Make a QR code for Wi-Fi guests

When guests arrive, reading out a long Wi-Fi password can be awkward, especially if it has a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. A Wi-Fi QR code lets them scan once and join without typing the password.

Use the QR Code Generator to make a code with your network name, password, and security type. Then scan it with another phone to make sure it works before you print it or share it.

Make a QR code for your Wi-Fi

1. Open the QR Code Generator and choose the Wi-Fi code option.
2. Enter your Wi-Fi network name exactly as it appears in your device's Wi-Fi settings. Uppercase and lowercase letters matter.
3. Enter the network password carefully, including any capital letters, numbers, and symbols.
4. Choose the security type used by your network. If you are not sure, check your router settings or ask the person who manages the network. Do not guess.
5. Generate the code, then scan it with a different phone. If it connects successfully, save the image using the save or download option shown by the tool.

To confirm the network name, on Windows 11 open Settings › Network & internet › Wi-Fi. On a Mac, open System Settings › Wi-Fi. On an iPhone, open Settings › Wi-Fi. On Android, open Settings › Network & internet › Internet, though the wording can vary by phone.

Choose the right Wi-Fi details

Use the exact network name and password

A Wi-Fi network name is also called an SSID. It must match exactly, including spaces and punctuation. If you have separate guest and home networks, use the guest network's name and password so visitors do not join your personal network by mistake.

If you do not know the password, check the router label, the router's settings, or ask the network owner. Avoid copying a password from an old note unless you have confirmed it still works.

Match the security type

Home networks commonly use WPA2 or WPA3 security. The QR code needs to use the same type as the router. A mismatch can make a correctly scanned code fail to connect. If the network has no password, use an open or no-password option only if the network really is open.

If you cannot tell which security type the router uses, look in its Wi-Fi or wireless settings. Do not change the router's security just to make a QR code. If you manage the router, keep a secure password and use the guest network when available.

Keep the code easy to scan

You can customize the QR code's colors or add a logo, but keep strong contrast between the code and its background. Do not let a logo cover too much of the pattern. A simple dark code on a light background is usually easiest for phone cameras to read.

Make the printed code large enough for a phone to focus on, and avoid folding it or placing it behind reflective plastic. If you share it on a screen, turn the brightness up and show the whole code without cropping its edges.

Decide who should be able to use it

The QR code contains the Wi-Fi network name and password in a form a phone can read. Anyone who gets a copy may be able to join the network, so do not post it somewhere public or send it to people you do not trust. A guest network is a better choice than sharing the password for a network used by your personal devices.

If the QR code does not connect

1. Check the network name and password. Compare each character with the details in your router settings or with a device that is already connected. Fix any typo, then generate and scan a fresh code.
2. Check the security type. Make sure the option in the QR code matches the router's Wi-Fi security setting. If you do not manage the router, ask its owner rather than changing the setting yourself.
3. Try the phone's camera app. Point it at the complete code and wait for a join prompt. Some phones have QR scanning in the camera, while others may need their built-in QR scanner. If the camera does not recognize the code, try another phone or increase the code's size and contrast.
4. Confirm the network is in range. The phone still needs to be close enough to receive the Wi-Fi signal. Move nearer to the router and scan again. If the network name does not appear in the phone's Wi-Fi list, check that the router is on and broadcasting that network.
5. Check whether the guest network has a sign-in page. Some guest networks require you to accept terms or enter a separate access code after connecting. The QR code can provide Wi-Fi details, but it cannot skip that extra step.

Once a guest's phone connects, ask them to open a webpage before you put the printed code away. This checks both that the scan worked and that the guest network has internet access.