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Wi-Fi QR codes: scan, see the password, and connect

Cafés, hotels, offices, and routers often print a QR code instead of a password. Here is how to use one on any device, and what is actually inside it.

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What a Wi-Fi QR code contains

A Wi-Fi QR code is plain text in a small, widely supported format. A typical one looks like this:

WIFI:T:WPA;S:Cafe Guest;P:sunny-day-42;;

  • S is the network name (SSID).
  • T is the security type: WPA (which also covers WPA2 and WPA3), WEP, or nopass for an open network.
  • P is the password.
  • H:true, when present, marks a hidden network.

Because the password is stored as readable text, anyone who scans the code can see it. That is the point for a guest network, but it also means you should not print a code for a network you want to keep private.

Scan it with this scanner

  1. Open the scanner and chooseCamera, or switch to Image if the code is in a photo or screenshot.
  2. Point the camera at the code. The result card shows Wi-Fi network.
  3. Read the network name and security type, select the eye icon to reveal the password, and use Copy password.
  4. Open your device's Wi-Fi settings, pick the network, and paste the password.

iPhone and iPad

Open the Camera app and point it at the code. When the Join network banner appears, tap it and confirm. If the banner does not appear, check thatScan QR Codes is turned on in Settings › Camera, or use this scanner and copy the password instead.

Android

Most Android phones can scan Wi-Fi codes from the camera app or from Google Lens. You can also open Settings › Network & internet › Internet (or Wi-Fi), and tap the QR icon next to Add network. Menu names vary by manufacturer and Android version.

Windows, Mac, and Chromebook

Laptops rarely have a camera app that reads QR codes. Open this scanner, scan the code with your webcam or from a photo taken with your phone, copy the password, and join the network from the Wi-Fi menu in the taskbar or menu bar.

Troubleshooting

  • The password is rejected: passwords are case-sensitive, and some codes are printed before a password change. Ask the network owner for the current one.
  • The network is not in the list: if the result saysHidden network, add it manually with Join other networkand type the exact name.
  • The code will not scan: see theQR code troubleshooting guide.

Stay safe on shared networks

Only join networks you expect to find in that place, and be wary of a code that asks you to log in or pay before connecting. A captive portal from the venue is normal; a page asking for your email password is not. The QR code safety guide covers the warning signs.

Scan a Wi-Fi QR code