How a WiFi QR Code Works
A WiFi QR code encodes your network credentials in a standard URI format: WIFI:T:WPA;S:NetworkName;P:Password;H:false;;. When someone points their phone's camera at it, iOS and Android recognise the WIFI: prefix, parse the fields, and show a “Connect to network”prompt. One tap, they're on your WiFi — no typing, no spelling mistakes, no “what’s the password again?” moments.
The format is a Wi-Fi Alliance convention, not proprietary to any OS or app. Every modern phone (iPhone 2017+, Android 2019+), most smart TVs, and even some laptops read it. The QR encodes the exact characters of your SSID and password — there's no cloud service in between, no account, and no way for us to see what you entered. Our generator builds the URI string and renders the QR entirely in your browser.
How to Create a WiFi QR Code (Step by Step)
- 1Enter your WiFi network name (SSID)
Type the exact network name that appears on your router. It's case-sensitive — 'MyHome-5G' is different from 'myhome-5g'. If unsure, check the label on your router or your phone's saved networks list.
- 2Select security type (WPA / WEP / None)
Pick WPA for all modern routers — it covers WPA, WPA2, and WPA3 (phones auto-detect the variant). Pick WEP only for legacy routers (pre-2004). Pick None for open networks that don't need a password.
- 3Enter the WiFi password
Type your password exactly as set in the router. Special characters (; , " \) are auto-escaped in the QR URI — you don't need to handle them yourself. Leave blank if you picked 'None'.
- 4Tick 'Hidden network' if applicable
Only check this if your SSID is configured to not broadcast. Most home networks broadcast — leave it unchecked. Hidden network scanning requires the H:true flag so the phone knows to add it manually.
- 5Customise the design (optional)
Pick a preset from the Templates gallery, or switch to Custom to choose dot style, colours, and upload a logo. We auto-bump error correction to H (30% recovery) when a logo is present so the QR stays scannable.
- 6Download PNG or SVG
PNG is best for print (1024px or 2048px). SVG is a vector — scales perfectly for signage and posters. Both include a quiet-zone border required for reliable scanning.
Use Cases: Where WiFi QR Codes Save Time
Any place where “what’s the WiFi password?” comes up repeatedly is a candidate. These are the use cases where a printed WiFi QR pays back the 30 seconds of generation effort hundreds of times over.
Cafes & Restaurants
Stick a small QR on each table or at the counter. Customers scan and connect without interrupting staff. Pair with a menu QR for full contactless service.
Airbnbs & Hotels
Frame the QR and put it in the welcome binder or on the kitchen fridge. Zero messaging support tickets about "can’t find the WiFi." Use your guest network, not the primary.
Offices & Co-working
Print the guest-WiFi QR at reception and in meeting rooms. Visitors connect without asking. Office admins rotate the password quarterly and reprint a new QR.
Conferences & Events
Put the venue WiFi QR on the event programme, lanyard card, or session slide. Everyone connects at once without IT queuing support requests.
Guest WiFi at Home
Tape inside a kitchen cabinet or next to the front door. Guests scan and connect — perfect for parties, playdates, in-laws. Set up a guest network on your router first.
Printed Signage
Include the QR on table tents, window stickers, receipts, business cards, and menus. Anywhere a sign lives is a place the QR can live next to it for 10× engagement.
Security Best Practices
A printed WiFi QR is a printed password. Treat it that way. Anyone who photographs it from across the room has your credentials — so for business or public display, always use a separate guest network, not your primary one.
- Create a guest network on your router
Modern routers (Asus, TP-Link, Google Nest, eero, Netgear Orbi) support guest networks in one click. Give it a different SSID and password than your primary. The guest network is isolated from your main devices (printer, NAS, smart home hub) so a compromised guest device can't reach them.
- Use WPA2 or WPA3, not WEP
WEP is broken — attackers can crack it in minutes. If your router only supports WEP, upgrade the router. All routers from 2006+ support WPA2; all from 2020+ support WPA3.
- Change the guest password periodically
For cafes and offices, rotate the guest WiFi password every 1–3 months and reprint the QR. This limits exposure if someone shared the old QR publicly (e.g. took a photo and posted it to a forum).
- Don't print the QR outside customer-facing areas
Window-facing QRs that passers-by can photograph from the street defeat the purpose. Place them inside the premises where only actual customers/guests can reach them.
- This tool is client-side — we can't see your password
The URI is built and the QR rendered entirely in your browser. SSID and password never reach our servers. You can verify this by disconnecting from the internet and confirming the QR still generates.
Compatibility: Which Phones Auto-Connect?
Native WiFi QR support varies by OS version. Every device from 2020 onwards works out of the box. Older devices need the Google Lens or a QR scanner app, which still works — just one extra tap.
iPhone / iPad
- ✓iOS 11+ (2017 and later): native Camera app — yellow “Join network” banner
- ✓Control Center QR scanner (iOS 12+)
- ~iOS 10 and older: needs a third-party scanner app
Android
- ✓Android 10+ (2019 and later): native camera + Google Lens
- ✓Settings → Network → Add with QR (any recent Android)
- ✓Samsung Bixby Vision, OnePlus Scanner
Other Devices
- ✓Smart TVs (Android TV, Google TV) — auto-connect
- ✓Chromebooks (Chrome OS) — native camera
- ~Windows / macOS: paste into QR reader extension
Print Size Guide
QR codes need to be large enough to scan from the user's typical distance. Rule of thumb: QR width ≥ viewing distance ÷ 10. Scale up with more distance.
| Use case | Viewing distance | Minimum QR size | Download at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Table tent / counter sticker | 30 cm (1 ft) | 2 × 2 in / 5 × 5 cm | 1024 px |
| Business card / receipt | 20 cm (8 in) | 1 × 1 in / 2.5 × 2.5 cm | 512 px |
| Wall poster (seated) | 1 m (3 ft) | 4 × 4 in / 10 × 10 cm | 1024 px |
| Wall poster (standing) | 1.5 m (5 ft) | 6 × 6 in / 15 × 15 cm | 2048 px |
| Window / exterior signage | 2–3 m | 10 × 10 in / 25 × 25 cm | 2048 px |
| Billboard / large signage | 10+ m | 3+ ft / 1+ m | 2048 px (SVG recommended) |
Always include a quiet zone (white border of at least 4 modules) around the QR. Contrast matters more than colour — dark QR on light background scans most reliably. Avoid printing on glossy stock where reflection can obscure the code.