How to Scan a WiFi QR Code on iPhone
iPhones have been able to join WiFi from a QR code since iOS 11, yet plenty of people still type passwords by hand. The feature is just quiet: no app to open, no button to press, only a small banner that's easy to miss.
In this guide
What you need
- An iPhone (or iPad) running iOS 11 or later. Almost every iPhone still in use qualifies.
- Wi-Fi turned on in Control Center or Settings.
- Scan QR Codes enabled: open Settings > Camera and make sure the toggle "Scan QR Codes" (on newer versions "Scan QR Codes" or "Show Detected Text/Codes") is on.
Method 1: The Camera app
This is the method most people should use.
- Open the Camera app in Photo mode. You can also launch it from the lock screen.
- Point the rear camera at the WiFi QR code so the whole square is visible. There is no need to press the shutter.
- After a moment a yellow QR icon or a banner appears that says something like Join "Sharma Home" Network.
- Tap the banner, then tap Join in the confirmation pop-up.
- Your iPhone connects and saves the network.
If you are on iOS 17 or later, the banner may appear as a small yellow button near the code rather than at the top. Tap it the same way.
Method 2: Control Center Code Scanner
The Code Scanner is a focused scanner that ignores everything except codes, so it is helpful in dim light or when the camera keeps trying to focus on the background.
- Open Control Center (swipe down from the top-right corner on iPhones with Face ID, or up from the bottom on iPhones with a Home button).
- Tap Code Scanner. If it is missing, add it: on iOS 17 and earlier go to Settings > Control Center and tap the green plus next to Code Scanner; on iOS 18 and later long-press Control Center, tap Add a Control and search "Code Scanner".
- Point at the code. The scanner turns on the flashlight button if needed.
- Tap Join when prompted.
You can also simply search "Code Scanner" in Spotlight to open it.
Method 3: Scan a code from a photo or screenshot
If someone messages you an image of their WiFi code, you cannot point your iPhone camera at its own screen. Recent iOS versions read codes from photos:
- Open the image in Photos.
- Look for a small QR or Live Text icon in the corner, or long-press the code.
- Tap the option to join the network if offered.
Support for joining WiFi directly from a photo depends on the iOS version. If it does not appear, ask the sender for the network name and password in text, or display the image on a second device and scan it with the Camera.
What happens after you join
- The network is saved and your iPhone reconnects automatically.
- If you use iCloud Keychain, the network can sync to your other Apple devices signed in to the same Apple Account.
- You can view the password later: on iOS 16 and later, go to Settings > Wi-Fi, tap the info (i) button next to the network and tap Password (Face ID or passcode required). On iOS 18 and later, the Passwords app also has a Wi-Fi section.
Can an iPhone create a WiFi QR code?
For years the answer was no, iPhones could only scan. On iOS 18 and later, open the Passwords app, tap Wi-Fi, choose a network and tap Show Network QR Code. Anyone with an Android or iPhone can then scan it from your screen.
Between Apple devices there is also a built-in password sharing card. When a nearby friend's iPhone tries to join your network and you are in each other's contacts, your unlocked iPhone shows Share Password. This does not work with Android phones, which is where a QR code wins.
Android users don't need a Passwords app at all: they can create codes from settings or with Wifi QR Connect, an Android app that lets you create a WiFi QR code from an SSID, security type and password, scan WiFi QR codes, share a hotspot with a QR code, run a download/upload speed test and see current connection info. That makes it a handy pick if your household mixes Android and iPhone, because any iPhone camera can scan the codes it creates.
Troubleshooting on iPhone
If nothing happens when you point the Camera at the code, work through this list:
- Check the setting. Settings > Camera > Scan QR Codes must be on.
- Use Photo mode. Portrait, Video or Pano modes may not detect codes.
- Try Code Scanner. It is often quicker than the Camera in poor lighting.
- Distance and glare. Move back a little, tilt the card to avoid shine, and clean the lens.
- Confirm it is a WiFi code. If the banner offers to open a website, it is a link code, not a WiFi code.
- Forget the old network. If you previously saved the network with a different password, go to Settings > Wi-Fi, tap (i), choose Forget This Network and scan again.
- "Unable to join the network". The password or security type inside the code is probably wrong, or the router is WPA3-only and your device or settings do not support it. Ask the owner to confirm the details.
- Hidden networks. The iPhone may struggle with codes for hidden SSIDs. If joining fails, add the network manually under Settings > Wi-Fi > Other and type the exact name. See Hidden Network WiFi QR Code: How It Works.
- Private Wi-Fi Address. Some routers with MAC filtering block iPhones because of the rotating private address. In the network's (i) screen, try switching Private Wi-Fi Address off or to Fixed, if the owner uses MAC filtering.
For a fuller checklist, see WiFi QR Code Not Working? 9 Fixes That Work.
Staying safe
The iPhone always asks before joining, which gives you a moment to check the network name. Use it:
- Make sure the name matches what your host or the venue told you.
- Be suspicious of codes stuck on top of other codes in public places.
- If a scanned code opens a website asking you to "log in to WiFi" with your Apple Account, bank or card details, close it.
- On public networks, keep important logins to apps and sites that use HTTPS.
Read Fake QR Codes (Quishing): How to Stay Safe for the warning signs.
iPhone vs Android at a glance
- Built-in scanning: iPhone since iOS 11 in the Camera; Android since Android 10 in WiFi settings, and in most camera apps.
- Built-in QR creation: iPhone from iOS 18 via the Passwords app; Android from Android 10 via the network's Share button.
- Scanning from images: both support it on recent versions (Photos/Live Text on iPhone, Google Lens on Android).
- Enterprise WiFi via QR: Android supports some enterprise fields; iPhone generally does not.
Want to share your own network the other way around? Follow How to Share WiFi Password With a QR Code (Android & iPhone).
FAQ
Do I need a QR scanner app on iPhone?
No. The built-in Camera app and Control Center Code Scanner both read WiFi QR codes on iOS 11 and later. Third-party scanners are optional.
Why is my iPhone camera not scanning QR codes?
The most common causes are the Scan QR Codes setting being off, using a mode other than Photo, glare on the code, or the phone being too close. Try the Code Scanner in Control Center as a backup.
Can I see the WiFi password after scanning?
Yes, on iOS 16 or later. Go to Settings > Wi-Fi, tap the info button next to the network and tap Password. On iOS 18 and later you can also use the Passwords app.
Can an iPhone scan a QR code made on Android?
Yes. Android and iPhone use the same WiFi QR format, so a code created on an Android phone or app scans normally on an iPhone.
Does scanning a WiFi QR code on iPhone use the internet?
No. The network name and password are stored in the code itself, so scanning works offline. Your iPhone only needs WiFi turned on to join.