Router passwords are long and random for good reason, which makes them painful to share. A Wi-Fi QR code solves that: it stores the network name, password and security type in a format phones recognise, so the camera offers to join the network directly. You make it once, print it or keep it on screen, and it keeps working as long as your password stays the same.

How to make a Wi-Fi QR code

  1. Open the QR code generator and select the Wi-Fi tab. There's no sign-up.
  2. Enter the network name (SSID) exactly as it appears in your phone's Wi-Fi list. Capital letters, spaces and symbols all matter.
  3. Choose the security type: WPA/WPA2/WPA3 for nearly every modern router, WEP only for very old equipment, or No password for an open network. Then type the password.
  4. Tick Hidden network if your router doesn't broadcast its name.
  5. Adjust the colours, error correction and margin if you like, then download a PNG (512, 1024 or 2048 px) or an SVG.
  6. Scan the result with your own phone before you print or share it.

The preview updates as you type, so you can see the code change with every field.

What's inside the code: the WIFI: format

A Wi-Fi QR code is just a short line of text in a widely supported format that originated in the open-source ZXing barcode library. For a network called "Home Wi-Fi" with the password sun;rise, the generator encodes:

WIFI:T:WPA;S:Home Wi-Fi;P:sun\;rise;;

  • T: is the security type: WPA, WEP or nopass for an open network.
  • S: is the network name.
  • P: is the password. It's left out for open networks.
  • H:true is added only when you tick Hidden network.
  • The line ends with two semicolons.

Notice the backslash before the semicolon in the password. Semicolons, commas, colons, quotes and backslashes have a special meaning in this format, so the generator escapes them automatically. Without that, a password containing ; would be cut short and the phone would fail to connect. If you've ever had a hand-made Wi-Fi code mysteriously not work, this is a common reason.

An open café network looks like this: WIFI:T:nopass;S:Cafe Guest;;

How to scan it on iPhone and Android

iPhone: open the Camera app and point it at the code. A "Join network" prompt appears at the top or bottom of the screen; tap it. You can also use the Code Scanner from Control Centre.

Android: most phones read QR codes in the built-in Camera app or through Google Lens. Many also have a QR icon in Settings → Wi-Fi, next to "Add network", which scans the code and connects straight away.

If nothing happens, move a little further back so the whole code fits in the frame, avoid glare from glossy paper or a screen, and make sure the camera's QR scanning isn't turned off in its settings.

Static codes: no expiry, but no editing either

The generator makes static QR codes. All the data sits in the pattern itself, so the code doesn't go through any server, doesn't depend on Zebra, has no scan limits and never expires.

The flip side: you can't edit a printed code. If you change your Wi-Fi password or rename the network, the old code stops working and you need to make and print a new one. Keep the generator bookmarked for that day.

Printing tips for a code that always scans

  • Pick SVG for print. It's a vector file, so it stays sharp at any size on a poster, table card or sticker. Use the 2048 px PNG for documents and slides.
  • Keep it dark on light. Black on white is safest. The generator warns you when contrast is too low or when you've made a light code on a dark background, which some scanners can't read.
  • Leave a margin. The blank border (quiet zone) helps the camera find the code. Keep the margin at 2 modules or more; 4 gives extra safety on busy printed backgrounds.
  • Choose error correction for the setting. Medium is a good default. Use Quartile or High for codes that may get scuffed, folded or splashed, like a sticker on a router or a card on a café table. Wi-Fi data is short, so even High keeps the pattern simple.
  • Don't print it tiny. As a rough rule, make the code about 2–3 cm wide for a table card, and larger for a wall where people scan from a distance.
  • Label it. Add a line like "Scan to join Wi-Fi" and the network name. Also print the password in plain text for laptops and devices without a camera.
  • Test with two phones. Check one iPhone and one Android before you print a batch.

Where a Wi-Fi QR code is useful

  • At home: on the fridge or in the guest room, so visiting friends don't have to ask.
  • Rentals and guest houses: in the welcome booklet or framed by the door.
  • Cafés, salons and offices: on table tents, the reception desk or meeting room walls. For a business, point the code at a separate guest network rather than your main one.

Is it safe?

A Wi-Fi QR code contains your password in readable form. Anyone who scans it, or photographs it and decodes it later, can join your network and read the password. That's fine for a guest network or your fridge door, but don't post a photo of your home code online. On our side there's nothing to leak: the code is generated in your browser and the network name and password are never sent to a server.

Other codes from the same tool

Besides Wi-Fi, the QR code generator makes codes for a link or plain text, an email with a pre-filled subject, a phone number and an SMS. The same colour, size and SVG options apply.

FAQ

How do I share my Wi-Fi with a QR code?
Open the QR code generator, choose Wi-Fi, enter the network name, security type and password, and download the code. Guests scan it with their phone camera and tap the prompt to join.
Does a Wi-Fi QR code expire?
No. It's a static code: the network name and password are stored in the pattern itself, so it works forever and doesn't depend on our servers. It only stops working if you change the password or network name.
Why won't my phone connect after scanning?
Check that the network name matches exactly, including capital letters, that the security type is right and that the password is current. For a network that doesn't broadcast its name, tick Hidden network and make the code again.
Is it safe to put my Wi-Fi password in a QR code?
The password is readable by anyone who scans the code, so only display it where you'd be happy to tell people the password. For cafés and offices, use a separate guest network. The generator itself runs in your browser and sends nothing to a server.
Can I make a QR code for a hidden network?
Yes. Tick Hidden network in the Wi-Fi tab and the code tells the phone that the network doesn't broadcast its name. Support for hidden networks varies by phone, so test it on the devices your guests are likely to use.

Make yours now

Grab your router password and create a code you can stick on the fridge in under a minute. Create a Wi-Fi QR code →