QR code tool

Wi-Fi QR Code

Create a code that lets a guest join your network by pointing a phone at it, instead of typing a password character by character. The code is assembled in your browser and nothing is sent anywhere.

Read this before you print one. A Wi-Fi QR code contains the network password in plain text. Anyone who photographs the screen, the sticker, or the printed card can read the password and join your network. Use a guest network with its own password, and change it if the code ever leaves your control.

How the format works

A Wi-Fi code is a short line of text in a format phone cameras recognise automatically:

WIFI:T:WPA;S:NetworkName;P:thepassword;H:false;;

Each part is labelled, the fields are separated by semicolons, and the line ends with an empty field written ;;. Android and iOS both read this directly from the camera app with no separate QR reader installed.

Passwords containing awkward characters

The format uses \, ;, ,, : and " as separators, so a password containing any of them has to be escaped with a backslash or the scanner will read the wrong password and the join will simply fail. The tool does this for you and warns you when it happens, because it is the most common reason a generated code will not work.

If a code with an unusual password will not connect on a particular phone, try a simpler password for that network before assuming the code is at fault. Some older scanner apps mishandle the escape character.

Printing one that works

  • Print it at 3 cm or larger. A Wi-Fi code carries a password, so it is longer than a URL code and needs more room.
  • Leave the quiet zone clear. Do not let a logo or a background pattern run into the white margin.
  • Keep it flat and unwrinkled. A creased code may still scan, but not reliably across every phone.
  • Put it somewhere visible but not in a spot where it gets scratched or covered, such as under a drinks mat.
  • Test it on more than one phone before committing to a print run, ideally one older model as well as a current one.

Open networks

Choosing “No password” produces a code that joins an open network without asking for anything. It is worth remembering that an open network still lets anyone nearby send and receive traffic, and anything you share over it is visible to other people on the same network. WPA2 or WPA3 with a password is the better choice wherever it is available.

Further reading: Read the full guide: Wi-Fi QR Code

Common questions

What security types are supported?

WPA / WPA2 / WPA3, WEP, and open networks with no password. WPA2 and WPA3 are what current routers use. WEP is offered because older hardware still exists, though it is broken security and worth replacing if you can.

What does the hidden network option do?

It marks the network as hidden in the code, so a phone joining it does not list the network in its normal scan results. It is the correct setting when your router does not broadcast its name. It does not make the network harder to join — it only stops it appearing in the list.

Why is there a show password button?

Because a Wi-Fi code contains the password in plain text inside it, and so does anything that scans it. The button lets you check what you typed without squinting at the field. Be aware of what you are sharing: anyone who photographs that code has your network password.

Is my password uploaded?

No. The code is generated in this tab, nothing is transmitted and nothing is stored. The privacy risk is not this tool — it is the printed code itself, which contains the password in a form any scanner can read.

Will every phone join from one scan?

Most current phones will, straight from the camera app. Some older Android versions need a QR scanner app installed first. On iOS, the Camera app reads Wi-Fi codes directly from version 15 onwards.