How to Share Your Wi-Fi with a QR Code on iPhone
Have you ever wanted to share your Wi-Fi network with your friends or family, but didn't want to reveal your password? Or maybe you have guests over and you want to make it easy for them to connect to your Wi-Fi without typing a long and complicated password. Well, there is a simple and convenient solution for that: using a QR code.
A QR code is a type of barcode that can store information such as URLs, text, or contact details. You can scan a QR code with your smartphone camera or a dedicated app and access the information instantly. In this case, you can use a QR code to store your Wi-Fi network name and password, and anyone who scans it can join your Wi-Fi automatically.
In this article, I'll show you how to create and share a QR code for your Wi-Fi network on your iPhone, using a free and easy-to-use shortcut called Share Wi-Fi. This shortcut can generate a QR code for your Wi-Fi and display it on your screen, or save it to your Photos app, or share it with other apps. You can also print the QR code and stick it on your wall or fridge, so anyone who visits your home can scan it and connect to your Wi-Fi.
This article is written for beginners who want to learn how to use shortcuts on their iPhone, and how to share their Wi-Fi with a QR code. I'll explain everything in simple and clear steps, with screenshots and examples. I'll also provide some FAQs, tips, and troubleshooting advice at the end of the article. So, let's get started!
What You Need
Before we begin, make sure you have the following things ready:
- An iPhone running iOS 14 or later.
- The Shortcuts app installed on your iPhone. This is a free app from Apple that lets you create and run custom automations on your device.
- The Share Wi-Fi shortcut downloaded on your iPhone. This is a free shortcut that can generate a QR code for your Wi-Fi network.
- A Wi-Fi network that you want to share. You should know the network name (SSID) and password of your Wi-Fi network.
If you have everything ready, you can proceed to the next section.
How to Create a QR Code for Your Wi-Fi Network
Now that you have the Shortcuts app and the Share Wi-Fi shortcut on your iPhone, you can use them to create a QR code for your Wi-Fi network. Here are the steps to follow:
- Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone and tap on the My Shortcuts tab at the bottom.
- Find the Share Wi-Fi shortcut in your list of shortcuts and tap on it to run it.
- The shortcut will ask you to enter the name (SSID) of your Wi-Fi network. Type it in and tap on Done.
- The shortcut will ask you to enter the password of your Wi-Fi network. Type it in and tap on Done.
- The shortcut will generate a QR code for your Wi-Fi network and display it on your screen. You can also see the network name and password below the QR code.
Congratulations, you have successfully created a QR code for your Wi-Fi network. You can now share it with others or save it for later use.
Note: The QR code shown above is just an example. Do not scan it or share it with anyone. It is not a real Wi-Fi network and it does not work.
How to Share Your Wi-Fi QR Code
Once you have created a QR code for your Wi-Fi network, you can share it with others in different ways. Here are some options:
- You can show the QR code on your screen to someone who wants to join your Wi-Fi network. They can scan it with their smartphone camera or a QR code scanner app and connect to your Wi-Fi automatically.
- You can tap on the Share button at the top right corner of the screen and choose an app to share the QR code with. For example, you can send it as a message, an email, or a social media post. You can also copy the QR code to your clipboard and paste it somewhere else.
- You can tap on the Save Image button at the bottom of the screen and save the QR code to your Photos app. You can then access it anytime from your photo library or share it with other apps.
- You can print the QR code and stick it on your wall or fridge, or anywhere else where it is visible and accessible. You can also laminate it or frame it to protect it from damage. This way, anyone who visits your home can scan the QR code and join your Wi-Fi network.
Here is an example of how to share the QR code with the Messages app:
- After creating the QR code, tap on the Share button at the top right corner of the screen.
- Choose Messages from the list of apps.
- Select a contact or a group that you want to send the QR code to.
- Tap on the Send button to send the QR code as a message.
Note: The QR code shown above is just an example. Do not scan it or share it with anyone. It is not a real Wi-Fi network and it does not work.
How to Scan a Wi-Fi QR Code
If someone shares a QR code for their Wi-Fi network with you, you can scan it and join their Wi-Fi network easily. Here are the steps to follow:
- Open the Camera app on your iPhone and point it at the QR code. Make sure the QR code is in focus and within the frame.
- A notification will appear at the top of the screen, showing the name of the Wi-Fi network. Tap on the notification to join the Wi-Fi network.
- You will be connected to the Wi-Fi network automatically, without entering the password.
Note: The QR code shown above is just an example. Do not scan it or share it with anyone. It is not a real Wi-Fi network and it does not work.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about sharing your Wi-Fi with a QR code on iPhone:
Is it safe to share my Wi-Fi password with a QR code?
Yes, it is safe to share your Wi-Fi password with a QR code, as long as you trust the person or the device that you are sharing it with. The QR code does not reveal your password in plain text, but it encrypts it with a standard format that can only be decoded by a QR code scanner. However, you should still be careful about who you share your QR code with, as they can access your Wi-Fi network and potentially your devices and data. You should also avoid sharing your QR code on public or unsecured platforms, such as social media or email, as they can be intercepted or hacked by malicious parties.
Can I use the QR code for any Wi-Fi network?
Yes, you can use the QR code for any Wi-Fi network, as long as you know the network name (SSID) and password of the Wi-Fi network. The QR code format is compatible with most Wi-Fi networks and devices that support QR code scanning. However, some Wi-Fi networks may have additional security or authentication features that may prevent the QR code from working. For example, some public Wi-Fi networks may require you to accept terms and conditions or enter a verification code before connecting. In such cases, you may need to follow the instructions on the screen after scanning the QR code.
How can I scan a QR code without the Camera app?
If you don't have the Camera app on your iPhone, or if it doesn't work for some reason, you can still scan a QR code with other apps that have QR code scanning functionality. For example, you can use the Shortcuts app to scan a QR code with the Scan QR/Barcode action. You can also use third-party apps such as QR Code Reader & QR Scanner or QR Code Reader by Scan to scan a QR code. Just make sure you download the apps from trusted sources and grant them the necessary permissions to access your camera.
How can I create a QR code for my Wi-Fi network without the Share Wi-Fi shortcut?
If you don't have the Share Wi-Fi shortcut on your iPhone, or if you want to create a QR code for your Wi-Fi network on another device, you can use other methods to create a QR code for your Wi-Fi network. For example, you can use online tools such as qifi.org or QR Code Generator to create a QR code for your Wi-Fi network. You can also use apps such as Qrafter - QR Code or Visual Codes to create a QR code for your Wi-Fi network on your iPhone. Just make sure you enter the correct network name (SSID) and password of your Wi-Fi network, and choose the appropriate QR code format (WIFI).
How to Customize the Share Wi-Fi Shortcut
If you want to customize the Share Wi-Fi shortcut to suit your preferences, you can do so by editing the shortcut in the Shortcuts app. For example, you can change the color or size of the QR code, add a custom icon or text, or modify the actions of the shortcut. Here are the steps to follow:
- Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone and tap on the My Shortcuts tab at the bottom.
- Find the Share Wi-Fi shortcut in your list of shortcuts and tap on the ... button to open it in edit mode.
- You will see a list of actions that make up the shortcut. You can tap on any action to edit its settings, or drag and drop actions to rearrange them.
- To change the color or size of the QR code, tap on the Generate QR Code action and adjust the sliders for Color and Size.
- To add a custom icon or text to the QR code, tap on the + button at the bottom and search for the Overlay Image or Overlay Text action. Drag and drop it below the Generate QR Code action and configure its settings.
- To modify the actions of the shortcut, tap on the + button at the bottom and search for any action that you want to add. Drag and drop it to the desired position in the shortcut. You can also delete any action that you don't need by tapping on it and selecting Delete.
- When you are done with your customization, tap on the Done button at the top right corner to save your changes.
Note: The QR code shown above is just an example. Do not scan it or share it with anyone. It is not a real Wi-Fi network and it does not work.
Conclusion
In this article, I showed you how to share your Wi-Fi with a QR code on your iPhone, using a free and easy-to-use shortcut called Share Wi-Fi. This shortcut can generate a QR code for your Wi-Fi network and display it on your screen, or save it to your Photos app, or share it with other apps. You can also print the QR code and stick it on your wall or fridge, so anyone who visits your home can scan it and connect to your Wi-Fi.
I also showed you how to create, share, and scan a QR code for your Wi-Fi network, and how to customize the Share Wi-Fi shortcut to suit your preferences. I hope you found this article helpful and informative, and that you learned something new today.
If you have any questions, comments, or feedback, please feel free to leave them below. I'd love to hear from you and help you out. Also, if you liked this article, please share it with your friends and family, or anyone who might benefit from it. Thank you for reading and have a great day!