Wi-Fi QR code generator
This Wi-Fi QR code generator makes a code you can stick on the fridge: guests scan it and join the network without typing the password. The code is static, so it never expires and nothing routes through a server. It is free with no sign-up, made entirely in your browser, and verified by a real scanner before you download it.
Content: Wi-Fi
Exactly as shown on the router, including capital letters.
Style
PNG, JPG or SVG up to 2 MB. It stays on your device.
Your codes on this device
Off by default. When on, each downloaded code (type, content, style) is saved in this browser only, never uploaded. You can delete them at any time.
How to use the Wi-Fi QR code generator
- Type the Network name (SSID) exactly as it appears on the router, including capital letters and spaces.
- Enter the Password. Leave it empty only for an open network.
- Choose the Encryption: WPA/WPA2/WPA3 for almost every modern router, WEP for very old ones, None for open networks.
- Tick Hidden network if the router does not broadcast the name.
- Wait for the badge to read Verified: scans as Wi-Fi, then choose Download PNG, Download SVG or Download PDF.
Wi-Fi QR code details
A Wi-Fi QR code is a short text string in a format that phone cameras recognise. For a network called Cafe Guest with the password latte2026 it reads WIFI:T:WPA;S:Cafe Guest;P:latte2026;;. The T field is the encryption type, S the network name, P the password, and an optional H:true marks a hidden network. That whole string sits inside the black-and-white pattern; the phone reads it, shows a “Join network” prompt, and connects. No website is involved at any point, which is why this kind of code cannot stop working.
What the encoder does with your input
The network name and password are copied exactly, character for character, including spaces and capital letters. Five characters carry meaning in the format, so the generator escapes them with a backslash: \, ;, ,, : and ". A password such as pass;word is stored as pass\;word and restored by the phone. Encryption is written as WPA for WPA, WPA2 and WPA3 networks, WEP for the old standard, and nopass for open networks, in which case the password field is left out. Turn on Show encoded text under the preview to see the exact string the code contains.
Capacity and size
A Wi-Fi payload is small. A 20-character name and a 16-character password come to about 50 bytes, which fits in a version 3 code (29 × 29 modules) at error correction Q. The generator sets Q by default for Wi-Fi so the code tolerates smudges and a small logo, and switches to H automatically when you upload a logo. The capacity line under the preview shows the module count and version so you know how dense the print will be.
Common mistakes
- Wrong SSID case. Routers treat CafeGuest and cafeguest as different networks. Copy the name from the router label or your phone’s Wi-Fi list.
- Choosing WEP by habit. Modern routers use WPA2 or WPA3. Pick WPA/WPA2/WPA3 unless the router is very old.
- Enterprise networks. Networks that ask for a username and password (WPA2-Enterprise, captive portals) cannot be joined from a standard Wi-Fi code. Print the instructions instead.
- Dark backgrounds. Light-on-dark codes fail on many phones. Keep dark modules on a light background; the contrast checker warns you.
- Testing on one phone only. Scan the downloaded file with at least one iPhone and one Android phone before printing a batch of cards.
Before printing, check the code with the QR code reader to see the decoded network details, and read the size guide if the code will be viewed from more than an arm’s length away.
This code never expires
The network name and password are stored inside the code itself, so the code keeps working until you change the password. This is a static QR code: the data is written into the pattern, so scanning it needs no server, no account and no subscription. There is nothing to renew and no redirect that can be switched off, which is why a code made here keeps working for as long as the printed copy exists. The trade-off is honest: a static code cannot be edited after printing and does not count scans. If you need either, encode a link to a page you control. Read how static and dynamic codes differ, and if a code you already have has stopped working, see why QR codes expire.
Styling, formats and print size
Every code can be styled in the Style panel: six dot shapes, corner shapes, solid or gradient colours, a transparent background, a quiet zone of 0–8 modules, and your own logo up to 30 percent of the width. A contrast checker warns below 3:1 and blocks downloads below 1.5:1, and after each change the preview is decoded again so the badge tells you whether the styled code still scans.
| Output | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PNG | Web, documents, quick prints | 256 to 4096 px; transparent background supported |
| SVG | Designers and print shops | Vector, scales without limit; logo embedded |
| Printing at an exact size | Vector modules at a chosen width in mm or inches, optional caption | |
| JPG | Platforms that reject PNG | White background; no transparency |
| EPS | Legacy print workflows | Vector from the module matrix, no logo |
| Copy / Print | Pasting into a document; a quick paper test | PNG to the clipboard; print view with caption |
Print size: as a rule of thumb the code should be at least one tenth of the scanning distance wide, with the quiet zone included.
| Scan distance | Minimum width |
|---|---|
| 0.5 m (arm's length) | 5 cm |
| 1 m | 10 cm |
| 2 m | 20 cm |
| 5 m | 50 cm |
A Wi-Fi code is usually scanned from 20–50 cm away, so 3–5 cm wide is enough; a fridge card or a framed print at 8 cm is comfortable for everyone.
The QR code size guide has a calculator for module size, DPI and distance.
Frequently asked questions
Does a Wi-Fi QR code expire?
No. The code holds the network name, encryption type and password as plain text in the standard WIFI: format. Nothing is looked up online when someone scans it, so there is nothing to expire. It stops working only if you change the password or the network name, in which case you generate a new code.
Which phones can join Wi-Fi from a QR code?
iPhones running iOS 11 or later and Android phones from version 10 onward join directly from the built-in camera app. Older Android phones need a QR app or the Wi-Fi settings scanner. Laptops generally do not join from a code; give them the password as text next to the code.
Is it safe to put my Wi-Fi password in a QR code?
The password is readable by anyone who scans or decodes the code, exactly as if it were printed next to it. Use it for guest networks or places where you would hand the password out anyway. It is generated in your browser here and never uploaded, so nobody but the people who see the printed code can read it.
Do I pick WPA2 or WPA3?
Choose WPA/WPA2/WPA3. The Wi-Fi QR format uses one value, WPA, for all three, and the phone negotiates the strongest mode the router supports. WEP is only for routers from before 2006. None is for open networks with no password.
What if my password has a semicolon, comma or quote in it?
The generator escapes the characters that have meaning in the WIFI: format, which are backslash, semicolon, comma, colon and double quote, by adding a backslash in front of them. Every phone that follows the format undoes that when it reads the code, so the password arrives intact.
Can I add a logo or colours to a Wi-Fi code?
Yes. Open the Style panel, upload a logo and pick colours or a preset. Wi-Fi codes default to error correction Q, and adding a logo raises it to H, so the code still scans with up to 30 percent of its area covered. The verification badge tells you if a style has gone too far.
How big should I print a Wi-Fi QR code?
For a table card or a fridge magnet scanned from arm's length, 3 to 5 cm across is enough. A typical WPA code with a 12-character password is 29 or 33 modules wide, which prints cleanly at those sizes. Keep the white quiet zone around it and avoid printing on glossy, reflective material.
Can guests see the password after joining?
On most phones the password is saved with the network but not shown, and on iOS it can be shared with contacts only. If that matters, treat the QR code like a written password: change the guest network password from time to time and print a new code.
Related
Last updated . QR Code is a registered trademark of DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED. Open-source engines are listed on the how it works page.