WiFi QR Code Generator
Generate scannable QR codes for WiFi network sharing with WPA/WPA2/WPA3 support and hidden SSID handling.
How to Use
Sharing WiFi credentials with guests, customers, or coworkers no longer requires dictating long passwords. This WiFi QR code generator creates scannable codes that connect devices to your network instantly. Every smartphone with a camera app built after 2017 can read WiFi QR codes natively, with no third-party app required. Here is how to create one:
- Enter your network name (SSID) exactly as it appears in your router settings. WiFi SSIDs are case-sensitive, so "MyNetwork" and "mynetwork" are treated as different networks. The SSID can contain spaces, numbers, and special characters up to 32 characters.
- Select the encryption type from the dropdown. Choose WPA/WPA2/WPA3 for modern networks (the most common option), WEP for legacy devices, or None for open/guest networks that do not require a password.
- Enter the password for your network. WPA passwords must be at least 8 characters. The password strength indicator shows how resistant your password is to brute-force attacks. If your password is weak, consider generating a stronger one with the Password Generator.
- Toggle hidden network if your router does not broadcast the SSID. This adds a hidden flag to the QR code that tells the scanning device to use a directed probe request instead of waiting for a beacon.
- Download or print the generated QR code as PNG or SVG. Place it near your router, on a guest room card, or at the front desk. Guests scan the code with their phone camera and connect in seconds.
Device Compatibility
WiFi QR codes work on iOS 11 and later (iPhone 6 and newer), Android 10 and later (most devices manufactured after 2019), and recent versions of all major phone brands including Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus, and Xiaomi. Older devices may require a QR code scanner app like Google Lens or a dedicated WiFi QR reader. For creating QR codes with other content types such as URLs or contact information, use the QR Code Generator.
About This Tool
WiFi QR codes use the WIFI: URI scheme, a standardized format adopted by the Wi-Fi Alliance for encoding wireless network credentials in machine-readable form. The format encodes four parameters: the encryption type (T), the network name or SSID (S), the password (P), and whether the network is hidden (H). A complete WiFi QR string looks like this: WIFI:T:WPA;S:MyNetwork;P:s3cur3P@ss;H:false;;.
MECARD Format and Special Character Escaping
The WiFi QR format derives from the MECARD specification originally developed by NTT DoCoMo for encoding contact information on Japanese feature phones. Because the format uses semicolons and colons as delimiters, any occurrence of these characters within the SSID or password must be escaped with a backslash. The characters that require escaping are: backslash (\), semicolon (;), colon (:), and comma (,). This generator handles escaping automatically, so you can enter your credentials exactly as they appear in your router settings.
QR Error Correction and Scanning Reliability
This generator uses error correction level H (High), which allows the QR code to remain scannable even when up to 30% of the modules are damaged, obscured, or printed imperfectly. QR codes use Reed-Solomon error correction, the same algorithm used in CDs, DVDs, and deep-space communications. Level H is the highest correction tier and is ideal for WiFi QR codes because they are often printed on paper cards left in high-traffic areas where physical wear is likely. The tradeoff is a slightly denser QR pattern, but for the relatively short WiFi credential strings (typically under 100 characters), the code remains compact and easily scannable at standard print sizes.
WPA3 and Modern WiFi Security
WPA3, certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance in 2018, introduced Simultaneous Authentication of Equals (SAE) to replace the PSK handshake used in WPA2. SAE provides forward secrecy and resistance to offline dictionary attacks. Despite these protocol-level differences, the QR code format remains the same: the encryption type is set to WPA for all WPA variants. The connecting device and access point negotiate the highest mutually supported protocol version during the four-way handshake, transparent to the user. A QR code generated with T:WPA works on WPA, WPA2, and WPA3 networks without modification.
Why Use This Tool
WiFi QR codes solve a universal problem: sharing network credentials without friction. Here are the most common scenarios where a WiFi QR code saves time and prevents errors:
- Hospitality and accommodation -- Hotels, Airbnb hosts, and bed-and-breakfasts place WiFi QR codes on nightstands, welcome cards, or check-in packets. Guests connect by scanning instead of hunting for a password written on a card or calling the front desk. This eliminates the single most common guest complaint: difficulty connecting to WiFi.
- Restaurants, cafes, and retail -- Businesses print WiFi QR codes on table tents, receipts, or wall signs near the entrance. Customers connect instantly without asking staff for the password, reducing interruptions and improving the customer experience. The QR code can be updated server-side when the password changes by reprinting a single card.
- Offices and coworking spaces -- IT departments generate WiFi QR codes for guest networks, conference rooms, and onboarding packets. New employees scan a code on their first day instead of filing a support ticket. Guest WiFi QR codes can be rotated weekly or monthly for security without disrupting existing connections. For testing network connectivity during setup, the Random Port Generator can help identify available ports.
- Events and conferences -- Event organizers distribute WiFi QR codes on lanyards, projection screens, or printed programs. Hundreds of attendees connect simultaneously without a single verbal password exchange. This prevents typos, eliminates support queues, and ensures everyone can access the event WiFi within seconds of arrival.
- Home and family -- Print a WiFi QR code and tape it to your router or refrigerator. Visiting friends and family scan the code instead of you reading out a complex password character by character. This is especially valuable for passwords containing mixed case, special characters, and ambiguous characters like 0/O or 1/l/I.
Security Considerations
A WiFi QR code contains your network password in plain text within the encoded data. Anyone who scans the code gains full access to your network. For public-facing QR codes, always use a separate guest network with bandwidth limits and client isolation enabled on your router. Rotate the guest password periodically and reprint the QR code. Never encode your primary home or office network password in a QR code posted in a publicly accessible location. This generator processes everything locally in your browser and never transmits your credentials to any server, so the only copies of your password exist on your device and in the printed QR code. For generating strong passwords for your WiFi network, use the Password Generator.