Sharing Wi-Fi access has traditionally involved manually entering complex passwords, a process prone to errors and inconvenience. To streamline this, Windows 11 introduces a feature that allows users to generate a QR code for their Wi-Fi network, enabling others to connect effortlessly by scanning the code.
Generating a Wi-Fi QR Code on Windows 11
To create a QR code for your Wi-Fi network on Windows 11, follow these steps:
- Access Wi-Fi Settings:
- Press
Windows Key + I
to open the Settings app. - Navigate to Network & Internet > Wi-Fi.
- Select Your Network:
- Click on your connected Wi-Fi network to open its properties.
- Display the QR Code:
- Click the Show button next to the Wi-Fi network password.
- A QR code representing your Wi-Fi credentials will appear on the screen.
Alternative Methods for Windows Versions Without Built-in QR Code Generation
If you're using a version of Windows that doesn't support this feature, you can still generate a Wi-Fi QR code using third-party tools:
- Retrieve Wi-Fi Credentials:
- Open Command Prompt by pressing
Windows Key + R
, typingcmd
, and pressing Enter. - Enter the following command to list all saved Wi-Fi profiles:
netsh wlan show profiles
- Identify the desired network and retrieve its details with:
netsh wlan show profile name="YOUR_WIFI_NAME" key=clear
ReplaceYOUR_WIFI_NAME
with your network's name. - Note the SSID, Password (found under "Key Content"), and Security Type.
- Generate the QR Code:
- Visit a reputable online Wi-Fi QR code generator, such as QiFi.
- Enter the SSID, Password, and select the appropriate Encryption type.
- Click Generate to create the QR code.
- Download or save the QR code image to your computer.
- Display the QR Code:
- Open the QR code image using the Photos app or any image viewer.
- Maximize the window to make the QR code easily scannable.
Security Considerations
While QR codes simplify the process of sharing Wi-Fi access, it's essential to consider security implications:
- Controlled Sharing: Only display the QR code to trusted individuals to prevent unauthorized access.
- Regular Updates: Periodically change your Wi-Fi password and regenerate the QR code to maintain network security.
- Secure Storage: Avoid leaving printed or digital copies of the QR code in publicly accessible areas.
Source: Guiding Tech How to Display a Wi-Fi QR Code on Windows