A Wi-Fi QR code is a plain QR code that contains a short line of text. Phone cameras recognise the format and offer to join the network, so guests never type a long password.

What is inside

The text looks like this:

WIFI:T:WPA;S:MyNetwork;P:my-password;;

  • T is the security type: WPA (which covers WPA2 and WPA3 personal), WEP or nopass.
  • S is the network name (SSID).
  • P is the password.
  • H:true can be added if the network is hidden.

The characters \, ;, ,, : and " have special meaning, so when they appear in a name or password they are escaped with a backslash. The generator does this for you.

Is it safe?

A QR code is not encrypted. Anyone who can see or photograph it can read the password from the code, just as they could from a note. That is fine for a guest network in your home or café, and not fine for the network that your computers, backups or smart-home devices rely on.

  • Use a separate guest network if your router supports it.
  • Do not print the code in public places for a private network.
  • Change the password if a code was shared more widely than you meant.

Many online QR makers send your text to their servers. This tool builds the code in your browser, so the password never leaves your device.

Making one

Choose Wi-Fi, enter the details and download the PNG or the SVG. Use SVG for print because it stays sharp at any size.

Make it scan reliably

  • Contrast: dark code on a light background works best. Light on dark may fail in some scanners. The tool warns about low contrast.
  • Quiet zone: keep the blank border around the code, ideally four modules wide.
  • Size: at least about 2 cm (0.8 in) across for close scanning, larger for scanning from a distance.
  • Error correction: higher levels survive scratches and logos but make a denser code. For a plain printout, the default is fine.
  • Test it with more than one phone before printing a lot.

Compatibility

Recent phone cameras understand the Wi-Fi format. Very old devices may show the text and make you type it. Always keep the password written somewhere as a fallback.