How to create a WiFi QR code

2026-09-01 · 5 min read

A WiFi QR code doesn't connect by magic: it stores a piece of text in a format operating systems recognize. Understanding that clears up almost every question.

The format

WIFI:T:WPA;S:NetworkName;P:password;;

• T: security type. WPA (also covers WPA2 and WPA3), WEP or nopass.
• S: the network name (SSID), exactly as it appears, including capitalization.
• P: the password. Omitted for open networks.
• H:true: added only if the network is hidden.

The characters \ ; , : " must be escaped with a backslash. A proper generator does this for you; if you type the text by hand and your password has a semicolon, the code will fail.

Real-world compatibility

Works with the native camera on iPhone since iOS 11 and on Android since version 10. On Android 8 and 9 you may need Google's camera app or Lens. On Windows and macOS there's no automatic QR-based connection: the text gets read, but you have to connect manually.

Captive portals (those 'accept the terms' pages at hotels and airports) can't be bypassed with a QR code: the code connects to the network, but the user still has to go through the portal.

The precaution that matters

The password travels inside the code. Anyone who photographs the sign, even from the street with zoom, can extract it with an app. That's why a WiFi QR code should always point to the guest network, the one almost every router lets you enable and that's isolated from the rest of your network.

If your router doesn't have a guest network, seriously consider replacing it or asking your ISP for one that does. Sharing your main network's password on a public sign means giving access to your computers, your network storage and your cameras.

Practical tips

• Also put the network name in readable text, for anyone who can't scan.
• Avoid passwords with symbols that are awkward on mobile keyboards.
• Place the sign inside the venue, not on the storefront.
• If you change the password, reprint: a plaque takes about an hour and a half.