WiFi QR code generator

What is inside a WiFi QR code

A WiFi QR code is plain text written in a format that mobile operating systems already understand: WIFI:T:WPA;S:MyNetwork;P:MyPassword;H:false;;. T is the security type, S is the SSID, P is the password, and H says whether the network is hidden.

Because the credentials are encoded directly in the pattern, this is a static QR code. There is no short link, no account, and no server that can switch it off later. Every person who scans it gets the same network details, and the code keeps working as long as the network name and password stay the same.

Semicolons, commas, colons, backslashes and quotes in an SSID or password have to be escaped or the scanner will misread them. The generator does that automatically, but it is worth knowing if you are comparing tools.

Which security type should you select

Choose WPA for almost every modern router. The QR format uses the same WPA value for WPA, WPA2 and WPA3, so you do not need to work out which generation your router uses.

Choose WEP only for old hardware that cannot be upgraded, and None for an open network with no password. Hidden networks can be encoded with the H field, but many phones are unreliable at joining them from a scan, so broadcasting the SSID is the safer choice.

• WPA - WPA, WPA2 and WPA3 networks, including most home and office routers
• WEP - legacy equipment only, not recommended for new networks
• None - open networks and captive-portal guest networks

Where a WiFi QR code is useful

Print the code wherever someone would otherwise have to ask for the password or type a long string on a phone keyboard. A small sign is enough: the camera does the work.

• Guest WiFi in cafes, holiday rentals and small offices
• Conference rooms and shared coworking spaces
• A framed sign at reception or a table tent
• A label on the router card for family members and house sitters

Before you print a large batch

Test the finished code with both an iPhone and an Android phone. Current iOS and Android versions offer to join the network straight from the camera app; older devices may need a third-party scanner or manual entry.

Use a dark foreground on a light background with a clear quiet zone around the pattern. Inverted colours, glossy laminates and very small print are the most common reasons a code fails to scan. The generator warns you when the contrast of the chosen colours is too low.

Anyone who can see the sign can read the credentials. For shared spaces, put guests on a separate SSID with client isolation, and reprint the code whenever that password changes.