How to Make a Wi-Fi QR Code | Let Guests Connect Without Typing the Password

What a Wi-Fi QR code actually does

A Wi-Fi QR code is nothing special. It is just a line of text in a set format turned into a QR code. When a phone reads it, the phone recognises it as Wi-Fi login details and fills in the network name (SSID) and password for you.

That means you don't need a dedicated app: any tool that turns text into a QR code will do. The content is a single line like this.

• WIFI:T:WPA;S:MyHomeWiFi;P:example-pass-2026;;
• "WIFI:" at the start is the type, T is the security type, S is the network name (SSID) and P is the password
• It ends with two semicolons. With only one, some phones fail to read it

Each field and how to write it

The usual order is T, S, P, H, but fields are recognised in any order as long as they are separated by semicolons. For an open network with no password, write something like "WIFI:T:nopass;S:CafeFreeWiFi;;".

Occasionally, for example when the SSID is made up only of digits, it is not treated as text and connecting fails. In that case, putting the SSID in double quotes, as in S:"12345", may fix it.

Step by step

1. 1

   Note the SSID and password exactly

   Copy them from the label on the router or from its admin page. Copying mistakes here cause most failures. Watch out for 0 (zero) and O, and for 1 (one), l (lower-case L) and I (upper-case i).

2. 2

   Build the one-line text in the format

   Write it as WIFI:T:WPA;S:network-name;P:password;; and do the escaping from the previous section if there are special characters.

3. 3

   Paste it into a QR code tool

   The text is turned into a QR code as you type. The size can be set from 128 to 1024px, with 512px as the default. Spaces at the start and end are removed automatically.

4. 4

   Scan it with your own phone to check

   Always test before handing it out or posting it. Disconnect from the Wi-Fi and delete the saved network first, then scan, so you can confirm it really connects.

5. 5

   Save it as a PNG image

   Download it as PNG for printing or sharing. For print, use 512px or more so it stays sharp even when scaled down on the page.

You can change the colours, but for Wi-Fi it is safest to stay with black on white. A posted code often gets only one chance; if it fails because of low contrast, people will just ask you for the password anyway.

What to check when it won't scan or won't connect

"The text is shown as is" is the most common failure and a sign that the format is broken somewhere. The phone couldn't recognise it as Wi-Fi details, so it is showing it as plain text. Check for characters that look right but aren't, such as curly quotes inserted by autocorrect or full-width colons and semicolons typed with a Chinese or Japanese keyboard.

Posting and sharing it safely

A code stuck by a shop entrance or in a meeting room is the same as a password anyone can read. Separating what each network is for lets you have both convenience and security.

• Use a guest network: give visitors their own SSID and keep them off the network your work or home devices use
• Turn on client isolation: in the router settings, stop connected devices from seeing each other
• Use different passwords for posted and internal networks: a leak from the poster doesn't affect your main setup
• Change it regularly: decide on a schedule, such as every few months for the guest network
• Assume the poster will be photographed: photos get shared easily

The same thinking applies at home. If you give your guest SSID a QR code, you never have to read the password out, and if you change it later only the guest network is affected. You also avoid leaving your main network's password lying around on paper. If someone says the code you posted won't scan, the steps in what to do when a QR code won't scan help narrow down the cause.

FAQ

Can I make a Wi-Fi QR code without a special app?

Yes. A Wi-Fi QR code is just text in a set format turned into a QR code, so any tool that converts text to a QR code is enough. Enter it in the form WIFI:T:WPA;S:network-name;P:password;;.

Does putting the password in a QR code hide it?

No. A QR code just represents text as a pattern, and scanning it shows the password as plain text. If you post it where people can see it, set up a guest network and keep it separate from your main work or home devices.

What if my password has special characters?

Five characters, \ ; , : and ", need escaping with one backslash in front. For example, pass;word becomes P:pass\;word. Other symbols such as !, # or - can be written as they are.

Why does scanning it not connect me to the Wi-Fi?

If the text is shown as is, the format is wrong: check that it ends with two semicolons and that no colons or semicolons are full-width. If it gets as far as connecting and fails, the password may have been copied wrongly, a special character may not be escaped, or the device may not support the 5 GHz band.