WiFi QR Code Generator — Share Your Network Without Sharing Your Password

A WiFi QR code encodes your network name (SSID), password, and encryption type into a QR code. When a guest scans it with their smartphone camera, the phone offers to join that network directly — no typing a 32-character WPA2 key character by character.

Use the QR Code Generator on this site to create a WiFi QR code by entering your SSID, password, and encryption type.

The WiFi QR code format

WiFi QR codes encode a standardized text string called the WiFi Protected Setup (WPS) format. The format is:

WIFI:T:<encryption>;S:<SSID>;P:<password>;H:<hidden>;;

Full example:

WIFI:T:WPA2;S:HomeNetwork;P:mypassword123;H:false;;

The double semicolon ;; at the end is required — it terminates the record.

This format was defined by the Wi-Fi Alliance and is supported natively by:

• Android 10+ (camera app directly reads WiFi QR codes)
• iOS 11+ (camera app supports WiFi QR codes)
• macOS 10.14+ (camera through Continuity Camera)
• Windows 10/11 (via Windows Camera app or QR code reader apps)

How to generate a WiFi QR code

Using the QR Code Generator

1. Open the QR Code Generator
2. Select “WiFi” as the content type
3. Enter your SSID (network name — case-sensitive)
4. Select your encryption type (WPA2 for most home networks)
5. Enter your password
6. Choose error correction level (M or H recommended for printing)
7. Download as SVG (for printing) or PNG (for digital display)

Special characters in SSIDs and passwords

If your SSID or password contains any of these characters: ;, ,, \, ", they must be escaped with a backslash in the raw WIFI string:

The QR Code Generator handles escaping automatically — enter your SSID and password as-is.

Encryption types

WPA2 (most home networks)

WPA2-Personal (also called WPA2-PSK) is the standard for home and small office networks. If you’ve set up a WiFi password in the last decade on a typical consumer router, it’s probably WPA2. Use T:WPA2 in the format.

WPA3

Newer routers support WPA3-Personal, which improves over WPA2 with stronger key derivation. iOS 15+, Android 12+, and recent versions of macOS/Windows support WPA3. If your network uses WPA3, use T:WPA in the format — most devices treat WPA generically.

WEP (outdated — avoid)

WEP was cracked in 2001 and is considered completely insecure. If your router only supports WEP, upgrade the router. If you must generate a WEP QR code, use T:WEP.

Open network (no password)

For a public hotspot with no password, use T:nopass and omit the password field:

WIFI:T:nopass;S:CoffeeShopFreeWifi;;

Where to display a WiFi QR code

Home: print and frame

Print the QR code and the network name on a small card or frame it with your decor. Place it where guests will see it — near the entrance, on the coffee table, or by the router.

File format: Download as SVG for printing. SVG is vector format — it scales to any print size without pixelation. A WiFi QR code printed at 5×5cm with error correction level H is readable from 30–40cm away.

Business: at the reception desk and tables

Restaurants, cafes, hotels, and co-working spaces typically put WiFi QR codes on tent cards on tables. Laminate printed QR codes to survive spills.

Include the network name in text next to the QR code — some users prefer to type the password or have accessibility needs that make QR scanning difficult.

Office: Confluence / Notion / digital signage

For internal office WiFi, embed the QR code in your company intranet, onboarding docs, or digital signage screens. Download as PNG for digital use.

Privacy considerations

A WiFi QR code encodes your password in plaintext (albeit encoded in a QR code). The password is recoverable from the QR code by anyone with a QR scanner — there’s no encryption layer around the WIFI string itself.

Recommendations:

• Use a guest network with a different password than your main network
• Create a QR code for the guest network, not your primary network
• Most modern routers support separate guest networks with isolated access
• Change the guest password periodically and regenerate the QR code

If you’re posting the QR code in a public-facing location (restaurant, hotel lobby), anyone who photographs the QR code can join the network indefinitely until you change the password.

Troubleshooting WiFi QR codes

”QR code not recognized” on iPhone

• iOS 11+ requires the camera app (not a third-party scanner) for WiFi QR codes
• Point the camera directly at the code and hold steady for 2–3 seconds
• Tap the notification banner at the top of the screen

”Network not found” after scanning

• Verify the SSID is spelled exactly right (case-sensitive)
• Check that the correct frequency band is accessible (2.4GHz vs 5GHz — some devices only see one)
• If the network is hidden (H:true), the device still joins but must support hidden network connection

Code scans but password fails

• Verify special characters are correct — a " or ; in the password requires escaping
• Check the password in your router admin panel against what’s in the QR code
• Some routers show the saved password under WiFi settings — verify character by character

Code too dense to scan reliably

Long SSIDs + long passwords + high error correction = very dense codes. If scanning fails:

• Reduce error correction from H to M
• Increase the physical print size
• Use a URL shortener-style workaround: put the WiFi details on a web page and encode the URL in the QR code instead

Generating a WiFi QR code programmatically

If you’re automating QR code generation (for a check-in system, guest management portal, etc.):

import qrcode

def wifi_qr_code(ssid, password, encryption='WPA2', hidden=False):
    wifi_string = f"WIFI:T:{encryption};S:{ssid};P:{password};H:{'true' if hidden else 'false'};;"
    
    qr = qrcode.QRCode(
        version=None,  # Auto-select minimum version
        error_correction=qrcode.constants.ERROR_CORRECT_H,
        box_size=10,
        border=4,
    )
    qr.add_data(wifi_string)
    qr.make(fit=True)
    
    return qr.make_image(fill_color="black", back_color="white")

img = wifi_qr_code('MyNetwork', 'MyPassword123')
img.save('wifi-qr.png')

// Using qrcode npm package
const QRCode = require('qrcode');

async function generateWifiQR(ssid, password, encryption = 'WPA2') {
  const wifiString = `WIFI:T:${encryption};S:${ssid};P:${password};H:false;;`;
  const dataUrl = await QRCode.toDataURL(wifiString, {
    errorCorrectionLevel: 'H',
    width: 300,
  });
  return dataUrl; // base64 PNG
}

Related tools

• QR Code Generator — generate QR codes for URLs, WiFi, vCards, and plain text
• Password Generator — generate a strong WiFi password
• Base64 Encoder/Decoder — encode/decode binary data