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How to share your WiFi with a QR code

Spelling out a long WiFi password, or turning the router over to read the sticker, gets old fast. A WiFi QR code lets anyone join your network by pointing their phone camera at it. This guide covers making one for free, printing a sign that works, and keeping your network secure.

By Aidan Lowson · Updated

Why share WiFi with a QR code

  • No typos. Long, random passwords are the secure choice, and the most annoying to type. A QR code types it perfectly every time.
  • No interruptions. Guests, customers and visitors help themselves instead of asking you or your staff.
  • It works on almost every phone. iPhones and most Android phones can join straight from the camera app, with no extra app to install.

What you need

  • Your network name (SSID), exactly as it appears in your phone's WiFi list, including capitals and spaces.
  • Your WiFi password. It's usually on a sticker on the router if you have never changed it.
  • Your security type. Almost every router today uses WPA2 or WPA3. If you don't know, it's almost certainly one of those.

Make your WiFi QR code in 4 steps

  1. Open the free WiFi QR code generator.
  2. Enter your network name and password, and leave security on WPA / WPA2 / WPA3 unless your router says otherwise. Tick Hidden network only if your network doesn't show up in the WiFi list.
  3. Add your style if you want to: brand colours for a café, or a logo for a holiday let. Keep the code dark on a light background so every phone can read it.
  4. Download a PNG to print at home, or an SVG for a professional printer. Then scan it with your own phone to check it joins.

The code is created entirely in your browser. Your network name and password are never sent to our servers.

Make a WiFi sign that works

  • Say what it is. A heading like "Scan to join our WiFi" tells people what the code does.
  • Print the details underneath too. Add the network name and password in text for laptops, older phones and anyone who'd rather type.
  • Print it at least 3 x 3 cm for a table or fridge. For a wall sign read from a couple of metres away, go for 15 x 15 cm or more.
  • Use matt paper or a matt frame. Glossy lamination reflects lights and makes the code harder to scan.

Where to put it

  • Holiday lets and Airbnbs: the welcome book, the fridge or by the front door. You can also put the image in your check-in message.
  • Cafés and restaurants: table stands, the counter, or on the back of the menu. Pair it with a QR code for your menu.
  • Offices: reception, meeting rooms and the kitchen, for the guest network.
  • At home: inside a kitchen cupboard door or on the router itself.

Keep your network safe

A WiFi QR code is exactly as private as the password written on a note: anyone who can scan it can join, and many phones can show the password once connected. So:

  • Use a guest network in public places. Most routers can run a separate guest network that keeps visitors away from your own devices. Share that one, not your main network.
  • Change the password after a change of staff or tenants, then print a new code. The old one stops working as soon as the password changes.
  • Keep codes for private networks private. Don't put your home network's code in a window or a public post.

Frequently asked questions

Can iPhones scan WiFi QR codes?

Yes. iPhones running iOS 11 or later read WiFi QR codes straight from the Camera app and show a prompt to join the network.

Can Android phones scan WiFi QR codes?

Yes. Most Android phones join from the camera app or Google Lens. You can also scan from the WiFi settings screen on many phones, using the QR icon next to Add network.

What happens if I change my WiFi password?

Printed codes stop working, because the old password is stored in them. Make a new code with the new password and swap the printed copies.

Can I share WiFi with a QR code without printing it?

Yes. Save the PNG to your phone and show it on screen, or add it to a digital welcome guide or booking confirmation email.

Is it free?

Yes. Free QR Gen is free with no sign-up and no watermark, and WiFi codes never expire.

Create your WiFi QR code now, free →

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