A Wi-Fi QR code lets a guest join your network by pointing a camera at a printed square. No typing the SSID. No squinting at a 22-character password on the back of the router. Here's the format the code uses, how to generate one in under a minute, and where to put the printout.
What a Wi-Fi QR code actually is
A QR code is a two-dimensional barcode that stores short text. For Wi-Fi, the text follows a payload format documented in the QR code specification:
WIFI:S:<SSID>;T:<WPA|WEP|nopass>;P:<password>;H:<true|false>;;
Each field is short:
- S — the network name (SSID) exactly as it broadcasts.
- T — the encryption type. Google's ML Kit barcode SDK documents the enum as three values:
WPA(covering WPA, WPA2, and WPA3),WEP(legacy gear), ornopassfor an open network. - P — the password. Empty for
nopass. - H —
trueif the SSID is hidden, otherwise omitted.
The two trailing semicolons close the payload.
Both iOS Camera (iOS 11 and later) and Android Camera (Android 10 and later) parse this string natively and present a Join Network prompt when the code is scanned. That makes the format the de facto standard for sharing Wi-Fi on a card, a poster, or a kitchen fridge.
How to generate the code in under a minute
You have three reasonable paths.
The fastest is the phone you're already holding. On Android, open Settings → Wi-Fi, tap the network you're connected to, then tap Share. After a lock-screen check, the phone renders the QR on the spot. iOS 16 and later use the same flow via Settings → Wi-Fi → the info icon → Share Password.
For a printed version, use a generator on a computer. Open QRDock's Wi-Fi creator, fill in the SSID, password, and encryption type, then download a PNG or SVG. SVG stays crisp at any size, which matters if you're laminating a card.
The third path is to build the string by hand — useful for scripts. Watch the escaping: any ;, ,, :, ", or \ inside the SSID or password must be preceded by a backslash, or scanners reject the payload. A password of caf;1234 becomes caf\;1234. Most generators, QRDock included, handle that for you.
Pick high contrast for any printed version. Black on white scans reliably from arm's length; coloured backgrounds that drop the contrast below about 50% start to fail under indoor lighting.
How guests scan and join
On an iPhone, your guest opens Camera, points at the code, and waits for the yellow Join Network banner. The Apple Developer Forums note this has been a built-in Camera capability since iOS 11.
On Android, the same flow works in the stock Camera on Pixel, Samsung One UI, and Xiaomi MIUI. Android Police documents that the share-by-QR flow has been a system feature since Android 10. Older devices can scan the same code with Google Lens.
No app store visit needed. The OS parses the WIFI: prefix, asks the user to confirm, and writes the credential to the Wi-Fi store.
Where to put the printed code
At home: the fridge, a guest-room drawer, or a small card on the coffee table. Short-term rental hosts get the best reliability by laminating a card inside the welcome binder.
For a café or co-working space, print the code at least three centimetres on a side — smaller and phones struggle to lock focus at arm's length. One copy per table beats a single sign at the counter.
Security and special cases
Use a dedicated guest SSID whenever your router supports one. That isolates guests from the network where your work laptop, NAS, and smart-home hubs live.
If your Wi-Fi has a hidden SSID, set H:true. Without it, the scanner looks for the network in the broadcast list first and gives up.
Rotate the guest password every few months and reprint the code. The whole process takes about thirty seconds.
Treat the printed code like the password itself. Don't post the image online — anyone who scans it gets your network.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do guests need a special app to scan a Wi-Fi QR code?
No. iOS 11 and Android 10 and later parse Wi-Fi QR codes natively in Camera. Your guest points the camera at the code and taps the Join Network prompt. Older Android devices fall back to Google Lens.
What if my Wi-Fi password has a special character like a semicolon or backslash?
Escape it with a backslash inside the payload. A password containing a semicolon becomes \;. Most generators handle this automatically, but it matters when you build the string by hand or in a script.
Is it safe to print my Wi-Fi password on a QR code people can see?
Treat the printed code as plain text. For a home guest network it is usually fine. For a business, generate the QR for a dedicated guest SSID, separate from the network your devices and work files run on, and rotate the password periodically.
Wrap-up
A Wi-Fi QR code turns "what's the password" into "point your camera here." The format is open, standardised, and supported natively on every modern phone. Generate one, print it at high contrast, and put it where guests see it before they ask. More format guides in our articles.