It was so annoying to share Wi-Fi passwords. It frequently required turning a dusty router backwards in order to read a minute amount of text or to spell out complicated series of random letters such as X7q#9Lp! to a guest. Fortunately, technology has improved to address such a pain point.
Wi-Fi QR (Quick Response) codes have made the process of connection very simple. One scan can relay directly the Network Name (SSID), the type of encryption, and the password to your gadget. This will enable you to be connected to a secure network in a matter of seconds without writing even a single word. You can scan these codes easily regardless of the smartphone you are using, laptop system, or desktop system.
Scan Wi-Fi QR Code on Android
On the largest number of recent Android gadgets (Android 10 and above), QR code recognition is incorporated directly into the camera application of the operating system. There is no need of downloading a third party scanner.
- Tap your phone and press the Camera application.
- Keep your phone straight and aim the camera at the Wi-Fi QR code. Make sure that the code is not dark in the frame.
- Then wait until a small notification banner or a pop-up chip appears on the screen. It will normally show the Wi-Fi name or indicate Join Network.
- Tap that notification. The Wi-Fi setup will automatically set up on your phone, and you will be connected with the internet as soon as you are connected to the Wi-Fi.
Scan Wi-Fi QR Code on iPhone
A few years prior to this, Apple introduced native QR code scanning in iOS. This is a smooth procedure that can be performed on any iPhone with the iOS 11 (or above) without any settings adjustments.
- Launch the Camera application on your lock screen or home screen.
- Hold your iPhone in such a way that the QR code is in the camera. There is no need of pressing on the shutter button to take a photo.
- Within seconds, a yellow notification bubble will appear on your screen regarding the QR code. It will be reading Join [Network Name].
- Tap the yellow bubble. You will be presented with a system dialogue that will require confirmation; tap Join and the connection is complete.
Scan Wi-Fi QR Code on PC
A laptop scan of a QR code is a little different as computers are not first-mover devices. But when your laptop has an inbuilt web camera, then you can read the code through the tools provided by windows itself.
- Select the Start button and type the name of the native application in the search box e.g. Camera.
- The camera settings right-hand menu has an icon called Barcode. In case you do not see it, then you can just hold the code up and that will start the auto-detection.
- Point the actual QR code (a piece of paper or a different phone screen) to the web-cam of your laptop.
Upon recognizing the code, Windows will generally decode the information and the password text will be copied to allow you to do so. This password can then be manually typed into your Wi-Fi log-in screen.
Scan Wi-Fi QR Code on Desktop
The term desktop tends to be taken to mean that you are looking at the QR code on a computer – maybe it was forwarded to you in email or it is on a web site on your screen. As you cannot point a web camera into your own screen, then you need a software solution.
- visit the webpage or image with the QR code and use the Google Chrome browser.
- Click on the QR code image with the right-hand.
- Select the context menu, which will display “Search image with Google” in the menu.
A bottom right side panel with Google Lens will appear. It will examine the picture, recognize the QR code and form the network credential (password and SSID) in plaintext so that you can save and paste them easily.
