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To connect to Wi-Fi using a QR code on a supported Windows 11 PC, open Camera, choose barcode mode, scan the code and confirm the connection in Settings. On Windows 10, use a compatible Wi-Fi QR scanner or read the network details and connect manually.
The method depends on your Windows version and whether the QR code is on paper, another screen or saved as an image. Start with the option that fits your PC.
Which QR-code method should you use?
| Your setup | Start here |
|---|---|
| Windows 11 with a working webcam | Use Camera to scan and connect. |
| Windows 10 with a webcam | Use a compatible Wi-Fi QR scanner, or connect manually. |
| A QR image saved on your laptop | Open the saved image in a local QR reader. |
| No camera and no QR-reading app | Connect manually with the network name and password. |
How to connect to Wi-Fi using a QR code in Windows 11
This is the built-in Windows 11 method described in Microsoft’s Wi-Fi connection guide. You need a working camera and Wi-Fi adapter, and the network must be in range.
- Open Start, search for Camera and open the app.
- Choose the barcode mode icon instead of photo mode.
- Point the webcam at the Wi-Fi QR code on paper or another device’s screen.
- Select the result link. For a recognised Wi-Fi code, Windows opens Settings.
- In Settings, confirm the network name and choose to add and connect to it. Choose whether Windows should connect automatically when the network is in range.
Microsoft explains the scanning controls in its Camera app guide.
No barcode mode or Wi-Fi connection action? Search Start for winver to check your Windows version and build. Microsoft lists QR-code joining and sharing among the features of Windows 11 version 24H2. Check available Windows and Camera app updates. If the option is still missing, use a compatible QR reader or connect manually.
How to connect to Wi-Fi using a QR code in Windows 10
On Windows 10, use a compatible Wi-Fi QR reader, or read the network details and connect manually. Decoding a QR code and joining its network are separate steps: a reader may display the name and password without offering a connection button.
One option is WiFi QR Code Scanner by Matthias Duyck, whose developer lists Windows 10 and 11 support. Check the current Store requirements on your PC before installing.
- Open the linked Store listing and check that it is the intended app.
- Install it if your PC is compatible, then open its scanning feature.
- Allow camera access when prompted.
- Hold the Wi-Fi QR code in front of the webcam and wait for it to be read.
- Check the network name, then choose the app’s connection action.
You must still be within range of the network. A QR scanner cannot connect you to a router that your Wi-Fi adapter cannot reach. App availability and features can change, so check the listing rather than relying on an old screenshot.
Use a saved QR image without a webcam
If someone sent you a Wi-Fi QR code as a picture, you do not need to point a camera at your own laptop screen. Use a local reader that supports image files. The WiFi QR Code Scanner developer describes opening saved Wi-Fi QR images, as well as scanning and generating codes.
- Save the QR picture on your PC.
- Open it through the reader’s image-file option.
- Read the network name and password in the result.
- If the reader offers a compatible Wi-Fi connection action, check the network before using it. Otherwise, enter the details manually as shown below.
A general QR reader may show text instead of joining the network. Avoid uploading a private Wi-Fi QR image to an unfamiliar decoding website: the image can contain the network password. If you cannot read the details clearly, ask the owner for them.
What if the scanner shows text starting with WIFI:?
Some readers show the information stored in the QR code instead of opening Wi-Fi settings. A simple example looks like this:
WIFI:T:WPA;S:DemoWiFi;P:Example12345;;S:DemoWiFigives the network name (SSID).P:Example12345gives the password.T:WPAidentifies the security type in this example.
These are example details, not a working network. This follows the Wi-Fi QR-code format documented by ZXing. For your own network, use the reader’s decoded network name and password in the manual steps below. Do not paste the whole WIFI: string into the password box.
Connect manually after reading the code
On Windows 10, select the taskbar network icon, choose the Wi-Fi network and select Connect. Enter the password and select Next.
On Windows 11, open the taskbar’s Quick Settings, expand the Wi-Fi network list and choose the matching network. Enter the password when asked. The network name must match the one shared by its owner.
QR code not scanning or Wi-Fi not connecting?
| Problem | What to try |
|---|---|
| The camera cannot see the code clearly | Show the whole square, keep it steady, move it closer or farther away, and reduce screen glare. |
| The camera view is black or blocked | Check its privacy shutter, the selected camera and app camera permissions. |
| The code opens a website | It may be a menu or sign-in link rather than a Wi-Fi setup code. Ask for the network details. |
| The network is not in the Wi-Fi list | Check Wi-Fi is on, Airplane mode is off, and the PC supports the network’s band. |
| The app reads the code but says access is denied | Check its permissions. On newer Windows versions, Wi-Fi scanning by an app can require location access. |
| The password is rejected | The code may contain an old password. Ask the owner to share a fresh code. |
| Connected, but no internet | Check for a public-network sign-in page or a router/internet connection problem. |
Camera permissions are under Settings → Privacy & security → Camera in Windows 11, and Settings → Privacy → Camera in Windows 10. Enable access for the app you are using. See Microsoft’s camera permissions guide.
If a third-party scanner is blocked from finding nearby networks, check its requested permissions. Some newer Windows versions require location consent for app Wi-Fi scans. Microsoft explains this in its Wi-Fi access guidance. You can use the manual connection method if you prefer not to grant that access.
If your laptop cannot see the network, follow our Wi-Fi adapter and band checklist. If the same network is missing on your phone, try these phone Wi-Fi checks.
If the password is correct but the network owner uses a device allowlist or reservation, check whether the PC is presenting a different Wi-Fi hardware address. Our random hardware addresses guide explains the per-network setting and when to ask the network administrator for help.
Can you create a Wi-Fi QR code in Windows?
Windows 11 versions with Wi-Fi sharing let you show a QR code from the network’s properties. Open Settings → Network & internet, open the connected Wi-Fi network’s Properties and look for Show beside its password. Where available, the sharing view includes a QR code for another device to scan.
If that option is missing, use your router’s guest-network sharing feature or a trusted local generator. Test the code after creating it, and replace it if the password changes. Creating a QR code does not change the router’s password by itself.
Common questions
Can I connect without typing a password?
Yes, when the Wi-Fi code contains the right details and your scanner supports joining the network. The code supplies the password rather than bypassing it. Use a network shared with you by its owner.
Do I need an app on Windows 10?
Use a compatible reader to decode the QR code on the PC if the needed feature is unavailable. You do not need a QR app to connect manually with the network name and password.
Can I use a saved QR image without a camera?
Yes. Use a local reader that opens image files. Check the network name, then use its supported connection action or enter the details manually.
Does this work on a desktop PC?
A desktop needs a working Wi-Fi adapter to join a wireless network. Having a webcam or an Ethernet connection does not add Wi-Fi support.
What about Windows 7?
Windows 7 does not use the Windows 11 Camera workflow. Ask for the network name and password and connect manually. Do not assume a Store app for Windows 10 and 11 runs on it. Prefer an operating system that still receives security updates.
Why does the QR code open a website?
It may contain a menu, website or sign-in link rather than Wi-Fi setup details. Ask the network owner for a Wi-Fi sharing code or the connection details.
Will the same QR code work after a password change?
Not if it still contains the old password. Replace the code with one containing the current details. Generating a new QR image does not change the router’s password itself.
Can a Wi-Fi QR code reveal the password?
Yes. A reader may display the network name and password stored in the code. Share it with intended users and avoid publishing a private network’s QR code.
Can a Wi-Fi QR code shared by a phone work on a PC?
The important part is what the code contains and what the reader supports, rather than the phone brand. Check the recognised network name. If it opens a website or is not recognised as Wi-Fi setup data, ask the owner for the network name and password and connect manually.