How to make a QR code for your wifi password
Let guests join your wifi by scanning a QR code instead of typing a password. How it works on iPhone and Android, and how to make one for free.
Reading out a wifi password like "Xk7#pL2!vQ" to every guest gets old fast. A wifi QR code fixes it: people point their camera at it, tap once, and they're connected. It's perfect for cafés, offices, Airbnbs, events and your own living room.
How a wifi QR code works
A wifi QR code doesn't contain a link. It contains your network details in a standard format that phones understand:
WIFI:T:WPA;S:Ana's Bakery;P:your-password;;
T is the security type, S is the network name and P is the password. When a phone camera reads this, it offers to join the network straight away. No app needed.
Because the details live inside the code, nothing goes through the internet and no company stores your password. It's also why the code never expires.
Does it work on iPhone and Android?
Yes, on both, with the built-in camera:
- iPhone: the Camera app reads wifi codes on iOS 11 and later. A "Join network" banner appears at the top of the screen.
- Android: Android 10 and later read them in the camera app or through Google Lens. On some phones you'll find the scanner in the wifi settings, under "Add network".
Very old phones may need a QR scanner app, but that's rare today.
How to make your wifi QR code
- Open the free QR code generator and choose Wifi.
- Type the network name exactly as it appears on your devices, including capital letters and spaces. "Ana's Bakery" and "anas bakery" are different networks.
- Type the password and pick the security type. Most home and business networks use WPA, WPA2 or WPA3, which share one option. Pick "No password" for open networks.
- Tick "Hidden network" only if your network doesn't show up in the list of available networks.
- Style it and add a frame that says what it does, such as "Scan to join our wifi". People won't guess on their own.
- Download as PNG for printing at home, or SVG for a professional print shop.
Special characters like ;, : and " in the network name or password are handled for you, so they don't break the code.
Where to put it
- Cafés and restaurants: on table cards, the counter, or the back of the menu.
- Offices and coworking spaces: in meeting rooms and at reception.
- Airbnbs and rentals: on the fridge or in a frame by the router, next to the house guide.
- Events: on badges, screens and signs at the entrance.
- At home: on the fridge, so friends stop asking.
Print it at least 3 cm wide, and bigger if people will scan it from a distance, like on a wall.
Keep your network safe
A wifi QR code is as private as the password inside it. Anyone who can photograph it can join. For guests, the safest setup is a separate guest network on your router, so visitors never share a network with your work laptop, printer or cameras. Most routers have a guest network option in their settings.
If you change your wifi password, the old code stops working. Just make a new one with the new password.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make a wifi QR code for free?
Yes. The mktbox QR code generator makes wifi codes for free, with no account and no expiry.
Is my wifi password stored anywhere?
No. The code is generated in your browser and the password only exists inside the downloaded image. Nothing is sent to a server.
Why isn't my wifi QR code connecting?
Check that the network name matches exactly, including capitals and spaces, and that the security type is right. If the network is hidden, tick the hidden option. Then make a new code and test it.
Can I add my logo to a wifi QR code?
Yes. Add it in the logo step. The generator increases error correction automatically so the code stays scannable, but always test it with a couple of phones before printing.