WiFi QR Codes for Airbnbs, Hotels and Restaurants: How to Set One Up

“What’s the WiFi password?” is one of the first things guests ask, whether they just checked into your Airbnb, picked up a key at your hotel front desk or sat down at your cafe. A password on a sticky note gets lost, and a long one with a capital I next to a lowercase l gets typed wrong.

A WiFi QR code fixes that. Guests point their phone camera at the code and connect without typing anything. This guide covers the two kinds of WiFi QR code AQRHub offers, how to pick the right one, how to set it up and where to put it.

Two kinds of WiFi QR code

When you create a WiFi QR code in AQRHub you choose between two kinds. Both get guests online. The difference is what happens when your password changes.

Joins automatically (every plan, including Free)

• Your network name and password are stored in the code itself.
• When a guest scans it, their phone offers to join the network directly.
• The password is not printed as text next to the code, so you can put it somewhere visible.
• If you change the password, the printed code stops working and you need to create and print a new one.
• Scans are not counted.

Editable (Starter and Pro)

• The code opens a simple guest page with your network name, a Copy password button and steps to connect.
• You can add a title to the page, such as the name of your rental or hotel.
• You can change the network name or password any time in your account, and the same printed code keeps working. No reprinting.
• Each scan is counted, so you can see how often guests use it.
• Because the guest page shows the password, anyone who scans the code can read it.

If you want the background on why one code can change and the other cannot, see our guide to static vs dynamic QR codes.

Which one should you choose?

Choose Joins automatically if your password rarely changes. A small cafe or home-run shop that has used the same WiFi password for years can print a Joins automatically code once and leave it. It is free, and guests connect in one tap.

Choose Editable if you change the password regularly. Airbnb and vacation rental hosts who change the password between stays, or hotels that change it every month, would otherwise reprint every card, sign and binder page each time. With an Editable code you update the password in your account and every printed copy shows the new one.

Editable is also the better fit if you want to know how often the code gets scanned, or if you might switch internet providers or routers and end up with a new network name.

How to set it up

• Step 1: Open the WiFi QR code generator and choose Joins automatically or Editable.
• Step 2: Enter your network name (SSID) and password exactly as they appear on your router. For an Editable code, add a title for the guest page if you like.
• Step 3: Download the QR code and test it with your own phone before you print anything.
• Step 4: Print it and put it where guests will look for it (ideas below).
• Step 5: When your password changes, update an Editable code in your account. For a Joins automatically code, create a new one and replace the printed copies.

Where to put it

Airbnbs and vacation rentals

• A small framed card on the nightstand or kitchen counter.
• The first page of your welcome binder or house guide.
• Near the router, for guests who go looking for it there.

More rental ideas are on our QR codes for Airbnb page.

Hotels

• A card on the nightstand or desk in every room. If all rooms share one network, one code works for all of them.
• On the key card sleeve or welcome card guests receive at check-in.
• In the lobby, at the front desk or in the seating area, so guests can connect as soon as they arrive.
• In conference rooms, with a separate code if meetings use their own network.

See our QR codes for hotels page for more.

Restaurants, cafes and bars

• Table tents or table cards, next to your QR code menu if you have one.
• A sign at the counter where people order.
• The hotel restaurant or bar, if you run one.

The same idea works anywhere people sit and wait: offices, salons, clinics and waiting rooms.

Printing tips

• Print it big enough to scan easily. Our QR code size guide covers sizes for cards, table tents and signs.
• Add a short label such as “Scan for WiFi” so guests know what the code is for. A QR code frame makes this easy.
• Leave a clear margin around the code and print on matte paper so reflections do not get in the way.
• Test every printed batch with a phone before you put it out.
• On Starter and Pro you can add your logo, remove the watermark and export as SVG, EPS or PDF for sharp printing. The Free plan exports PNG with a watermark. Compare plans on the pricing page.

Keep your guest network safe

Anyone who scans a WiFi QR code can get on your network, so treat the code like a shared password.

• Put guests on a separate guest network, not the one your own laptop, cameras or payment system use.
• Remember that an Editable code shows the password on its guest page, so do not use it for a network you want to keep private.
• Change the guest password from time to time. With an Editable code, that no longer means reprinting.
• Place codes where you can see them, and check now and then that nobody has stuck a different code on top. Our guide to QR code scams explains what to look for.

Frequently asked questions

How does a WiFi QR code work?

There are two kinds. A Joins automatically code stores your network name and password in the code itself, so the phone offers to join the network when it is scanned. An Editable code opens a simple guest page that shows the network name, a Copy password button and steps to connect.

What happens if I change my WiFi password?

With a Joins automatically code, the old code stops working and you need to create and print a new one. With an Editable code, you update the network name or password in your account and the same printed code keeps working.

Which plans include Editable WiFi QR codes?

Joins automatically WiFi codes are available on every plan, including Free. Editable WiFi codes are available on the Starter and Pro plans.

Can I put the same WiFi QR code in every hotel room?

Yes. If every room uses the same network, one QR code can be printed as many times as you need, for example on a card on the nightstand or a key card sleeve.

Is a WiFi QR code secure?

Anyone who scans the code can get on your network, so treat it like a shared password. Put guests on a separate guest network rather than the network your own devices, cameras or payment system use. Keep in mind that an Editable code shows the password on its guest page.

Do guests need an app to scan it?

No. Most modern iPhones and Android phones can scan a WiFi QR code with the built-in camera app.

Not sure which plan is right for you? Read our guide on free vs paid QR code generators.