How a WiFi QR code works
A WiFi QR code encodes a small text string in the WIFI:T:WPA;S:<name>;P:<password>;; format that phones understand natively. When scanned, the phone offers to join that network directly. Because it’s a static code, it keeps working forever and needs no app or account — ideal for a printed card on a cafe table, an office lobby, or a vacation rental.
Print it so it scans
WiFi passwords can be long, which makes the code denser and the modules smaller — so print size matters more here than for a short URL. Keep dark modules on a light background, leave the full quiet-zone margin, and aim for at least a 2 × 2 cm print. The scannability check above flags contrast and quiet-zone issues before you export.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to put my WiFi password in a QR code?
The password is encoded directly in the QR image, so anyone who scans it can join the network — that's the point for a guest network. It is not encrypted, so only share the code where you'd be comfortable sharing the password. On this site the encoding happens entirely in your browser; the password is never sent to a server.
Which encryption type should I pick?
Choose WPA for any modern network (it covers WPA, WPA2, and WPA3). Use WEP only for old legacy hardware, and 'None' for an open network with no password. Picking the wrong type is a common reason a WiFi QR code fails to connect.
Why does my WiFi QR code have special characters?
Passwords and network names containing ; , : " or \ must be escaped in the WiFi QR format. This generator escapes them automatically, so a password like "a;b" still works.
Does scanning it work on iPhone and Android?
Yes. Native WiFi-from-QR support has shipped since iOS 11 and Android 10, so the built-in camera app will prompt to join the network — no separate app needed.
Related
References
This tool’s QR generation and scannability checks are grounded in the following standards and primary sources.
- WiFi Network config QR format (WIFI: scheme) — ZXing / Android — the de-facto WiFi QR payload format
- ISO/IEC 18004 — QR Code bar code symbology specification — ISO/IEC — the governing QR standard
- Error Correction Feature — DENSO WAVE — the QR inventor on Reed-Solomon levels (L/M/Q/H)
- qr-code-styling — Denys Kozak (MIT) — the client-side renderer used here
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