QR code for Wi-Fi

A QR code for Wi-Fi saves guests from dictating the password. Point the camera and the phone offers to join the network. Inside the code is a string of the form WIFI:T:WPA;S:name;P:pass;; that iPhone (iOS 11+) and Android (10+) cameras read without extra apps.

What to fill in

• Network name (SSID) — exactly as in the router settings, case-sensitive
• Encryption type — WPA/WPA2 for a normal network, WEP for old hardware, "No password" for an open point
• Password — for a secured network
• Hidden network — tick it if the SSID is not in the list, otherwise the phone will not find it

Use a guest network

Do not print the main network password in plain sight: it exposes all office traffic and devices. Set up a separate guest network on the router and make the QR code for it. Guests get internet while your computers, tills and cameras stay isolated.

Printing a sticker

• A café table needs 3–4 cm, an entrance stand 8 cm and up.
• Laminate the sticker or print on film — a code on a table gets dirty fast.
• Add a "Scan me" caption and a logo so the guest knows what to do.
• Keep white margins around the code and do not shrink it too much.

Common mistakes

• A typo in the SSID or password sends the code nowhere. Copy the values from the router settings.
• Special characters \, ;, ,, : in the password must be escaped — the generator does this for you.
• Color inversion or an oversized logo — the camera cannot read the pattern.
• Changed the password — the old code stopped working, make a new one.

Test the finished code on two phones before printing: connecting should take a couple of seconds.

iPhone and Android read differently

On iPhone the code joins the network right from the Camera, starting with iOS 11. On Android 10 and newer it works too; on older versions you may need Google Lens or a scanner app. Not every device supports WPA3: if the network has old phones, keep WPA2 so everyone can connect.