How to Create and Share a Wi-Fi QR Code on iPhone
Use the iPhone Passwords app to show a network QR code, or make a printable one for guests. Includes scanning, saved networks, and troubleshooting.
An iPhone can share a Wi-Fi connection in two different ways: it can display a network QR code, or it can send a nearby Apple device a password-sharing prompt. The QR method is the useful one when your visitor has an Android phone or you want to print the code.
Show the QR code already on your iPhone
- Open the Passwords app and unlock it.
- Tap Wi-Fi and select the network you want to share. Your current network appears near the top; previously saved networks may appear below it.
- Tap Show Network QR Code.
- Ask the guest to point their phone camera at the code and confirm the network name before joining.
Apple documents these steps in its iPhone Wi-Fi password guide. If the option is missing, check that the phone has the Passwords app and that the network is saved there. Menu names can change with iOS updates.
Make a code you can print
A code on your phone is convenient for one guest. A guest room card, reception desk, or meeting room needs a file you can keep. In the Passwords app, tap the password field for the chosen network and copy the password. Check the exact network name in Wi-Fi settings, then enter both in the free Wi-Fi QR generator. Choose the security type that matches your network, download the code, and scan the downloaded version before printing.
When the nearby Apple sharing prompt is easier
If both people use Apple devices, you may be able to share the password without showing a QR code. The guest selects the network; your unlocked, connected iPhone displays Share Password. Apple says both devices need Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on, must be nearby, and the people need each other’s Apple Account contact details saved. See Apple’s sharing requirements. A printed QR code avoids those proximity and contact requirements for guests.
If the guest cannot join
First check whether their camera recognizes the square at all. On iPhone, the Camera app or Code Scanner can read QR codes; see Apple’s scanning instructions. If it recognizes the code but rejects the network, compare the SSID and password with the current router settings. A saved password on your phone may be older than the router’s current one. If the phone joins but has no internet, check the router or guest network rather than making the QR image again.
For a broader fault checklist, use our Wi-Fi QR troubleshooting guide.