What you'll need before you start
Before opening the generator, gather three pieces of information about your guest network—not your private business one:
- SSID – the exact network name as it appears in Wi‑Fi settings, including spaces and capital letters. (Tip: connect on your own phone, then write down what shows in the Wi-Fi list.)
- Password – type it carefully, including symbols and case.
- Security type – usually WPA / WPA2 for modern routers. Use "None" only if your guest network is genuinely open with no password.
If you're not sure which network is the "guest" one, log into your router admin page (usually 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1) and look for a Guest Network section. Most modern small-business routers have one even if you've never enabled it.
Step 1 – Open the generator
Go to the Wi-Fi QR tool. The page is one short form: SSID, security, password, and a hidden-network checkbox.
Step 2 – Type the SSID exactly
The single most common reason a Wi-Fi QR doesn't connect is a typo in the SSID. Wi-Fi names are case-sensitive. "Cafe Guest" and "cafe guest" are two different networks to a phone. If your network has a space or apostrophe, include it.
Step 3 – Pick the right security type
- WPA / WPA2 – almost every modern router. Pick this unless you have a reason not to.
- WEP – legacy, mostly for very old equipment. Avoid for new installs.
- None (open) – truly open networks with no password. Don't choose this if the network actually has a password—the QR will look correct but fail to join.
If you're not sure, connect on your own phone. The Wi-Fi settings will tell you the security type for that network.
Step 4 – Enter the password
Spaces, capitals, and symbols all count. Most password failures are typos here. Tip: paste the password from a password manager rather than typing.
If your password contains special characters like ; or ,, the tool escapes them automatically so the QR still parses correctly.
Step 5 – Hidden network?
Most guest networks are not hidden. Leave the box unchecked unless your router is explicitly configured to hide the SSID. Marking a visible network as "hidden" can break automatic joins on iPhones.
Step 6 – Generate and test
Click Generate QR code and scan the preview with your phone camera. You should see a notification asking if you want to join the network.
Test on at least one iPhone and one Android. If one works and the other doesn't, the security type or hidden setting is usually wrong.
Step 7 – Download the PNG
Once both phones connect, click Download PNG. You now have a print-ready image. Drop it into Canva, Word, or your printer software.
Step 8 – Print at a usable size
Print at least 4 cm (1.6 in) per side for a counter sign and 3 cm (1.2 in) per side for a table tent. Smaller than that and scans get unreliable.
For full print-quality guidance—paper choice, lamination, and sign distance—see how to print a Wi-Fi QR sign customers will use.
Step 9 – Decide where to put it
Cafés and restaurants do best with the QR near the seating area, not at the order counter. Hotels and salons do best at the front desk. Read how to use a Wi-Fi QR code in your business for placement examples by industry.
What to do if scans don't work
- Phone doesn't show a join prompt – Wrong security type. Re-check WPA / WPA2 / None.
- Phone shows a prompt but join fails – Wrong password. Connect on your own phone first to verify.
- iPhone works, Android fails (or vice versa) – Hidden-network checkbox is wrong, or one OS doesn't recognize WPA3-only. Try WPA/WPA2 transition mode on your router.
- Some phones refuse to scan the image – QR is too small or printed at low resolution. Re-export and reprint.
When to regenerate the QR
Regenerate any time you change the guest password, security type, or SSID. Keep a list of every place the old code is printed so you can swap them all in one round (back room, table tents, counter sign, takeout menu).
Next step: Open the Wi-Fi QR tool with the three details above ready, and you'll have a tested, downloadable QR in about five minutes.