Skip to main content

WiFi QR Code Generator

Generate a QR code for your WiFi network so guests can connect by scanning.

Reviewed by · Last reviewed

Enter a network name to generate the QR code

How to Use the WiFi QR Code Generator

  1. Enter the SSID - the exact network name as it appears on the router or in your phone\'s WiFi list. SSIDs are case-sensitive; "HomeNet" and "homenet" are different networks to the spec.
  2. Enter the password - leave blank only for open networks with no authentication. The tool handles special characters (quotation marks, backslashes, semicolons) by escaping them correctly in the WIFI: payload.
  3. Select the encryption type - choose WPA/WPA2 for nearly all modern routers, WPA3 for newer enterprise or premium consumer routers, WEP for legacy equipment (strongly deprecated), or None for open networks. WPA2 works for both WPA2-PSK and the older WPA-PSK schemes.
  4. Toggle the Hidden flag if your router does not broadcast the SSID. Scanning devices will then actively probe for the network rather than waiting to see it advertised.
  5. Choose size and colors - 256px is fine for a printed table tent; 512px is safer for a wall poster. Keep black-on-white for maximum scanner compatibility, or lightly tint only if testing with the target devices first.
  6. Download as PNG or SVG - PNG for one-off printing, SVG for scalable sign work and professional design software.

What the QR Code Actually Contains

Scanning a WiFi QR code does not open a URL - it decodes to a special text string in the format WIFI:T:WPA;S:NetworkName;P:password;H:true;;. The prefix WIFI: signals to supporting operating systems (iOS 11+, Android 10+, recent macOS and Windows) that this is a WiFi credential. The T field is the security type (WPA, WEP, or nopass), S is the SSID, P is the password, and H:true marks the network as hidden. Special characters inside the SSID or password are escaped with backslashes: a semicolon becomes \\;, a backslash becomes \\\\, a double quote becomes \\". This format was originally defined by a Sony Ericsson / Sansan convention and later adopted in practice by Google and Apple, though it is not formally part of the ISO/IEC 18004 QR Code spec itself.

The encoding and rendering happen entirely in your browser. The SSID and password you type go through JavaScript string interpolation, are encoded into the QR matrix per ISO/IEC 18004, and rendered onto an HTML canvas for PNG export or to inline SVG for vector export. No part of that process involves a network request carrying your network credentials, and there is no analytics event that captures SSID or password fields. You can verify by opening DevTools Network tab and watching no outbound traffic fire while you type.

Practical Places to Print One

  • Short-term rentals (Airbnb, VRBO, BnB) - a laminated card or framed print saves every guest from typing a 20-character password they will use for 3 days.
  • Cafes and coworking - a sticker on the counter or table-tent with the guest network QR reduces staff interruptions for WiFi help.
  • Offices with guest networks - conference-room posters let visitors join without a host walking over.
  • Events and pop-ups - a QR at registration gets attendees on WiFi instantly for check-in apps and event platforms.
  • Home networks - a fridge magnet QR saves explaining the password when friends visit.
  • Classrooms or training rooms - projected QR for bring-your-own-device sessions.

Edge Cases That Trip Up WiFi QR Codes

The single largest issue is password escaping. If your password contains a semicolon, quote, or backslash and is not escaped correctly, the phone either fails to decode the credential or joins a network with a corrupted password. This tool escapes correctly, but if you build the WIFI: string by hand, make sure ; becomes \\;. The second common failure is SSIDs with Unicode characters (emoji, non-Latin scripts); the QR spec handles them in byte-mode encoding, but some older iPhone and Android scanners normalize Unicode incorrectly and end up probing for a wrong SSID. Third, WPA Enterprise (802.1X authentication with RADIUS, used on corporate networks) cannot be encoded in the standard WIFI: payload format - it lacks fields for username, anonymous identity, EAP method, and trust-store certificates. For WPA Enterprise networks, MDM-configured WiFi profiles on iOS/Android are the right path, not QR codes. Fourth, the hidden-network flag helps scanning devices know to probe, but some operating systems still refuse to join hidden networks purely from a QR; users may need to manually tap "Join Other Network" after the QR adds the configuration. Finally, very long passwords (close to the 63-character WPA2-PSK max) push the QR into higher versions (denser modules), requiring a larger print size to scan reliably - keep codes at 2 cm minimum.

WiFi Security Modes: What to Pick and Why

WPA3 is the newest standard (Wi-Fi Alliance, 2018) and mandatory on Wi-Fi 6E / Wi-Fi 7 certified equipment - choose it if all your devices support it. WPA2 (IEEE 802.11i, ratified 2004) remains the most widely-supported and is what nearly every home router and guest-network setup uses. WPA (original, 2003) is deprecated but still functional on old equipment. WEP (1997) is broken - the key can be cracked in minutes using freely available tools, and it should not be used on any network carrying real data; it exists in the QR format only for legacy compatibility with very old hardware. "None" (open network) works but transmits all traffic unencrypted, so anyone within range can passively capture packets. For a cafe or guest network, WPA2 with a shared password is the standard answer; for a hotel with individual guest access, a captive portal (not representable as a WiFi QR) is the usual choice. WPA3 is backwards-compatible with WPA2 in transition mode, so mixed-device networks do not need to choose between them.

How This Compares to Router Apps, iOS Share Sheet, and Android Nearby Share

Apple added a built-in "Share WiFi" feature in iOS 11 that lets a nearby iOS/macOS device join without typing a password (using Apple\'s own Wi-Fi credential propagation, not a QR). Android 10+ can generate a WiFi QR from the Settings > WiFi > Share menu of a network you are already connected to - no third-party tool needed if you can access the device that joined first. Many ISP routers (eero, Google Nest Wifi, Plume, TP-Link Deco) have companion apps with QR sharing built in. This tool\'s niche is generating a QR ahead of time, from a device that has never connected to the target network - useful when you are setting up a short-term rental before the first guest arrives, or preparing signage before an event. Commercial QR services (QR Tiger, Beaconstac) offer styled WiFi QRs with logos and analytics; the tradeoff is the credential payload passes through their servers, which is relevant if the SSID and password are sensitive. For a one-time printed QR with no tracking, this local generator is the minimum-disclosure option. The generated QR is informational; physical security of the printed card (do not photograph and share a WiFi poster on social media) is still your responsibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I scan a WiFi QR code on my phone?

On iPhone (iOS 11+), open the Camera app and aim it at the QR code - a notification appears to join the network. On Android 10+ and Samsung devices, open the Camera or Google Lens. On older Android, use the Settings > WiFi > Scan QR option. Pixel phones and most Android 12+ devices detect the code directly from the camera preview. After tapping the notification, the phone joins the network without manual password entry.

Is this secure - is my password actually private?

While the code is being generated, yes - everything runs in browser JavaScript with no outbound requests, so the SSID and password never leave your device. Once printed, the QR code itself is just a machine-readable version of your password. Anyone who photographs or sees the printed QR can decode it and join the network. Treat the printed card like the password itself: keep it in the intended space (guest area, rental unit) and do not post images of it on social media.

Does this work for captive portals or hotel WiFi?

No. Captive portals (hotel login pages, airport WiFi agreements, school network forms) require a user to open a web page and accept terms before internet traffic is allowed. The WiFi QR payload only carries SSID and pre-shared key - it cannot automate a captive portal form. For hotel networks with a printed QR showing the SSID, users still need to open a browser to authenticate after joining.

What encryption type do I pick for a typical home router?

WPA/WPA2 - select that option for nearly any home router from the last 15 years. If your router explicitly supports WPA3 and all your devices do too, WPA3 is slightly stronger. Avoid WEP entirely unless you have pre-2005 hardware that supports nothing else, and even then consider replacing the equipment. Use "None" only for genuinely open networks with no password.

What does the "Hidden network" flag do?

Hidden networks do not broadcast their SSID in normal beacon frames. The flag tells the scanning device to actively probe for the network rather than wait to see it advertised. Without the flag set, some phones refuse to join a hidden network from a QR. Note that hiding the SSID provides essentially no security benefit - active scanners reveal the SSID in seconds - but some corporate IT policies still require it.

Can I encode an enterprise network with username and password?

No. The WIFI: QR payload format supports only SSID, encryption type, and pre-shared key (PSK). WPA Enterprise networks using 802.1X with EAP, RADIUS, certificates, or username/password authentication cannot be represented in this format. For enterprise WiFi, use a configuration profile (.mobileconfig on iOS/macOS, XML on Android) delivered via MDM, or an 802.1X onboarding tool like Cloudpath.

What size should I print the WiFi QR for a typical use case?

For a table tent or small sign viewed at 30-50 cm, 256px PNG printed at around 2.5 cm square is sufficient. For a wall poster viewed from 1-2 meters, 512px at 5-10 cm works well. The SVG format is ideal for professional print work because it scales without quality loss. Always include a white quiet zone around the code (at least 4 modules worth); tight-cropping into the finder patterns is the most common reason scan-able codes suddenly become unscannable.

Why does my password with special characters not work?

The WIFI: payload format reserves <code>;</code>, <code>\</code>, and <code>"</code> as structural characters, so passwords containing them must be escaped with backslashes. This tool handles escaping automatically, but if you build the payload by hand or through another tool, make sure <code>;</code> becomes <code>\;</code>, <code>\</code> becomes <code>\\</code>, and <code>"</code> becomes <code>\"</code>. An unescaped semicolon ends the field early and produces a corrupt credential.

Will the QR still work after I change my router password?

No. The password is encoded into the QR at generation time. If you rotate the WiFi password (recommended every 6-12 months for networks with changing guest lists), you must regenerate the QR with the new password and reprint. Some commercial WiFi QR services offer "dynamic" codes that point to a short URL which can be updated, but those require an ongoing server-side lookup and the scanning device to follow a URL rather than directly join.

Can I add a logo to the WiFi QR code?

This tool generates a standard black-on-white code for maximum scan reliability. QR error correction levels (L/M/Q/H) can tolerate a logo overlay covering up to roughly 30% of the code area at level H. For branded codes, a dedicated single-QR generator with error-correction and logo-placement options is the right tool. Always test logo-decorated codes against several phones (iPhone, Pixel, Samsung, budget Android) before printing - over-styled codes sometimes fail on older cameras.

More QR & Barcode

Barcode Generator

Generate barcodes in CODE128, EAN-13, UPC, CODE39 and more formats.

Open tool

Barcode Reader

Free online barcode reader — upload an image to scan and decode barcodes. Supports EAN, UPC, Code 128, QR and more.

Open tool

Bulk QR Code Generator

Generate multiple QR codes at once from a list of URLs or text.

Open tool

QR Code Generator

Generate QR codes for URLs, text, email, phone and WiFi.

Open tool

QR Code Reader

Scan and decode QR codes from any image online - upload a photo, screenshot or saved picture and read the QR contents instantly in your browser.

Open tool