How does a WiFi QR code work?

A WiFi QR code encodes a small text string in the WIFI: URI format — for example WIFI:T:WPA;S:CafeWiFi;P:pass123;H:false;; — that includes the encryption type, SSID, password, and hidden flag. Both iPhone and Android natively recognize this format and offer to join the network with one tap.

Will WiFi QR codes work on iPhone and Android?

Yes, on both. Native camera apps on iOS 11+ and Android 10+ recognize the WIFI: URI format directly. Older Android versions may need a third-party scanner, but any modern device works.

Is my WiFi password sent to any server?

No. The entire generator runs in your browser. Your SSID and password are never transmitted to any server — generation, rendering, and download all happen client-side. You can verify this by opening DevTools and watching the Network tab while generating.

Does it support WPA3 and hidden networks?

Yes. WPA, WPA2, WPA3, WEP, and open networks are all supported. The hidden-SSID flag is also encoded so the phone can join a network that doesn't broadcast its name.

What if my WiFi password contains special characters?

The generator automatically escapes the special characters required by the WIFI: URI spec — semicolons, commas, quotes, and backslashes. You can use any password without breaking the QR.

Should I share my main WiFi or a guest network?

Always use a guest network for printed QR codes. Anyone passing by with their camera open can capture the credentials, and a guest network with client isolation prevents them from reaching your printers, cash register, or other internal devices.

What size should I print the WiFi QR card?

A6 (105 × 148 mm) is the sweet spot for table tents, fridge magnets, and counter cards. The QR itself should be at least 4 cm wide so guests can scan it from arm's length without leaning in.

Does this work for Airbnb, hotels, and offices?

Yes. The generated QR works anywhere a WiFi QR works: cafés, restaurants, Airbnbs, hotels, co-working spaces, conference venues, doctor's offices, and homes. The standard is universal across iOS and Android.

Free WiFi QR Code Generator — No App, No Sign-up

How it works

A WiFi QR code is a 2D barcode that encodes a single line of text in the standard WIFI: URI format:

WIFI:T:WPA;S:CafeWiFi;P:pass123;H:false;;

Where T is the encryption type, S is the SSID, P is the password, and H is the hidden flag. Modern phones (iOS 11+, Android 10+) recognize this format natively in the camera app and offer to join the network with one tap — the user never sees or types the password.

Generate yours in 4 steps

Open the WiFi tab

Open the generator — it opens directly on the WiFi tab.

Enter SSID, password, encryption

Type the SSID exactly as the router broadcasts it (case-sensitive). Choose encryption — almost always WPA / WPA2 / WPA3 for modern routers. Enter the password. Tick "Hidden network" if your SSID isn't broadcast.

Download or print

Download as SVG (vector, perfect for print) or PNG (256–4096 px). Or click Print and pick the WiFi card template — an A6 ready-to-print card with the QR centered, a "Scan to connect" caption, and your SSID printed below.

Test before placing

On your phone, "Forget" the network in WiFi settings, then scan the printed QR. Your phone should join automatically. If it joins, you're ready to laminate, frame, or stick it where guests will look.

Privacy: your password stays in your browser

Most "free" WiFi QR generators run on a server. That means every SSID and password you've ever encoded is sitting in someone's database. Ours is different: everything happens client-side. The QR is generated in your browser, the PNG is rendered in your browser, the file is downloaded directly from your browser. There is no backend that sees your inputs.

You can verify this yourself: open DevTools (Cmd+Option+I or F12), switch to the Network tab, and generate a code. You'll see zero outgoing requests carrying your data.

Where to place WiFi QR codes

☕ Café & coffee shop

Table tents, behind the cash register, on the menu. Guests get on the network the moment they sit down.

🏨 Hotel & B&B

One framed card per room, plus a printed card at reception for the lobby network.

🏠 Airbnb & vacation rental

On the fridge with a magnet, in the welcome book, next to the TV remote.

🍽 Restaurant

Inside the menu cover or printed on the receipt — gets guests onto your network for next visit.

🏢 Office reception

For visiting clients. Pair with a guest sign-in form on the same card.

👥 Co-working space

Reception, meeting rooms, and day-pass kits. Avoids slowing meetings down.

🩺 Doctor's office

Patients in waiting rooms expect WiFi. A printed card removes the awkward "what's your password" question.

🎤 Event venue

Wedding receptions, conferences, birthday parties. Print on the program or lanyard.

Security: use a guest network, not your main network

This is the part most guides skip. Don't put your main WiFi password on a printed QR. Anyone passing by with their camera open captures the credentials. They can later return outside business hours, sit in their car, and use the network unmonitored — or worse, attack other devices on the same LAN.

Instead, on your router:

Enable the Guest WiFi option (almost every router from the past 8 years has this)
Give it a separate SSID (e.g. CafeName-Guests) and password
Enable client isolation (a.k.a. "AP isolation") — prevents guests from seeing each other's devices
Disable LAN access — guests can reach the internet but not your printers, cash register, NAS, or smart-home devices
Encode the guest credentials in the QR, never your main credentials

Refresh the guest password every 6–12 months and reprint the QR. Guests photograph cards, post them online, and walk away with stickers — eventually that password leaks.

What gets encoded — and what doesn't

Encoded: SSID, password, encryption type (WPA, WPA2, WPA3, WEP, or nopass), hidden flag
Not encoded: any tracking, identifiers, or metadata. The QR is the literal string above and nothing more.
Special characters: the generator automatically escapes the four characters that need escaping per the WIFI: URI spec — ;, ,, ", and \. You can use any password, including emojis if your router accepts them.

Print size guide for WiFi cards

For most use cases, A6 (105 × 148 mm) is the sweet spot — big enough to scan from across a table, small enough to fit on a fridge or counter. Other sizes:

Pocket size (10 × 15 cm) — fits in a postcard frame
A6 (the default) — best for table tents, fridge magnets
A5 (148 × 210 mm) — for behind-the-counter or wall placement
A4 — overkill unless visible across a large room

The QR itself should be at least 4 cm wide for arm's-length scanning. For a wall-mounted card scanned from 1 m+ away, scale it up to 8–10 cm using the 1:10 rule. Full sizing breakdown in the QR code sizes guide.

Frequently asked questions

Will it work on iPhone and Android without an app?

Yes. Native camera apps on iOS 11+ and Android 10+ recognize the WIFI: URI format directly — no third-party scanner needed. Older Android (pre-10) may need a free QR scanner app, but those are rare in 2026.

Does it support WPA3?

Yes — WPA, WPA2, WPA3, WEP, and open networks. Pick the one your router uses; if you're unsure, "WPA / WPA2 / WPA3" is correct for almost every router from the last decade.

Can I use it for a hidden SSID?

Yes. Tick "Hidden network" in the form. The hidden flag is encoded so the phone joins even though the network doesn't broadcast its name.

Is my password sent anywhere?

No. The entire generator runs in your browser. SSID and password never leave your device — there is no backend, no logging, no telemetry on the data you enter.

Are special characters in the password handled?

Yes — semicolons, commas, quotes, and backslashes are auto-escaped per the WIFI: URI spec. Any password works, including ones with symbols, spaces, or emojis.

Does the QR expire?

No. It's a static QR — the credentials are encoded directly into the image. It works forever, as long as the network with that SSID and password still exists. There's no third-party redirector, no subscription, nothing to renew.

Can I customize colors or add a logo?

Yes. Adjust foreground/background colors, pick a module style (square, rounded, smooth), and optionally upload a logo. The generator automatically bumps error correction to level H when a logo is added so the code stays scannable.

Can I use the QR commercially?

Yes — for any business: café, hotel, Airbnb, office, event. No attribution required. The QR is yours to print, frame, laminate, sell, or distribute.

Is this QR code generator really free, with no catch?

Yes — free forever. No sign-up, no watermark, no usage limits, no expiry. The entire generator runs in your browser, so we have no server costs to recover. No premium tier exists.

Will my QR code expire or stop working?

No. Static QR codes (which this site generates) never expire — they encode the destination directly into the image. The QR works as long as the URL or content it points to is still valid. Print once, scan forever.

Can I track how many people scan my QR code?

Not from the QR itself (static codes have no built-in analytics). The simplest workaround: add UTM parameters to your destination URL (e.g. ?utm_source=qr&utm_campaign=flyer) and read scans in Google Analytics, Plausible, or your site's log files.

What's the minimum print size for a QR code to scan reliably?

Rule of thumb: 2×2 cm (0.8") for cards and stickers, 5×5 cm for table tents and posters, 30×30 cm for billboards. The 1:10 ratio works: scan distance ≈ QR size × 10. Always test scan at actual size before printing a large batch.

Can I edit where the QR points after it's printed?

Not directly — static QR codes have the destination baked in. Workaround: point your QR to a short URL on your own domain (e.g. yourdomain.com/menu) that redirects to the real destination. You can change the redirect target any time without reprinting.

Free WiFi QR Code Generator