How to make a Wi-Fi QR code

A Wi-Fi QR code holds your network name and password in a small text format that phones understand. When someone scans it with the built-in camera, the phone offers to connect automatically. It is the fastest way to share Wi-Fi at home, in a cafe, an office lobby, an Airbnb, or a waiting room, without reading letters and numbers out loud.

Make one in three steps

1. Open the generator and choose QR code mode.
2. Paste a Wi-Fi string in the exact format below (network name and password).
3. Download the image and print it, or show it on a screen. Scan it once yourself to confirm it connects.

The Wi-Fi QR format

Phones read a specific text pattern. Type it into the generator, replacing the sample values with your own:

WIFI:T:WPA;S:MyNetworkName;P:MyPassword;;

Each field has a meaning:

• T is the security type: WPA covers WPA, WPA2, and WPA3. Use nopass for an open network with no password.
• S is the SSID, the exact network name, including capital letters and spaces.
• P is the password. Leave it empty for an open network.
• The trailing ;; closes the string. Do not remove it.

Special characters and escaping

If your network name or password contains any of these characters: \ ; , " :, put a backslash in front of each one so the scanner reads it correctly. For example, a password of Café;2024 becomes Café\;2024. A hidden network adds one more field:

WIFI:T:WPA;S:MyNetwork;P:MyPassword;H:true;;

The H:true tells the phone the network does not broadcast its name, so it should be added manually.

Where to place it

• Home: a small print on the fridge or by the router.
• Cafes and restaurants: on the table, near the till, or on the menu.
• Short-term rentals: in the welcome guide or framed on a wall.
• Offices: a guest-network sticker in meeting rooms and reception.

Why the code will not connect

Almost every failed Wi-Fi QR code comes down to one of these:

• Wrong case in the SSID. Network names are case-sensitive; HomeWiFi is not homewifi.
• Unescaped symbols. A semicolon or comma inside the password breaks the format unless you escape it with a backslash.
• Wrong security type. If the network is open, use nopass and leave P empty.
• Old phone software. Camera-based Wi-Fi joining is standard on modern iOS and Android; very old devices may need a QR-reader app.
• Print too small or low contrast. Keep dark modules on a light background and leave a quiet margin around the code.

Is it safe?

The password sits in plain text inside the QR code, exactly like reading it off a sticker, so only display it where you already trust the people who can see it. Open QR Code builds the image entirely in your browser: what you type is never uploaded, stored, or tracked. For a shared or public space, consider a dedicated guest network rather than encoding your main password.

Ready? Create your Wi-Fi QR code, or learn to make a contact QR code next.