How to create a WiFi QR code

Make a WiFi QR code that lets guests join your network with one scan. Learn the WIFI: payload format, security types, safety tips and how to fix scan issues.

Why use a WiFi QR code

Reading out a long WiFi password is slow and error-prone. Guests mistype a zero for an O, miss a capital letter, or pick the wrong network. A WiFi QR code removes all of that: the guest points a phone camera at the code, taps the prompt, and the phone joins the network with the correct name, password and security type.

WiFi codes are popular in homes, rental properties, cafes, offices, waiting rooms and event venues. They work on recent iPhones and on most Android phones directly from the built-in camera app, so guests do not need to install anything.

What a WiFi QR code actually contains

A WiFi QR code is not a link. It stores a short piece of text in a format that phones recognize as network settings. A typical payload looks like this: WIFI:T:WPA;S:Home WiFi;P:correct-horse;;

• WIFI: marks the text as network settings rather than plain text.
• T: is the security type, usually WPA, WEP or nopass for an open network.
• S: is the network name (SSID), exactly as your router broadcasts it.
• P: is the password. It is left out when the network has no password.
• The payload ends with two semicolons.

Some characters have special meaning in this format, so they must be escaped with a backslash when they appear in a network name or password: backslash, semicolon, comma, colon and double quote. A password such as pa;ss becomes pa\;ss inside the payload. Our generator applies this escaping for you.

The format also defines an optional H:true field for hidden networks. Our WiFi QR code tool does not add it, so for a hidden network some phones may not find the network after scanning. Broadcasting the network name is the more reliable choice when you share access by QR code.

Choosing the right security type

The security type in the code must match your router's settings, or the phone will fail to connect even with the correct password. You can find it in your router's admin page or on the label of many ISP routers.

• WPA / WPA2: the right choice for almost every modern home and office network. Networks running in WPA2/WPA3 mixed mode also use this setting.
• WEP: an old, insecure standard. Only choose it if your router still uses WEP, and consider upgrading the router settings.
• None: for open networks with no password, such as some public hotspots. The password field is ignored.

Networks configured for WPA3 only can be less predictable. Many recent phones handle them, but some older devices may not join from a code. If guests report problems, a WPA2/WPA3 mixed setting on a guest network is usually the most compatible option.

Step by step: make a WiFi QR code

1. Open the WiFi QR code tool. The WiFi tab is already selected.
2. Type the network name exactly as it appears in your phone's WiFi list. Names are case-sensitive, and many routers broadcast separate names for 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.
3. Type the password. Check it carefully, because the code will contain exactly what you enter.
4. Choose the security type: WPA / WPA2, WEP or None.
5. Watch the preview update. Open the Output section if you want to see or copy the raw WIFI: payload.
6. Pick an error correction level and colors if you need them. Medium error correction and black on white suit most uses.
7. Download the code as a PNG (512, 1024 or 2048 pixels) or as an SVG for print.

Test before you print or share

Always scan the code with at least two phones before you put it on a wall. Ideally, use one iPhone and one Android device, and test from a phone that has never joined the network, or forget the network first. A phone that already knows the password may connect even if the code is wrong.

If you only have a screenshot or a photo of the code, you can check its contents with a scanner. Our QR code scanner reads codes from an image file, a pasted screenshot or your camera, and shows the decoded text, so you can confirm the payload before printing.

Security: what anyone who scans can see

The password inside a WiFi QR code is stored as plain text. It is not encrypted or hidden. Anyone who scans the code, or takes a photo of it, can read the password with any QR reader app. Treat a printed WiFi code the same way you would treat the password written on a card.

• Put guests on a separate guest network rather than the network your computers and smart devices use.
• Do not post a code for a private network where strangers can photograph it, such as a window or a public listing photo.
• When you change the WiFi password, generate and print a new code. The old code will simply stop working.
• On our site the code is generated locally in your browser, so the password never reaches our servers. That protects it during creation, not after you share the code.

Troubleshooting a code that will not connect

• The phone sees the network but fails to join: the password or security type is wrong. Recreate the code and check both.
• The phone shows no WiFi prompt: the camera may be reading it as plain text. Make sure the payload starts with WIFI: and try a different scanner app.
• The network is not found: confirm the name matches exactly, including spaces and capitalization, and that the router is in range.
• The code will not scan at all: print it larger, keep the white margin around it, and use dark modules on a light background.
• Guests connect but have no internet: the code worked, and the problem is on the network side, such as a captive portal or an outage.

Display ideas

A small framed card near the entrance or on a desk works well in homes and offices. In a rental, add the code to the welcome sheet together with the network name and password in text, so guests with older phones can still type it. For a printed card, the SVG download stays sharp at any size; aim for at least 3 cm (about 1.2 inches) across so phones focus easily at arm's length.