If you’re running a WiFi network for a guest house / AirBNB, a small hotel or an office / home network and you’re tired of telling / dictating guests your long, complicated Wi-Fi password every time they visit, there’s a simple and secure way to share the WiFi name and password by putting the info in a WiFi authentication QR code. With a simple scan from their phone via a QR reader (which iPhones and all modern smartphones have), they can join your network instantly with zero typing.
In short — Why use a QR Code for Wi-Fi?
- Convenience for guests: No more reading or spelling out your SSID and password.
- Better security practice: Keep a strong password while still making access easy.
- Works on most devices: Android and iOS both support Wi-Fi QR codes.
The Wi-Fi QR Code Standard Format
Smartphones understand Wi-Fi QR codes using this format:
WIFI:S:
;T: ;P: ;;
- S: your Wi-Fi network name (SSID)
- T: encryption type (WPA, WEP, or nopass)
- P: your Wi-Fi password
- Everything ends with ;;
If your SSID or password contains special characters such as ; or , they must be escaped using a backslash .
Example:
SSID = WifiNetworkName
Password = @ss;word45123P4?#$!
Type = WPA
The final string becomes:
WIFI:S:WifiNetworkName;T:WPA;P:@ss;word45123P4?#$!;;
How to Generate the QR Code Locally on Linux
You can generate the QR code locally using qrencode instead of uploading credentials online.
-
Install qrencode (Debian/Ubuntu):
# apt update # apt install qrencode
-
Generate the QR code:
# qrencode -o wifi-qr.png 'WIFI:S:WifiNetwork;T:WPA;P:P@ss;word!;;'
Example with colors and SVG output:
# qrencode -t svg –foreground=FFFFFF –background=000000 -o qr-code.svg –inline –rle -s 10 "WIFI:S:MyWiFI;T:WPA;P:<Secret_Pass>;;"
Use -s to increase size, e.g. -s 10.
-
Print or share the generated wifi-qr.png.
Alternative: GUI / Desktop Approach
On GNOME-based systems (Ubuntu, Fedora), install the WiFi QR Code GNOME extension.
- Open quick settings → Wi-Fi → “Show QR Code”
- Right-click to copy or save for printing
Advanced: Using wifi-qr Tool
The wifi-qr tool provides CLI and GUI Wi-Fi QR generation.
# terminal interface to generate QR
# wifi-qr -t
This command prints your current Wi-Fi SSID, encryption type, and password in clear text.
Security Tips
- Limit where you display the QR
- Rotate the password when needed
- Use a guest network instead of your main one
- Prefer WPA2/WPA3
- Store QR images safely
How Guests Use the QR Code
- Open the phone camera (iOS/Android)
- Point it at the QR
- Tap “Join” when the Wi-Fi prompt appears
Final Thoughts
Generating a Wi-Fi QR code blends security with usability. Whether using qrencode, a GUI extension, or a website, guests connect instantly with a quick scan – no typing required.
More helpful Articles
Tags: Advanced Using, better security, cmd, Install, network, Open, Open User, password, phone, png, QR, Secure, share, Usage, WiFi
