How to Create a WiFi QR Code for Your Business

Every restaurant, cafe, hotel, salon, and office has the same problem: guests ask for the WiFi password, someone spells it out three times, and half the people still can't connect. A WiFi QR code fixes this permanently.

What is a WiFi QR code?

A WiFi QR code contains your network name (SSID), password, and encryption type encoded in a standard format. When someone scans it with their phone camera, it automatically prompts them to join the network — no typing required.

It works on all modern iPhones (iOS 11+) and Android phones (Android 10+). The phone reads the QR code, recognizes it as a WiFi configuration, and offers to connect with one tap.

How to create one

1. Go to MakeQRCode.app/wifi-qr — our free WiFi QR code generator.
2. Enter your network name (SSID) — this is exactly what appears in your phone's WiFi list. Capitalization matters.
3. Enter your WiFi password — make sure it's the current password. The QR code stores this, so if you change the password, you'll need a new code.
4. Select your encryption type — WPA/WPA2 for most networks, WPA3 if you've upgraded, or None for open networks.
5. Download the QR code — save it as a PNG image. Print it, frame it, or add it to a card.

That's it. The entire process takes about 30 seconds.

Where to display your WiFi QR code

The best placement depends on your business type:

• Restaurants & cafes — on table tents, menus, the wall near the entrance, or on receipt holders
• Hotels — in the room on the desk or nightstand, on the check-in card, in the elevator
• Offices — in the lobby, meeting rooms, and near the reception desk
• Salons & spas — at the waiting area or each station
• Retail stores — near the register or fitting rooms
• Airbnb / rentals — printed and framed in the main living area

Pro tip: print it at least 2cm × 2cm for reliable scanning. Bigger is always better. See our QR code size guide for detailed sizing recommendations.

Pro tips for businesses

• Create a guest network — don't share your main business network. Set up a separate guest SSID with its own password and create the QR code for that.
• Add a label — print "Scan for WiFi" above or below the QR code. Not everyone knows what a QR code does.
• Laminate it — table-top QR codes get spilled on, smudged, and damaged. Lamination keeps them scannable.
• Update when you change passwords — if you rotate your WiFi password (you should), generate a new QR code and replace the old one.
• Use a frame — a small photo frame on tables or counters looks professional and protects the code.

Security considerations

Your password is embedded in the QR code. Anyone who scans it can see the password (it's not encrypted within the QR code itself). This is by design — the phone needs the password to connect.

This is fine for guest networks. It's the same as writing the password on a chalkboard, just more convenient. But don't use it for your primary business network with sensitive systems.

Best practice:

• Create a dedicated guest network with internet-only access
• Isolate it from your internal business network
• Set bandwidth limits if needed
• Rotate the password monthly or quarterly

FAQ

Does it work on all phones?

Yes — iPhone (iOS 11+) and Android (10+) both support WiFi QR codes natively through the camera app. Older phones may need a QR scanner app.

Does the QR code expire?

No. The QR code itself never expires. It's a static image. It only stops working if you change the WiFi password.

Can I customize the look?

On our generator you can change the color. For more advanced customization, download the SVG version and edit it in a design tool. Just make sure the QR pattern stays high-contrast and scannable.

Is it really free?

Yes. MakeQRCode.app is completely free — no accounts, no watermarks, no expiry, no premium tiers. Generate as many as you want.