How to Make a Wi-Fi QR Code for Your Home or Café

Published 9 October 2026

Nobody enjoys reading out a 20-character Wi-Fi password. A Wi-Fi QR code lets guests join your network by pointing their phone camera at it. Here's how to make one and use it sensibly.

What a Wi-Fi QR code does

The code stores your network name, your password and the type of security in a standard format. When someone scans it with a modern iPhone or Android camera, the phone offers to join the network. They tap once, and they're connected. Nothing is typed, so there are no typos and no "is that a capital I or a lowercase L?" conversations.

How to make one

  1. Open the Wi-Fi QR code generator.
  2. Type your network name (the SSID) exactly as it appears on phones. Capital letters and spaces matter.
  3. Choose the security type. Most routers today use WPA/WPA2/WPA3. If you're not sure, look at the sticker on the router or the Wi-Fi settings on any connected device.
  4. Enter the password. For a network with no password, choose "No password".
  5. Tick Hidden network only if your network name isn't broadcast.
  6. Pick a colour and size if you like, then download the PNG or SVG.

The code is drawn in your browser. Your password isn't sent to any server.

Where to put it

  • At home: print it small and stick it inside a cupboard door or on the fridge, or frame it on a shelf in the guest room.
  • In a café or shop: put it on a table card, on the counter or next to the menu, with a short line like "Scan to join our Wi-Fi".
  • In an Airbnb or holiday let: add it to the welcome folder alongside the house rules.

Print it large enough to scan comfortably. Around 3 to 4 cm wide is plenty for a table card. See our guide to QR code size if you want to be more precise.

Keep it safe

Anyone who can scan the code can join your network, so think about where it's displayed.

  • Set up a separate guest network on your router if it has the option. Visitors then never share a network with your computers, printers and smart devices.
  • If you change the Wi-Fi password, the old printed code stops working. Make a new one and replace the printed copies.
  • In a public place, consider a password that you change from time to time.

If a phone doesn't join

  • Check the network name and password for typos, and make the code again.
  • Check that you picked the right security type.
  • Very old phones may not recognise Wi-Fi codes in the camera app. They'll need a QR scanner app.
  • If the code itself won't scan, see why a QR code won't scan.

Make yours now with the Wi-Fi QR code generator.

What to write on the sign

A QR code on its own is a bit mysterious, so add a few words around it. Something like this works well:

  • Wi-Fi: Guest network. Scan with your phone camera to join.
  • For cafés, add the network name in plain text too. Some people prefer to type it, and older phones can't scan.
  • If there's a password people should type by hand, write it small underneath as a backup.

How phones scan it

On a recent iPhone or Android phone, open the camera app and point it at the code. A banner appears offering to join the network. You don't need a separate app. If it doesn't appear, check that QR scanning is switched on in the camera settings, or use our QR code scanner to see what the code contains.

Other codes that might help

Running a small business? A URL QR code to your menu or booking page pairs nicely with a Wi-Fi code on the same table card. And if you want customers to message you, a WhatsApp QR code opens a chat straight away. Not sure about the print size? Our guide to QR code size and error correction explains it.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make a Wi-Fi QR code without a password?

Yes. Choose "No password" and the code will tell the phone to join an open network. For public places, think carefully about whether an open network is a good idea.

Does the QR code stop working if I change the router password?

Yes. The password is stored inside the code, so a new password means a new code. Make a fresh one and replace the printed copies.

Is it safe to share my Wi-Fi this way?

It's as safe as telling someone the password, because anyone who sees the code can join. Use a guest network and put the code only where you're happy for people to use it.

Does it work for hidden networks?

Yes. Tick the "Hidden network" box when you create the code.

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