Generated in your browser. Never stored.
A WiFi QR encodes your network name, password, and encryption type. The phone reads it and joins the network in one tap — no menu hunting, no spelling the password back to the barista.
Generate one for free below. No subscription, no signup, no expiry. The QR you print today still works when you replace the menu cards next year.
What to encode and what to skip
Encode the guest network, not your back-of-house network. If you only have one network, set up a separate guest VLAN before printing the QR — putting cafe customers on the same network as your POS system is a security and PCI-compliance problem.
Use a memorable but non-default password. 'wifi1234' invites abuse from the parking lot. A 12–16 character passphrase blocks casual war-driving without being painful for staff to type when a guest's phone won't scan.
Don't encode an open network with no password. Most modern phones warn the user before connecting; some refuse outright on iOS Privacy settings.
Where to print and at what size
Tabletop card: 3 cm × 3 cm minimum, matte finish. Glossy laminates reflect ceiling lights and break the scan.
Counter sign: 5 cm × 5 cm at eye level. Customers will scan from a standing distance while ordering.
Receipt or to-go bag: print only if the WiFi reaches outside or to the curb. Otherwise the QR is dead weight off-premises.
Avoid sticking the QR on a window where the sun bleaches it. A faded QR loses error correction first and then stops scanning entirely.
Rotation and printing realities
If you rotate the WiFi password (some cafes do this monthly to deter long-term squatters), reprint the QR every rotation. The encoded password is baked into the dot pattern; changing the router password without reprinting the QR makes the QR useless.
A static QR like the one this page generates does not 'expire'. Other tools sell 'dynamic WiFi QRs' that route through their server — when that server goes down or starts charging, your printed cards become dead. Static avoids that risk.
Print a backup card with the plain-text SSID and password too, for the rare phone that can't scan. Older Android devices and feature phones still exist in your customer base.
Recommended QR types for this use case
- Guest WiFi credentials — Encode SSID + password + encryption. Scanning joins the network in one tap. (WiFi)
- Menu URL alongside the WiFi — Print both on the table card. Guests connect, then scan again to open the menu. (URL)
- Loyalty or signup page — Once they're on WiFi, prompt a scan to your loyalty program or newsletter. (URL)
Frequently asked questions
- Does the QR contain my password in plain text?
- Yes. The password is encoded directly into the dot pattern. Anyone who scans the printed code reads it. That's the entire point — but it also means treating the printed card as moderately sensitive (not a public street poster).
- Will iPhones and Androids both connect?
- Yes. Both platforms have supported the WIFI: QR format since 2018 (iOS 11 and Android 9). Camera-app scan triggers a 'Connect to this network?' prompt.
- Can I track how many guests scanned?
- Not with a static QR. Scan analytics require a dynamic QR routing through a redirect server — usually a paid feature elsewhere. If you need scan counts, your router admin panel can show connected-device counts as a proxy.