What is the name of the network? What is the password? How do you write that ..? If you have lived on planet Earth for the past decade and a half, you will have heard and asked those same questions countless times. When they ask you, you probably have the answers memorized, or perhaps you have them written on a card for this precise situation. But there is a quick and easy way to share Wi-Fi on Android 10, and the best thing is that it does not require you to remember any details.
Google has added a quick shortcut option to generate a QR code that you can display on your cell phone screen with a touch, so visitors can scan the code on their device to instantly connect to your network.
Although, you need a cell phone with Android 10 or later to generate the QR code, the beauty of this feature is that any cell phone, be it with an older version of Android or even an iPhone, can scan the QR code and join the network.
How to create a QR code for your wifi network
We use a Pixel 4 for this guide. If you have a cell phone with Android 10 and you want to try this, then this is how you should do it:
- Pull down the notifications screen and touch and hold the wifi icon, or tap Settings> Network & Internet> Wifi .
- Tap the network you want to share details for, most likely the one at the top that you’re currently connected to.
- Tap the Share option, which has a QR code icon.
- You may need to confirm that it is you with a face or fingerprint scan, or a PIN or pattern, then your phone should display a QR code on the screen with the password below.
You will find a similar function in some cell phones with manufacturer versions (such as the Samsung Galaxy S10). Just open the notification screen, tap and hold the wifi icon, tap the network you want to share, and you should see a QR code at the top of the page.
How to scan a QR code and join a wifi network
Although not all cell phones will be able to generate a QR code for network configuration, almost all will be able to read one. There is a QR reader built into the camera app for most Android phones and iPhones with iOS 11 or later. Here, we show you how to use it and what to do if it doesn’t work:
- Open the camera application and hold your phone without moving it over the QR code for a few seconds.
- You should see a link or pop-up notification on the screen with the name of the network you’re trying to join, and you can simply tap it to sign in to that Wi-Fi network.
If it doesn’t work on your Android phone, but you have version 10, try this:
- Open the notifications screen and touch and hold the wifi icon, or tap Settings> Network & Internet> Wifi .
- At the bottom of the list, you should see an option that says Add Network with a blue QR code icon on the right. Touch it and align the scanner.
If it didn’t work and you have a phone with an older version of Android, try this:
- Open the camera app settings and look for an option to enable Google Lens , or Google Lens suggestions, then try again. On some Samsung phones running Android 9.0 Pie, there is a switch to scan QR codes at the top of the camera app settings.
- If that didn’t work, then you could install the Google Lens app and scan the QR code with it.
- If you prefer something different, install an app like QR Code Reader and use it to scan the QR code.
