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Wi-Fi QR code generator
Guests point a camera at the code and join. No dictating passwords across a room, no sticky note behind the till.
Getting the details exactly right#
Wi-Fi codes fail for boring reasons, almost always in the network name. The SSID is case sensitive and counts every space, so Cafe Guest and cafe guest are different networks as far as the phone is concerned. Copy it from your router admin page or from the list of networks on a device already connected, rather than typing it from memory.
Security type is the second thing to check. Almost every modern router uses WPA2 or WPA3, both of which are covered by the WPA option. WEP only applies to hardware old enough to be a security problem in its own right. Pick the no-password option only for a genuinely open network, and leave the password field alone when you do.
Passwords with punctuation#
The Wi-Fi format uses semicolons and colons as separators, so a password containing ; : , " or a backslash has to be escaped or the code breaks halfway through. This generator escapes those characters for you, which is worth knowing because a fair number of tools do not, and the failure looks like a wrong password rather than a malformed code. Because the code is built on your device, the password is never transmitted to us — see the privacy policy.
Think about which network you are sharing#
Anyone who can photograph the code can extract the password from it. On a guest network that is exactly what you want. On the network your card terminal and back-office machines sit on, it is not. Most routers can broadcast a separate guest SSID that is isolated from the rest of the network — make the code for that one, and you can leave it on the counter without thinking about it again.
Making one, start to finish#
- Copy the network name from your router page or a connected device, matching capitals and spaces exactly.
- Choose WPA for any modern router, or the no-password option for a genuinely open network.
- Type the password as it is. Semicolons, colons and commas are escaped for you.
- Download the PNG, print it, and test it on a phone that has never joined the network.
Where to put the printed code#
Somewhere lit, at roughly chest height, and flat. Behind glass is fine; inside a menu that gets folded is not, because a crease through the pattern removes a stripe of modules. If the code has to live somewhere it will be handled, raise error correction to Q or H so it survives wear, and print it a little larger than feels necessary.
Receptions often want two codes side by side: this one for the network, and a vCard QR code generator so visitors can save the right person’s details. If you would rather send people to a page, use a link code instead.
Questions about Wi-Fi QR codes#
Is it safe to print my Wi-Fi password as a code?
Anyone who can see the code can read the password from it, so treat the printed sheet like a written password. For a cafe or reception that is the point. Otherwise, share a separate guest network instead.
Does this work on iPhone and Android?
Yes. iOS 11 and later and Android 10 and later both read Wi-Fi codes straight from the camera. Older Android phones may need a scanner app.
Why does nothing happen when I scan it?
Usually the network name does not match exactly — SSIDs are case sensitive and count spaces. After that, check you picked the right security type, and tick the hidden option if the network does not broadcast.
Does my password get uploaded anywhere?
No. The code is built by JavaScript on your own device and nothing you type is sent over the network.
Can I use this for a hidden network?
Yes. Tick the hidden network option so the phone knows to search for an SSID that is not being broadcast.