Wi-Fi QR Codes for Cafés, Shops and Guest Rooms
Published: 2026-08-31 · Updated: 2026-08-31
“What’s the Wi-Fi password?” is the most-asked question in any café. A printed Wi-Fi QR code answers it without staff involvement: guests point their camera, tap “Join”, and they are online. Here is how to set it up well.
How it works on phones
The code contains the network name, security type and password in a standard format. iPhones (iOS 11 and later) and Android phones (10 and later) recognize it in the built-in camera and offer to join the network. Older devices can use any QR scanner app that supports Wi-Fi codes.
Set up a guest network first
Most routers can broadcast a separate guest network that is isolated from your own devices (point-of-sale terminal, office PC, printers). Put the QR code on the guest network, not the main one. This way handing out the password costs you nothing in security, and you can change the guest password occasionally without touching your own equipment.
Generate the code
- Type the SSID exactly as it appears on phones — capitalization and spaces matter.
- Select WPA/WPA2/WPA3 (almost all modern routers). Use “None” only for truly open networks.
- Enter the password. It is processed only in your browser and never uploaded.
- Scan the preview with your own phone before printing.
Where to place it
- At the counter and on each table, at least 4–5 cm wide so it can be scanned from a seated position.
- In guest rooms, next to the TV or on the desk card.
- Not on windows facing outside unless you are happy for passers-by to use the network.
Design tips
Add a short label such as “Free Wi-Fi — scan to connect” and, if you like, the SSID in plain text as a fallback. Keep the code itself black on white with its full margin; brand the surrounding card instead of the code.
When you change the password
The code is static, so a new password means a new code. Generate it again (it takes seconds) and replace the printouts. Because nothing is stored on any server, there is nothing else to update.