Wi-Fi QR Code

A Wi-Fi QR code is one of the highest-value QR uses in hospitality. It removes the single most repeated question in any café, clinic or guest house: “what's the Wi-Fi password?”

The network credentials are stored in the code, which is convenient but also a security consideration: anyone who can photograph the code can join. Treat a guest network code as a public password, and keep it on a separate network from anything sensitive.

How to create a Wi-Fi QR code

1. Choose the Wi-Fi type Open Make My QR Code and select Wi-Fi.
2. Enter the network name (SSID) It is case-sensitive. Copy it exactly from the router settings or the phone that is already connected.
3. Enter the password Also case-sensitive. Check that autocapitalisation has not changed the first letter.
4. Select the encryption type WPA/WPA2 is correct for almost every modern network. Choose “none” only for an open network.
5. Download and place it Print it where guests can see it comfortably at counter height, and test with a phone that is not already connected.

Where people use it

• Cafés, bars and restaurants
• Hotels, guest houses and Airbnbs
• Waiting rooms and clinics
• Offices and co-working spaces
• Salons and barbershops
• Event venues and conference rooms

Best practices

• Put the code on a dedicated guest network, never on the network that runs your till or cameras.
• Print it at a comfortable height and size — people scan these at close range, so 4–5 cm works well.
• Include the network name as text as well, so people can join manually if their camera struggles.
• Regenerate the code whenever you change the password. Static codes cannot be updated.

Common mistakes with Wi-Fi codes

Wi-Fi codes fail for different reasons than link codes, because the phone has to match your credentials exactly before it will join.

• Wrong capitalisation. Network names and passwords are case-sensitive. Type them by hand rather than dictating them, and check the first letter, which phones love to capitalise.
• Choosing the wrong encryption. Nearly every modern network is WPA/WPA2. Selecting WEP or "none" produces a code that will not join.
• Putting it on the wrong network. If you print a code for the network that runs your point-of-sale or cameras, you have published that password to every visitor.
• Not updating it. A static code cannot be edited. When you rotate the password, the old code becomes a support call.
• Placing it too high. People scan these at arm's length. A code above head height forces an awkward angle and often fails.

Printing and sizing

Wi-Fi codes are read at very close range — typically 20–40 cm — so 4–5 cm is usually enough. What matters more is placement: counter height, good light, and flat rather than behind glass.

Print the network name in plain text next to the code as well. When a guest's camera refuses to cooperate, they can still join manually, and your staff stop being a password-reading service. For a table tent, laminate it: these get handled constantly and a scuffed code is a dead code.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my Wi-Fi QR code not connect?

Check the network name and password for exact case and stray spaces, confirm the encryption is set to WPA/WPA2, and make sure the phone is within range. A code generated for a 5GHz-only network also fails on older devices.

Should I print the password next to the code?

Only if the network is a guest network and you are comfortable with anyone reading it. The code already contains the password, so printing it adds little exposure — but it does make the network trivially shareable.