How to make a Wi-Fi QR code for guests

Start with the network you want to share

A Wi-Fi QR code saves guests from typing a password. They scan the card, check the network name and accept the connection prompt on a compatible phone. It is useful at home, in guest rooms and beside a café counter.

Find the network name, password and security setting in your router settings or router app. A sticker may show an old password. Use a guest network when you have one, so visitors do not need access to your main network.

Make the QR on your phone

Open the Wi-Fi generator and enter the details exactly as they appear. QRToolset handles punctuation for you. Do not add quotes or backslashes around the name or password.

1. Enter the network name (SSID). Preserve its spaces, punctuation and capital letters.
2. Choose the security type that matches the network. WPA / WPA2, WEP and no password are available; choosing a different setting does not change your router’s security.
3. Enter the password. Use the visibility button to check it, and enable Hidden network only if the network is actually hidden.
4. Wait for the live preview, then download PNG for sharing or SVG for a printed card. The Share button uses your phone’s sharing options when available.

Test a new connection, not a remembered one

Test with a phone that has not saved the network. A phone that already knows the password can hide an error in the code. Scan the downloaded image, accept the connection prompt and open a webpage.

If the phone reads the code but cannot connect, check the network name, password and security setting. Camera support varies. Enterprise logins and captive portals may need extra steps that a standard Wi-Fi QR cannot supply.

Source: Wi-Fi field format documented by the ZXing project.

Treat the QR like the password

A Wi-Fi QR contains the password in readable form. Generation happens in your browser, but anyone with the finished image can decode it. Display a guest card where visitors can use it, and keep a private network code off public social feeds.

When you change the network name, password or security setting, make a new code and replace the old cards. The printed image cannot update itself. Keep a note of where you put each copy.

Give the code a useful home

Add a short label such as “Guest Wi-Fi” outside the white border. Include the network name for anyone who prefers to connect manually. Put the card within easy reach.

Print one copy and test it in place before printing the rest. Small codes, dim lighting and reflections from a glossy holder can make scanning harder.