Share Wi-Fi Safely with Windows 11 QR Codes and Saved Network Details

Share Wi-Fi Safely with Windows 11 QR Codes and Saved Network Details​

Difficulty: Beginner | Time Required: 10 minutes
Sharing your Wi-Fi password does not have to mean reading a long passphrase out loud, texting it around, or peeling the label off the bottom of your router. Recent Windows 11 builds make it much easier: you can display your saved Wi-Fi password and, when supported, show a QR code that another device can scan to join the network.
This is especially handy when helping family, guests, or a second device connect to your home network. It also reduces typing mistakes and keeps you from exposing the password more widely than necessary. In this tutorial, we’ll walk through how to share your current Wi-Fi connection, view saved network details, scan a Wi-Fi QR code, and handle common issues.

Important: A Wi-Fi QR code is convenient, but it is still a password-sharing method. Anyone who can scan the QR code may be able to join that network. Only share it with people and devices you trust.

Prerequisites​

Before you begin, make sure you have:

1. A Windows 11 PC that has already connected to the Wi-Fi network.
2. Permission to share the network password.
3. Access to Settings on the PC.
4. A second device with a camera if you want to scan the QR code.
5. Windows 11 version 24H2 or newer for the best built-in QR code sharing experience.

To check your Windows version:

1. Right-click Start.
2. Select Settings.
3. Go to System > About.
4. Under Windows specifications, look for Version.

If you are using Windows 10 or an older Windows 11 release, you may still be able to view Wi-Fi details, but the built-in QR sharing options may not appear.

Method 1: Share Your Current Wi-Fi Network with a QR Code​

Use this method when your Windows 11 PC is already connected to the Wi-Fi network you want to share.

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Select Network & internet from the left side.
3. Click Wi-Fi.
4. Open the properties page for your connected Wi-Fi network. Depending on your Windows 11 layout, you may see your current network listed near the top, or you may need to select Properties.
5. Find Wi-Fi network password.
6. Select Show.
7. If Windows asks you to confirm your identity, approve the prompt using your PIN, password, fingerprint, face recognition, or administrator approval.
8. Windows will display the saved Wi-Fi password. On supported Windows 11 versions, it will also display a QR code.
9. On the other device, open its camera or QR scanner.
10. Point the camera at the QR code.
11. When prompted, choose the option to connect to the Wi-Fi network.
12. Confirm that the device connects successfully.

This is the safest built-in method for quick sharing because you do not have to type, copy, or send the password through a chat app.

Tip: If you are sharing Wi-Fi with visitors often, consider creating a separate guest Wi-Fi network from your router. That way, guests can access the internet without being on the same primary network as your personal computers, printers, and storage devices.

Method 2: View a Saved Wi-Fi Network Password​

Windows 11 can also show passwords for networks your PC has used before. This is useful if you are not currently connected to the network but it is saved on the device.

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Network & internet.
3. Select Wi-Fi.
4. Click Manage known networks.
5. Choose the saved network you want to view.
6. Look for Wi-Fi network password.
7. Select Show.
8. Complete any security confirmation if Windows asks.
9. Use the displayed password or QR code to connect another trusted device.

This can be helpful after replacing a phone, setting up a tablet, or helping a family member reconnect to a network you already saved months ago.

Warning: Do not use this feature to reveal or share passwords for workplace, school, hotel, or managed networks unless you are authorized to do so. Many organizations have policies against sharing wireless credentials.

Method 3: Scan a Wi-Fi QR Code on a Windows Device​

If someone else shows you a Wi-Fi QR code, Windows 11 devices with a camera can scan it.

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Switch to barcode or QR scanning mode if your Camera app shows that option.
3. Point the camera at the Wi-Fi QR code.
4. Wait for Windows to detect the code.
5. Select the prompt or link that appears.
6. Windows will open Settings and ask you to confirm that you want to add and connect to the Wi-Fi network.
7. Choose whether you want Windows to connect automatically when the network is in range.
8. Select the option to connect.

This is useful in homes, small offices, cafés, meeting rooms, and anywhere a Wi-Fi QR code is provided instead of a typed password.

Method 4: Windows 10 and Older Windows 11 Alternative​

If your PC does not show the new Wi-Fi password or QR code option in Settings, you can still check the password for the network you are currently connected to using the classic Control Panel method.

1. Press Windows + R.
2. Type control and press Enter.
3. Open Network and Sharing Center.
4. Next to Connections, select your Wi-Fi network name.
5. In the Wi-Fi Status window, select Wireless Properties.
6. Open the Security tab.
7. Check Show characters.
8. The password appears in the Network security key box.

This method is most useful on Windows 10 or on Windows 11 systems that do not yet have the newer Settings-based password display.

Safety Tips for Sharing Wi-Fi​

1. Use a guest network when possible. Most modern routers support a guest SSID. This keeps visitors separate from your main devices.
2. Avoid posting QR codes publicly. A printed Wi-Fi QR code on your refrigerator is fine for family. A QR code visible from a window or shared on social media is not.
3. Change the password if it has been overshared. If too many people have your main Wi-Fi password, update it in your router settings and reconnect your trusted devices.
4. Use WPA2 or WPA3 security. Avoid open networks for home use. If your router supports WPA3-Personal, consider enabling it, but make sure older devices can still connect.
5. Do not share enterprise credentials. Business and school Wi-Fi may use individual accounts, certificates, or device management. Sharing those details can create security and policy problems.
6. Be careful with screenshots. A screenshot of a QR code can be forwarded. Treat it like a screenshot of the actual password.

Troubleshooting​

I do not see the QR code option​

Make sure your PC is updated. The Wi-Fi QR sharing experience is associated with newer Windows 11 updates, especially Windows 11 version 24H2 and later. Go to Settings > Windows Update and install available updates.

I see the password but not the QR code​

Your Windows build may support showing the password but not QR code sharing. You can still manually enter the password on the other device.

The saved network is not listed​

The PC must have previously connected to that network. If the network profile was removed, forgotten, or created under a different Windows installation, it may not appear in Manage known networks.

The other device cannot connect after scanning​

Check that the router is online, the Wi-Fi name has not changed, and the password is still current. If the router uses MAC address filtering or a device limit, the new device may be blocked even with the correct password.

The Camera app does not scan the code​

Try improving lighting, increasing screen brightness on the device showing the QR code, cleaning the camera lens, or using the receiving device’s built-in Wi-Fi settings or camera app instead.

Conclusion​

Windows 11’s Wi-Fi password and QR code features make network sharing much easier for beginners and power users alike. Instead of typing long passwords or sending them through messages, you can open Settings, show the saved network details, and let another trusted device scan to connect.
Used carefully, this is a fast and friendly way to help guests, family members, and your own devices get online while still keeping control of who receives access.
Key Takeaways:

• Windows 11 can show saved Wi-Fi passwords directly in Settings.
• Newer Windows 11 versions can display Wi-Fi QR codes for easier sharing.
• You can view saved networks from Manage known networks.
• Windows devices with cameras can scan supported Wi-Fi QR codes.
• Treat QR codes like passwords and share them only with trusted people.
• For frequent visitors, a router-based guest network is usually the safer choice.

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This tutorial was generated to help WindowsForum.com users get the most out of their Windows experience.

Structured references for editorial review​

• Microsoft Support documents the Windows 11 Wi-Fi QR scanning flow, the Settings path for showing the Wi-Fi network password, and the ability to show passwords for saved networks from Manage known networks. (support.microsoft.com)
• Microsoft’s Windows update documentation describes QR code sharing for Wi-Fi networks, including sharing current networks, previously used networks, and mobile hotspots. (support.microsoft.com)
• Microsoft Learn notes that Windows Wi-Fi supports industry-standard authentication and encryption methods, and describes WPA3 as the current Wi-Fi authentication security standard. (learn.microsoft.com)

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References​

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   Connect to a Wi-Fi network in Windows - Microsoft Support

   Learn how to connect to a Wi-fi network in Windows and manage your current network connections.

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2. Official source: learn.microsoft.com
   
   

   Windows 11 security book - Network security

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3. Official source: intowindows.com
   
   

   How To Share Wi-Fi Password As QR Code In Windows 11

   Windows 11 automatically saves the password when you connect your PC to a Wi-Fi network, so that the next time you want to connect to the same Wi-Fi

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4. Related coverage: windowscentral.com
   

   What's new with networking on Windows 11 version 24H2 (2024 Update) | Windows Central

   Windows 11 version 24H2 brings various networking improvements, including support for Wi-Fi 7, revamped Quick Settings for network settings, and changes for SMB and LAPS.

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5. Related coverage: pureinfotech.com
   
   

   How to share Wi-Fi password with QR Code on Windows 11 - Pureinfotech

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   pureinfotech.com
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