How to Share Your Wi-Fi Password with a QR Code (iPhone & Android)
3 min read · updated 2026-09-11
You have a guest on your couch, and they ask for the Wi-Fi. What follows is usually two minutes of "capital or lowercase?", "is that a zero or an O?", "wait, try it again". A Wi-Fi QR code deletes that entire conversation: they point their camera at it, tap once, and they're connected.
Every modern phone — iPhone and Android — reads Wi-Fi QR codes natively, with no app. Here's how to make one and what your guests will see on each platform.
Make the QR code (30 seconds)
- Open the Wi-Fi QR code generator
- Enter your network name (SSID), password, and security type — WPA/WPA2 for almost every home network
- Download the code as PNG (for a phone or screen) or SVG (for printing)
The network details are encoded directly into the QR pattern — the password never leaves your device, because the code is generated in your browser.
For your exact network details (where to find the SSID, which security type to pick, what to do with special characters), see how to create a Wi-Fi QR code — the full guide.
What your guest sees: iPhone
iPhone's camera has recognized Wi-Fi QR codes since iOS 11:
- They open the Camera and point it at the code
- A notification appears at the top: "Wi-Fi QR Code" — or on newer iOS versions, a "Join "
" network? prompt - They tap the notification and are connected
No password typing, no Settings app, no app install. The password is used silently; it's never displayed on their screen.
What your guest sees: Android
Most Android phones handle it directly in the camera:
- Point the camera at the code — Google Camera and most manufacturer cameras recognize it
- A prompt appears offering to connect to the network
- One tap (some models ask to confirm) and they're on
On a few older models, the camera app doesn't recognize Wi-Fi codes; the built-in QR scanner in quick settings or the Google app's lens does. Anything running Android 9 or newer connects from the camera.
The printable Wi-Fi card: the real upgrade
The one-time setup is nice; the printable card is where this changes your life:
- Home: print the code on a card and prop it by the router or in the guest room. Every visitor helps themselves — even future-you, on a new device.
- Rental apartments and B&Bs: a framed card in the room answers the #1 guest question before it's asked. Reprint it whenever you change the password.
- Cafés and small offices: a table card beats reading a password across the counter, and it works in any language.
A few rules keep the printed card working: keep the code at least 2 × 2 cm (see the QR code size guide), print it dark-on-light, and treat it exactly like the password itself — anyone who photographs it has your network. A separate guest network is the professional move if devices you care about share the main one.
If it doesn't connect
- Wrong security type selected — the most common cause. Re-check WPA/WPA2 vs. "None" in the generator
- Hidden network? Enter the SSID manually and exactly — hidden networks must be typed character-perfect
- Very long passwords (63 characters is the WPA maximum) trip up some phone scanners; a shorter password fixes it and is easier anyway
- iPhone refuses, Android works (or vice versa): the "None" security type with a captive-portal network behaves differently on each platform — that's the network, not the code
The full troubleshooting list is in the Wi-Fi guide.
Related
- Create a Wi-Fi QR code now — the generator
- Sharing Wi-Fi responsibly — guest networks, what a printed code reveals, changing your password
- QR code printing guide — making the printable card survive lamination and time