QR Code for WiFi: Share Your Password Without Typing

Stop Spelling Out Your WiFi Password

You know the routine. A friend comes over, asks for the WiFi, and you spend the next two minutes slowly dictating "capital B, lowercase r, zero not O, underscore..." while they squint at their phone keyboard.

There's a much better way. A WiFi QR code lets anyone connect to your network with a single scan. Point phone at code, tap connect, done. No typing, no mistakes, no awkward back-and-forth.

Here's exactly how to make one.

What You Need to Know First

Before you create your code, gather three pieces of information:

1. Your network name (SSID) This is what your WiFi network is called. Look at the available networks list on any device—that's your SSID. It's case-sensitive, so "HomeWiFi" and "homewifi" are different networks.

2. Your password The one you set up when you configured your router. Check your router's admin page or the sticker on the router itself if you've forgotten.

3. Your security type Almost every home network uses WPA2 (or the newer WPA3). If your network requires a password, it's almost certainly WPA. Open networks without passwords use "nopass."

The Format That Makes It Work

WiFi QR codes follow a specific format that all smartphones understand:

WIFI:T:WPA;S:YourNetworkName;P:YourPassword;;

Breaking that down:

• WIFI: signals this is WiFi information
• T:WPA means WPA/WPA2 security (use T:nopass for open networks)
• S: followed by your network name
• P: followed by your password
• ;; ends the string

So if your network is called "SmithFamily" with the password "taco2024!", you'd encode:

WIFI:T:WPA;S:SmithFamily;P:taco2024!;;

Paste that string into Snapkit and you'll get a scannable QR code in seconds.

Step-by-Step: Create Your WiFi QR Code

Step 1: Find your exact network name. Open WiFi settings on your phone, look at what network you're connected to. Write it down exactly—spaces and capitalization matter.

Step 2: Get your password. If you don't remember it, check your router settings or the label on the router. On a Mac, you can find saved passwords in Keychain Access. On Windows, look in Network and Sharing Center.

Step 3: Build the string. Put together WIFI:T:WPA;S:YourNetwork;P:YourPassword;; with your actual values.

Step 4: Generate the code. Go to a QR code generator, paste your string, and download the result.

Step 5: Test it. Before printing or displaying anywhere, scan the code with your own phone to verify it connects properly. Try a friend's phone too—test both iPhone and Android if you can.

Where to Put Your WiFi QR Code

Once you have a working code, display it somewhere guests can easily find it:

At home:

• Frame it and hang near the entryway
• Stick it on the refrigerator
• Put a small card in the guest room
• Include in your welcome basket for visitors

Airbnb or vacation rental:

• Inside the welcome booklet or binder
• Framed on the wall in a common area
• On a card next to the router
• On the back of the front door

At your office or business:

• Reception desk or waiting area
• Conference rooms
• Break room or kitchen
• Printed on a small tent card for desks

Pro tip: Include the network name and password as text below the code. Some older phones can't read WiFi QR codes natively, and it's nice to have a fallback option.

Special Cases

Hidden networks: If your network doesn't broadcast its name (hidden SSID), add H:true to the string:

WIFI:T:WPA;S:HiddenNetwork;P:password;H:true;;

Open networks (no password): For networks without a password, use:

WIFI:T:nopass;S:OpenNetwork;;;

Networks with special characters: If your password contains semicolons, colons, or backslashes, you'll need to escape them with a backslash. For example, a password like pass;word becomes pass\;word in the string.

Does This Work on All Phones?

Modern smartphones handle WiFi QR codes natively:

• iPhone: iOS 11 and later (2017+) scans WiFi codes directly from the Camera app
• Android: Most phones running Android 10+ support it; some Android 9 devices do too
• Older devices: May need a third-party QR scanner app

When someone scans a WiFi code, their phone recognizes the format and prompts them to join the network. They tap "Join" or "Connect" and they're in—no manual password entry.

Is It Secure?

Sharing your WiFi password via QR code isn't more or less secure than telling someone the password verbally. Either way, they end up with the credentials.

A few things to consider:

Location matters. A code inside your home is only seen by people you've invited in. A code visible through a window could be scanned by anyone walking by.

Guest networks exist for a reason. If you're worried about giving full network access, set up a separate guest network on your router. Create a QR code for that network instead.

You can always change the password. If you're concerned after a guest leaves, update your WiFi password and generate a new code. The old code will stop working immediately.

For most home situations, a WiFi QR code is perfectly reasonable. You're sharing the same information you'd share verbally—just more conveniently.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Wrong network name: Even one character off means the code won't work. Copy-paste the SSID if possible rather than typing it.

Spaces in the wrong places: WIFI:T:WPA;S:Network;P:pass;; works. WIFI: T:WPA; S:Network; P:pass;; might not.

Missing semicolons: The format is strict. Each parameter ends with a semicolon, and the whole string ends with double semicolons.

Forgetting to test: Always scan your code before displaying it. A code that doesn't work is worse than no code at all.

Ready to Create Yours?

Head to Snapkit and paste your WiFi string. In about 30 seconds, you'll have a code that saves everyone the hassle of password dictation.

Print it, frame it, stick it on the fridge—however you display it, your guests will thank you for making one less thing complicated.