How to make a Wi-Fi QR code
- Find the exact network name (SSID). It is case-sensitive: “CafeGuest” and “cafeguest” are different networks.
- Type the password exactly as set on the router, including spaces and symbols.
- Choose the security type. Most home and business routers use WPA/WPA2 or WPA3; pick WEP only for very old routers, and “No password” for open networks.
- Tick “Hidden network” only if your router does not broadcast its name.
- Test with both an iPhone and an Android phone if you can, then print it where guests can reach it.
Field-by-field help
- Network name (SSID)
- Copy it from your phone’s Wi-Fi list or the router label. Special characters such as ; , : and \ are escaped automatically so they are read correctly.
- Password
- Use the show/hide button to check for typos. If the password is wrong, the phone tries to join and fails, usually without a clear message.
- Security
- WPA covers WPA, WPA2 and most WPA3 routers. If your router is set to WPA3-only and an older phone cannot join, that is a router compatibility issue, not the code.
- Hidden network
- Adds the hidden flag so the phone looks for a network that does not broadcast its name. Leave it off for normal networks.
Where to put a Wi-Fi QR code
Café and restaurant tables
A table tent at 8–10 cm wide is easy to scan while seated. Use a guest network, not the one your till or cameras use.
Holiday rentals
Frame it near the door or in the welcome folder. When you change the password between guests, print a new code.
Office reception
Visitors join without asking staff to spell out the password.
Events
Put it on badges or the agenda so attendees connect before the first session starts.
How phones handle Wi-Fi codes
Recent iPhones (iOS 11 and later) and most Android phones (Android 10 and later) read Wi-Fi codes in the built-in camera app. The phone shows a “Join network” prompt; nothing happens until the guest taps it.
Some older Android phones need Google Lens or a scanner app. If a guest cannot join, ask them to open Wi-Fi settings and look for a “scan QR code” icon next to “Add network”.
Security and limits
- The password is stored as plain text inside the code. Anyone who scans it, or photographs it, can read it. Share codes only for networks you are happy to give out.
- Use a guest network that is separated from your main devices. Most routers can create one in a few minutes.
- If you change the router password, the old code stops working. Print a new one.
- Enterprise networks (WPA-Enterprise with a username) cannot be joined through a standard Wi-Fi QR code.
Questions people ask
Is my Wi-Fi password sent anywhere?
No. The code is created in your browser and the password is not uploaded. It is, however, readable by anyone who scans the printed code.
Why does my phone say it cannot join?
Usually the password or security type does not match the router, or the network name has different capitals. Check each field against the router settings.
Can I hide the password from guests?
Not inside the code itself. A scanner app can show the contents. That is why a separate guest network is recommended.
Last updated 11 October 2026 by the QRizeo team.