What a WiFi QR code contains
A WiFi QR code stores three things: the network name (SSID), the password and the security type. When a phone scans it, the phone reads these details straight from the pattern and offers to connect.
In QRaft you can save a WiFi code as static or dynamic. A static WiFi code joins the phone to the network straight from the camera, because the network details are inside the code itself. A dynamic WiFi code opens a small page with the network name and a button to copy the password: you can edit it and count its scans, but guests paste the password themselves. For a café or clinic, static is usually the better choice.
A static WiFi code never expires and doesn't depend on any service, so it keeps working even with no account. But it can't be edited or tracked, so if the password changes, you need a new code.
How to create a WiFi QR code
- In QRaft, choose the WiFi type.
- Type the network name exactly as it appears on your phone's WiFi list. Capital letters and spaces count.
- Type the password, and double-check it. A single wrong character means nobody can connect.
- Choose the security type that matches your router (see the table below).
- Keep the code static, so phones join the network directly.
- Design the code: your logo, your colors, and a frame that says "Scan to join WiFi".
- Check the scannability score, then download SVG or the print-ready PDF for printing.
- Test it on a phone that has never joined the network, or tell a phone to forget the network first.
Static codes are unlimited on every plan, including Free, so a WiFi code costs you nothing.
Choosing the right WiFi security type
You'll find the security type in your router's settings, usually under Wireless or WiFi security. Here's how to read it.
| Router setting | What to do |
|---|---|
| WPA2-Personal, WPA3-Personal or a WPA2/WPA3 mix | Choose WPA. It covers WPA2 and WPA3 personal networks, which is almost every router sold in recent years. |
| WEP | Choose WEP only if you can't switch the router to WPA2 or WPA3. WEP is outdated and easy to break. |
| Open (no password) | Choose no password, though adding one is better: an open network lets anyone nearby use it and see unencrypted traffic. |
| WPA2-Enterprise (each user has a username) | Common in hospitals and universities. A QR code can't carry personal logins, so set up a separate guest network with a shared password for the code. |
About hidden networks: make your guest network visible. QRaft's WiFi codes are made for networks that broadcast their name, and visible networks are also what guests' phones join most reliably.
How to scan a WiFi QR code on iPhone and Android
On iPhone, open the Camera app and point it at the code. A banner appears saying something like "Join network". Tap it, then tap Join. You can also use the Code Scanner in Control Center.
On Android, open the Camera app or Google Lens and point it at the code, then tap the network suggestion. Many Android phones also have a QR icon in Settings, Wi-Fi, next to "Add network", which opens a scanner directly.
If a guest's camera does nothing, QR scanning may be turned off in the camera settings. On Android, Google Lens almost always works as a backup.
Use a guest network, not your main one
Anyone who can see your WiFi QR code can join your network. That's fine, as long as the network they join is a guest network.
- Most routers have a Guest network option. Turn it on and give it its own password.
- A guest network keeps visitors away from your card terminals, cameras, printers and office computers.
- In a clinic, keep the computers that hold patient records on the main network only.
- If your router allows it, limit guest bandwidth, so one large download doesn't slow your own systems.
Make a printable WiFi QR code sign for your café or clinic
A good sign does two jobs: it gets scanned, and it still helps the guest who can't scan. Print the network name and password in plain text under the code, because laptops and some tablets can't scan.
| Where | Sign | Code size |
|---|---|---|
| Counter or reception | A6 or A5 stand | 4–5 cm |
| Café table | Small sticker or table tent | 3–4 cm |
| Waiting room wall | A4 sign at eye level | 8–10 cm |
Add a clear bilingual heading such as "Free WiFi / واي فاي مجاني", place the sign where guests sit, not behind the counter, and choose matte paper or matte lamination to avoid glare.
What to do after you change the WiFi password
Because a static WiFi code stores the password itself, the old password stays inside it. After a password change, phones that scan the old code will fail to connect.
- Create a new WiFi code with the new password.
- Apply your saved brand kit, so the new code looks exactly like the old one in one click.
- Reprint the signs and replace every old copy, including stickers on tables.
- Scan one of the new signs to confirm it connects.
If you change the guest password on a schedule, for example every 3 months, use sign holders where the card slides out. Replacing a card takes a minute; peeling off a sticker doesn't.
Questions
Is a WiFi QR code safe?+
It's as safe as printing your password on a sign, because anyone who can see it can join. Put it on a guest network that's separate from your business systems.
Does a WiFi QR code expire?+
A static WiFi code never expires. It only stops working when you change the network name or password.
Can I see how many people scanned my WiFi QR code?+
Not with a static WiFi code, because it doesn't pass through a server. A dynamic WiFi code is counted, but then guests copy the password from a page instead of joining automatically.
Do guests need an internet connection to scan it?+
No. The phone reads the network details from the code itself, so it can connect even without mobile data.