WiFi QR code generator
Guests scan, their phone joins the network. No more spelling out an eighteen-character password one letter at a time.
How it works
A WiFi QR code does not hold a link. It holds a short connection instruction in a standard format that phones understand:
WIFI:T:WPA;S:NetworkName;P:Password;;
When the camera reads that string it recognises a wireless network and offers to join it, filling in the name and password itself. No app is needed on iPhone since iOS 11, or on Android since version 10.
Making yours
- Copy the network name exactlyThe SSID is case- and space-sensitive. To a phone, "Livebox-A1B2" and "livebox-a1b2" are two different networks.
- Pick the right security typeWPA covers WPA, WPA2 and WPA3 — almost every current router. WEP is for old hardware only. "Open" is for networks with no password.
- Only tick "hidden network" if it really is oneThat means you disabled SSID broadcast in the router. When in doubt leave it off: ticking it wrongly prevents the connection.
- Download SVG for printingPNG is fine on a screen or in a message. For a printed card, SVG stays sharp at any size.
Worth knowing: a WiFi QR code is not encrypted. It contains the password in clear text and any scanner app can read it. Only display it where you would be happy to say the password out loud.
Printing it well
- At least 3 cm across for arm's-length scanning. The usual rule is one tenth of the reading distance: a code read from 1 m wants to be about 10 cm.
- Keep the quiet zone. That empty margin is how a phone finds the edges of the code. The generator's margin setting controls it — do not go below 4.
- Dark on light. A dark code on a light background always reads best. The reverse works on most modern phones, but not on every scanner.
- Avoid glossy paper and mirror lamination. Reflections under direct light defeat the camera, especially in a hallway or a guest room.
- Test before printing a batch — on an iPhone and an Android if you can, at the real reading distance.
Common mistakes
- Using the router model instead of the network name. The SSID is what shows up in the phone's WiFi list, not the label underneath the box.
- An oversized centre logo. Past about 30 % of the width the code becomes unreadable even at maximum error correction.
- Sticking the code on a curved surface such as a bottle or a mug: the distortion breaks the pattern.
- Forgetting to regenerate after a password change. The printed code keeps offering the old one and nobody understands why the connection fails.
Where it earns its place
A holiday rental or bed and breakfast, where every arrival asks the same question. A café or restaurant, on the table stand. A meeting room, for visitors. A waiting room. And at home on the fridge, which settles the matter for good.
Tip: if your router offers a guest network, generate the code for that instead of the main one. Visitors get internet access without seeing your computers, NAS or printers.
Frequently asked questions
Does it work on iPhone and Android?
Yes. Since iOS 11 and Android 10 the built-in camera handles it. Older Android phones need a scanner app.
Is my password sent over the internet?
No. Everything is computed in your browser. The password never leaves your device and is stored nowhere.
Does the code expire?
Never. It depends on no server — the content is written into the pattern itself. It stays valid until the network name or password changes.
Can I use it on commercial printed material?
Yes. Commercial use is free and needs no attribution.
Can someone recover my password from the code?
Yes, with any scanner app. Treat the printed card as the password itself, and prefer a guest network.