By Sheraz Khan
Sharing WiFi with guests used to mean spelling out a long password letter by letter. A WiFi QR code ends that. You print one code, guests point their phone camera at it, and their phone joins your network. No typing, no spelling, no mistakes. This guide shows you how to make a free WiFi QR code, where to put it, and what to do if it will not scan. The code is made with the free WiFi QR code generator. It is free, it needs no sign-up, and the code never expires. You can also read the general steps in our guide How to Create a QR Code for Free.
How a WiFi QR code works
A WiFi QR code holds three things: the network name, the security type, and the password. The network name is the name your phone sees in the list of WiFi networks. It is often called the SSID. The security type is the way the network locks its traffic. Most home networks use WPA or WPA2. The password is the key that lets a phone join. When a phone scans the code, it reads these three things and joins the network by itself. The code is a static code, so the details are stored in the code itself. If you change your WiFi password later, the old code will stop working and you must make a new one.
Step 1: Open the free WiFi QR code generator
Open the free WiFi QR code generator. The tool opens on the WiFi tab. If you are on the home page, click the WiFi tab at the top of the tool. The tab explains itself in one line: “Scan this and your phone joins the WiFi, no typing the password.” You will see three fields: Network name (SSID), Security, and Password. The fields are empty when you open the tab, and each one shows a grey hint. The preview on the right shows an example code until you start typing.
Step 2: Type your network name, security type and password
Type your network name exactly as it appears on your phone, in the box called Network name (SSID). Capital letters matter, so type it exactly. Next, pick the security type. Most home networks use WPA or WPA2. If you are not sure, look at your router or check the WiFi settings on a phone that is already connected. It will show the security type. Then type your WiFi password in the box called Password. Type it slowly and check it twice. A single wrong letter means the phone will not join. The preview updates as you type, and the line under it shows the exact code the tool will make. It looks like this: WIFI:S:MyHomeWiFi;T:WPA;P:hello123;;. The S is the network name, the T is the security type, and the P is the password.
Step 3: Download and print the code
When the preview is right, pick a download size of 512 pixels for a card or a small frame. Click Download PNG to save the code. Print it and put it where guests can see it. A small frame on a table works well. Before you hand it out, scan the printed code with your own phone. If your phone joins the network, the code is right. If it does not, check the password and the security type again, make a new code, and print it again. Do not give out a code you have not tested.
Worked example: HomeWiFi
Here is a full worked example. Imagine your network is called HomeWiFi, your security type is WPA, and your password is mypassword123. Open the WiFi tab. Type HomeWiFi in the Network name box. Pick WPA in the Security box. Type mypassword123 in the Password box. The preview shows your code. The line under it reads: WIFI:S:HomeWiFi;T:WPA;P:mypassword123;;. Download the code as a PNG and print it. When a guest scans it, their phone joins HomeWiFi with no typing. The code below is a real code made with this tool for the network HomeWiFi.
Example WiFi QR code that joins the network HomeWiFi.
Where to put your WiFi QR code
Put the code where guests will see it. In a home, a small frame on a side table or a card on the fridge works well. In a cafe, put it on each table or at the counter. In a guest house or a holiday home, put it in the welcome book or in a frame by the door. In an office, put it in the meeting room. Print the code at least 5 centimetres across so a phone can read it from a normal distance. Keep it flat and well lit. A code that is bent, creased, or in shadow is hard to scan. Do not put a WiFi code in a place where strangers can see it if you do not want them to join. Anyone who scans the code can join your network.
What to do if the code will not scan
Most scan problems have a simple cause. First, check the password. A single wrong letter stops the phone from joining. Re-type it and make a new code. Second, check the security type. If your network is WPA2 and you picked WPA, some phones will refuse to join. Match the security type to your network. Third, check the network name. It must match exactly, including capital letters and spaces. Fourth, check the print. A code that is too small, too light, or printed on shiny paper can fail. Print it bigger and darker, on plain paper. Fifth, check that the network is not hidden. Some networks hide their name, and a QR code for a hidden network does not work on every phone. If your network is hidden, turn the hidden setting off or share the password by hand. Sixth, try another phone. If one phone reads the code and another does not, the problem is in the second phone, not the code. Update the phone and try again.
Is a WiFi QR code safe?
A WiFi QR code holds your password in plain text inside the code. Anyone who scans it can join your network, and anyone who reads the code with a scanner app can see the password. That is fine for a home or a cafe where you want guests to join. But it is not safe for a network that holds private files or work systems. Do not put a WiFi code for your office network on a public poster. If a code falls into the wrong hands, change your WiFi password and make a new code. A guest network is a good idea for a cafe or a shop. Most routers can make a second network just for guests, with its own password. Share that password in the code, and keep your main network private.
FAQs
Do I need an app to scan a WiFi QR code?
No. Most modern phones read a QR code with the built-in camera. Open the camera, point it at the code, and tap the notice that appears. The phone asks if you want to join the network. Tap Join and you are in.
Does the WiFi QR code expire?
No. The code is a static code, so it never expires. It works for as long as the network name and password stay the same. If you change the password, make a new code.
What if my network has no password?
An open network with no password can still have a QR code. Pick “nopass” as the security type and leave the password blank. But an open network is not safe, because anyone nearby can join it and see your traffic. Set a password on your network.
Can I put the WiFi code on a poster?
Yes. Print it large, at least 10 centimetres across, so people can scan it from a metre away. Keep it dark on a white background and leave a white border around it.
Will the code work on both Android and iPhone?
Yes. Both Android and iPhone read WiFi QR codes with the built-in camera. Very old phones may need a free QR scanner app, but most phones made in the last few years work without one.