How does a WiFi QR code actually work?

It encodes a plain-text string in the WIFI: URI format, listing the security type, the SSID and the passphrase. When a phone camera reads that pattern it recognises the scheme and offers to join the network with those credentials.

Is a WiFi QR code safe to print and display?

It contains the password in plain text, so anyone who can photograph it can read the passphrase. That is fine for a guest network you would give the password out for anyway, but do not post one for a network with sensitive devices on it.

Can I make a WiFi QR code for a hidden network?

Yes. Tick the hidden option and the payload gains an H:true flag, which tells the phone to search for a network that is not broadcasting its SSID rather than giving up when it does not appear in the list.

Which phones can scan a WiFi QR code?

iPhones running iOS 11 or later and Android devices on 10 or later handle it from the built-in camera. Older Android versions need a QR reader app, and some manufacturers put the feature in the WiFi settings screen instead.

Does my WiFi password get sent anywhere when I make the code?

No. The payload is assembled and the QR code drawn entirely in your browser, so the passphrase never leaves your device.

WiFi QR Code Generator

Turn a network name and password into a QR code that phones can scan to join — built entirely in your browser.

The WiFi QR Code Generator runs entirely in your browser. Your network name and password are used only to draw the code on your device and are never uploaded.

Open the QR Code Generator

About WiFi QR Code Generator

WiFi QR Code Generator builds the little square that lets a guest join your network by pointing a camera at it. The code encodes a WIFI: URI, the scheme both iOS and Android understand, carrying the network name, the security type and the passphrase. The format has five structural characters — backslash, semicolon, comma, colon and double quote — so any of those in your SSID or password must be escaped or the phone parses the payload into the wrong fields. That escaping happens automatically here, along with the quoting rule for values that look like hexadecimal. The encoded payload is shown in full, and the code downloads as a PNG at three sizes or as a scalable SVG for printing.

Features

Encodes the WIFI: URI scheme that iOS and Android cameras recognise
WPA/WPA2/WPA3, WEP and open networks
Automatic escaping of semicolons, colons, commas, quotes and backslashes
Quotes values that would otherwise be read as hexadecimal
Hidden-network flag for SSIDs that are not broadcast
PNG download at 256, 512 or 1024 pixels, plus a scalable SVG
Shows the exact payload the code contains
Warns about passphrase lengths a router is likely to reject

How to use the WiFi QR Code Generator

Type the network name exactly as it is broadcast, including capitals
Pick the security type — WPA covers essentially every modern network
Enter the passphrase, and tick hidden if the SSID is not broadcast
Download the PNG or SVG and print it where guests will see it

Example

Input

SSID "Coffee Shop 5G", WPA, password "beans2024"

Output

WIFI:T:WPA;S:Coffee Shop 5G;P:beans2024;;

The trailing double semicolon is part of the specification — a code missing it may not parse.

Common errors & troubleshooting

The phone scans the code but does not offer to join. — Check the security type matches the router. A WPA network encoded as open, or the reverse, produces a payload the phone reads but cannot act on.
The network name has a semicolon or colon in it and the code fails. — That is exactly what the automatic escaping handles — check the payload shown below the code and confirm the character appears with a backslash before it.
The code works on Android but not on an older iPhone. — Camera-based WiFi joining arrived in iOS 11. On older devices, open the Camera app and tap the notification banner, or use a dedicated QR reader.
A warning says the passphrase is too short. — WPA requires 8 to 63 characters. The QR code still encodes correctly, but the router will refuse a shorter passphrase, so the join will fail.

Frequently asked questions

How does a WiFi QR code actually work?: It encodes a plain-text string in the WIFI: URI format, listing the security type, the SSID and the passphrase. When a phone camera reads that pattern it recognises the scheme and offers to join the network with those credentials.
Is a WiFi QR code safe to print and display?: It contains the password in plain text, so anyone who can photograph it can read the passphrase. That is fine for a guest network you would give the password out for anyway, but do not post one for a network with sensitive devices on it.
Can I make a WiFi QR code for a hidden network?: Yes. Tick the hidden option and the payload gains an H:true flag, which tells the phone to search for a network that is not broadcasting its SSID rather than giving up when it does not appear in the list.
Which phones can scan a WiFi QR code?: iPhones running iOS 11 or later and Android devices on 10 or later handle it from the built-in camera. Older Android versions need a QR reader app, and some manufacturers put the feature in the WiFi settings screen instead.
Does my WiFi password get sent anywhere when I make the code?: No. The payload is assembled and the QR code drawn entirely in your browser, so the passphrase never leaves your device.

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