How to Create a WiFi QR Code (iPhone & Android)

Reading a 16-character WiFi password aloud to every guest gets old fast. A WiFi QR code fixes that: guests point their phone camera at it, tap once, and they're online.

How a WiFi QR code works

A WiFi QR code is a QR code that holds your network credentials in a standard text format that phones recognise. Behind the pattern, the code holds a short string like this:

WIFI:T:WPA;S:CornerCafe-Guest;P:espresso2026;;

Each part has one job:

T: the security type (WPA, WEP, or blank for an open network)
S: the network name, or SSID
P: the password

When a phone's camera sees this format, it doesn't open a website. It offers to join the network directly, so the scan works even when the guest has no mobile data. That's also why a WiFi QR code is static: the password is inside the code itself, not stored on a server somewhere.

What you need before you start

Collect three things. Most failed WiFi QR codes come from a typo in one of them.

Detail	Where to find it	Watch out for
Network name (SSID)	Your phone's WiFi list, or the sticker on your router	Capital letters, spaces and dashes all count. `Home-WiFi` and `home wifi` are different networks.
Password	Router sticker or router admin page	It's case-sensitive. Copy and paste it if you can.
Security type	Router admin page, under wireless security	If you're unsure, choose WPA/WPA2. It covers nearly every router sold in the last decade, including WPA2/WPA3 mixed mode.

Step by step: make a WiFi QR code

These steps use the Jabble QR code generator. The code is generated entirely in your browser, so your WiFi password is never sent to Jabble's servers.

Open the generator and select the WiFi tab. WiFi codes are included on Jabble's Starter plan and above. See pricing.
Type the network name into the Network Name (SSID) field.
Enter the password. Special characters such as ;, : and , are escaped for you automatically, so you don't need to edit them.
Choose the security type: WPA/WPA2, WEP, or None for an open network.
Style it if you like. Add your logo, change the colours, or add a frame with a label like "Scan for WiFi". Keep the code dark on a light background so it scans reliably.
Download it as a PNG, or as an SVG if you're sending it to a printer. SVGs stay sharp at any size.
Test it with your own phone before you print anything. Forget the network on your phone first, so you know the code itself is connecting you.

How guests scan it on iPhone and Android

iPhone

Open the Camera app and point it at the code. A Join network banner appears. Tap it, then tap Join. This works on any iPhone running iOS 11 or later, with no extra app needed.

Android

On most Android phones running Android 10 or later, pointing the Camera app at the code shows a prompt to connect. If nothing appears, open Settings › WiFi and tap the QR icon next to Add network, or use Google Lens. Samsung phones also read QR codes from the camera and from the quick-settings scanner.

What about sharing WiFi straight from a phone?

Recent versions of Android and iOS can display a WiFi QR code from the settings or Passwords app. That's useful for a friend on your sofa. A printed code is better when guests arrive without you, such as in an Airbnb, a waiting room, an office reception or a café table, because it doesn't need anyone to unlock their phone.

Keeping your network secure

A WiFi QR code is just your password in a different form. Treat it the way you'd treat the password written on a card.

Use a guest network. Most routers can broadcast a separate guest SSID that is isolated from your computers, printers and smart-home devices. Put that network in the QR code, not your main one.
Don't post it publicly online. A photo of your WiFi QR code on social media shares your password with everyone who sees it.
Rotate the password now and then. For businesses and rentals, a new guest password every few months, with a freshly printed code, stops old visitors from connecting forever.
Pick a generator that doesn't upload your password. Many online generators send what you type to their servers. Jabble's generator runs client-side, so the password stays in your browser.

Printing and placement tips

Size: print it at least 2 × 2 cm (about 0.8 in). For codes scanned from further away, a good rule of thumb is that scanning distance is roughly 10 times the code's width. A 5 cm code scans comfortably from about half a metre.
Leave a margin. The blank border around the code, called the quiet zone, helps cameras find it. Don't crop it off or put the code tight against other graphics.
Add a label. Write "Scan to join WiFi" plus the network name. Printing the password underneath helps guests whose phones won't scan.
Put it where people wait, such as reception desks, table tents, the fridge door in a rental, or beside the router.
Use a matte finish. Glossy laminate under bright lights causes glare that stops cameras reading the code.

Troubleshooting

Problem	Likely cause	Fix
Phone scans the code but can't connect	Typo in the SSID or password, or wrong security type	Check capitals and spaces, then regenerate the code with WPA/WPA2
Camera doesn't react at all	Low contrast, glare, or the code is too small	Print it larger, dark on light, and on a matte finish
Code stopped working after months of use	Router password was changed or the router was reset	Generate a new code with the current password
Works on iPhone, not on an older Android	That phone's camera doesn't scan QR codes natively	Use Google Lens, or WiFi settings › QR icon
Network doesn't appear after joining	The network is hidden (not broadcasting its name)	Make the guest network visible in your router settings

FAQ

Does a WiFi QR code expire?

No. The network name and password are stored inside the code itself, so it keeps working until you change your WiFi password or network name. After that you need to make a new code.

Do WiFi QR codes work on iPhone?

Yes. Any iPhone running iOS 11 or later can scan a WiFi QR code with the built-in Camera app and join the network with one tap.

Is it safe to put my WiFi password in a QR code?

It is as safe as writing the password on a card. Anyone who scans the code gets the password, so only display it where you would be comfortable showing the password itself, and use a separate guest network for visitors.

Can I change my WiFi password without reprinting the QR code?

No. A WiFi QR code contains the password directly, so the phone can join without internet access. If the password changes, the old code stops working and you must generate and print a new one.