and earlier | The stock camera usually ignores it. A QR scanner app is needed. |
| Older feature phones | No support. Print the password as text alongside the code. |
Because of that last row, always print the network name and password in small text under the code. It costs nothing and removes every support conversation you would otherwise have.
WPA3 and mixed-mode routers
Select WPA/WPA2/WPA3 for any modern router. The WPA type value covers WPA2 and
WPA3 as well, and phones negotiate the actual protocol when they connect. There is no separate
WPA3 value in the specification, so a code that says WPA will still join a WPA3-only network.
Hidden networks
If your network name is not broadcast, tick Hidden network. This adds
H:true to the record, which tells the phone to search for the network rather than wait
to see it in a scan list. Ticking it for a normal broadcast network can make joining slower, so
leave it off unless you know the SSID is hidden.
Where these get used
- Cafés and restaurants. A code on the table or menu removes the most common question staff get asked. See our guide to .
- Holiday lets and hotels. Put it in the welcome pack rather than writing a long random password by hand.
- Offices and meeting rooms. Guest WiFi without an IT ticket.
- Classrooms. Get thirty devices online in a minute rather than a lesson. More ideas in .
Printing it so it scans
WiFi codes hold more data than a short link, so the pattern is denser and needs a little more size. As a rule the code should be at least a tenth of the distance people scan from — a code on a table read from about 40 cm needs roughly 4 cm across. Our size calculator works it out, and the print size guide has tested minimums for common materials.
Keep the white margin around the code. That border is called the quiet zone and scanners need it to find the pattern edges. If a code will not read, a missing margin is the first thing to check — the troubleshooting guide covers the rest.
Common questions
Is it safe to put my WiFi password in a QR code?
The code contains the password in plain text, so anyone who photographs it can read it. That is fine for a guest network you are happy for visitors to use. Do not use it for a network that has your business systems on it — set up a separate guest network instead.
Does the code expire?
No. The credentials are inside the pattern rather than on our servers, so the code keeps working indefinitely. It stops working only if you change the network name or password.
Will it work if I change my WiFi password?
No. The old password is baked into the printed pattern and cannot be edited. You will need to generate and reprint the code. This is worth thinking about before you print a few hundred.
Why does nothing happen when my phone scans it?
Most often the phone is Android 9 or older, where the stock camera does not handle WiFi records. Try a dedicated QR scanner app. On iPhone, WiFi codes need iOS 11 or later.
Do I need to pick WPA2 or WPA3 specifically?
No. Choose WPA/WPA2/WPA3. The specification has a single WPA value that covers all of them, and your phone negotiates the actual protocol when it connects.
Can I put my logo in the middle?
Yes, but be careful with a WiFi code because the pattern is already dense. Use the highest error correction and keep the logo small. Our QR code with logo tool handles the safe area for you.