How to share WiFi password Android

What’s the fastest way to share a Wi-Fi password with visiting friends and family? You could write it down and hand it to them on a piece of paper, but that’s not very secure. And setting up a guest Wi-Fi network can be a hassle. Luckily, there are ways to quickly share these credentials without compromising your network. Here's how to do it from an iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android device, and Windows PC.

Share Passwords Between iPhone, iPad, and Mac

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About Jason Cohen

Editor, Help & How To

As PCMag's editor of how to content, I have to cover a wide variety of topics and also make our stories accessible to everyday users. Considering my history as a technical writer, copywriter, and all-around freelancer covering baseball, comics, and more at various outlets, I am used to making myself into an expert.

You don’t need to text, write down, or blurt out your Wi-Fi password to friends and family. Seriously, that’s so old school. Use Bluetooth to share your Wi-Fi password between iPhones and iPads, or a QR code to share it between Android devices. Need to share your password between Apple and Android devices? You’re gonna need a third-party app for that.

We’ll walk you through sharing your Wi-Fi password between mobile devices, whether you have an iPhone, a Google Pixel with stock Android, or a Samsung Galaxy phone.

Want to keep your neighbors out of your Wi-Fi?

Be sure to check out our guide on how to keep your router secure. We show you how to password-protect your Wi-Fi, change your default login credentials, and more.

How to share Wi-Fi from iPhone to iPhone

Sharing a Wi-Fi password between Apple devices is a quick and seamless process. However, you cannot AirDrop a Wi-Fi password—that tool is used to send passwords for apps, websites, and services.

These instructions also work on an iPad, although they focus on iPhones.

Part 1—Get the iPhones ready

Step 1: Swipe a finger down from the top right corner to open the Control Center.

Step 2: Tap on the Bluetooth icon if it’s white to enable Wi-Fi. If it’s blue, move on to the next step.

Step 3: Ensure that both phones are signed in to iCloud with the proper Apple IDs and that the recipient has the sender’s associated email address saved in the Contacts app.

Pro tip:

Both devices must be within range of each other before you try to send the password from one device to the other.

Part 2—On the iPhone receiving the password

Step 1: Tap to open the Settings app.

Step 2: Tap on the Wi-Fi option.

Step 3: Tap on the Wi-Fi network you want to access and wait.

Part 3—On the iPhone sending the password

Make sure that your iPhone is connected to the Wi-Fi network you intend to share.

Step 1: Tap to open the Settings app.

Step 2: Tap on the Wi-Fi option.

Step 3: Tap on the network you want to share.

Step 4: Tap Share Password on the slide-up menu.

How to share Wi-Fi from iPhone to Android

Apple’s phones and tablets don’t have a built-in feature to share your Wi-Fi network password to Android phones. Instead, you need a third-party app to generate a scannable QR code.

In this example, we will use Visual Codes. It’s free to use, but you can unlock the Share & Print Codes feature for $0.99 and the Save Scanned Codes component for another $1.99—neither are necessary to share your password.

Part 1—On the iPhone

Step 1: Tap to open the Visual Codes app.

Step 2: Tap the blue Add Code button.

Step 3: Tap Connect to Wi-Fi on the following screen.

Step 4: Enter your Wi-Fi network’s name in the Name field.

Step 5: Enter your Wi-Fi network’s password in the Password field.

Step 6: Enter a name in the Label field.

Step 7: Tap the blue Create Code button.

Step 8: Tap Create Code again in the prompt to finish.

Step 9: On the main Codes screen, tap on the code you just created to present the scannable QR code (shown below).

Part 2—On the Android phone

Step 1: Tap to open the Camera app.

Step 2: Point your Android phone’s camera at the QR code displayed on the iPhone so that you can clearly read the QR code.

Step 3: Tap on the pop-up bubble that appears on your Android phone’s screen to connect it to the shared Wi-Fi network.

How to share Wi-Fi from Android to all phones

The instructions for Android are slightly different between stock Android (Google) and modified Android (LG, Samsung, etc.). We’ll show you how to share your Wi-Fi password on Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy phones. Click on a link below to skip ahead to the instructions you need.

Part 1—Generate the code

• Instructions for stock Android 12
• Instructions for Samsung Android 11

Part 2—Scan the code

• Scan with an iPhone
• Scan with an Android phone

Part 1—Generate the code

Instructions for stock Android 12

* The screenshots are based on Android 11, but the instructions are mostly the same.

Step 1: Expand the Quick Settings menu and tap the gear icon to open the Settings app.

Step 2: Tap on Network & internet on the following screen.

Step 3: Tap on Wi-Fi (or Internet).

Step 4: Tap on the cog icon displayed next to your network’s name.

Step 5: Tap on the Share button.

Step 6: Verify your identity to share. The scannable QR code should now appear on your screen.

Instructions for  Samsung Android 11

Samsung uses a different interface, so we need slightly different instructions.

Step 1: Expand the Quick Settings menu and tap the gear icon to open the Settings app.

Step 2: Tap on Connections.

Step 3: Tap on the Wi-Fi option.

Step 4: Tap on the cog icon displayed next to your network’s name.

Step 5: Tap on the QR Code tab displayed in the bottom left corner. The scannable QR code should now appear on your screen.

Part 2—Scan the code

With your QR code now displayed on your Android phone, you can scan it with the second Android phone or iPhone.

Scan with an iPhone

All you need is the Camera app to scan the QR code displayed on the Android device screen. Here’s how:

Step 1: Tap to open the Camera app.

Step 2: Point your iPhone’s camera at the Android device’s screen so that you can clearly read the QR code.

Step 3: Tap on the Join “[Name]” Network Wi-Fi QR Code notification.

You can also use the built-in QR scanner outside the Camera app. However, it may not be visible in the Control Center. Here’s how to enable and use it:

Step 1: Tap to open the Settings app.

Step 2: Tap on Control Center.

Step 3: Tap on the green Plus symbol next to Code Scanner listed under More Controls.

Step 4: Swipe a finger down from the top right corner to open the Control Center.

Step 5: Tap on the QR scanner icon as shown above.

Step 6: Point your iPhone’s camera at the Android device’s screen so that you can clearly read the QR code.

Step 7: Tap on the prompt to connect.

Scan with an Android phone

The method for scanning codes on Android should be similar to how you do with an iPhone. However, it may not work on some Samsung phones.

Step 1: Open the Camera app.

Step 2: Point your phone’s camera at the Android device’s screen so that you can clearly read the QR code.

If this method doesn’t work on your Samsung phone, continue to the next steps to see how you can scan a QR code using the Samsung Internet browser.

Samsung Internet Browser

Step 1: Tap to open Samsung Internet.

Step 2: Tap the Hamburger icon in the bottom right corner.

Step 3: Tap on the QR code scanner icon on the menu.*

Step 4: Point your phone’s camera at the Android device’s screen so that you can clearly read the QR code.

* If you don’t see the icon, you need to add it to the menu. To do so, follow this path:

Samsung Internet > Menu > Settings > Layout and menus > Customize menus

Once you reach the last screen, drag the QR code scanner icon onto the menu. After that, you can scan QR codes through Samsung’s browser.

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Related content

• How to Use Your Phone as a Hotspot
• How to Set Up a Home Wi-Fi Network
• 8 Terrifying Security Flaws in Your Wi-Fi—And How to Fix Them
• Best Password Managers of 2021

FAQ about sharing your Wi-Fi password

What is a QR code?

A Quick Response (QR) code is a matrix barcode that stores information using a random pattern of pixels. It was invented by Japanese company Denso Wave in 1994 to better track parts and vehicles during manufacturing.1

Unlike standard barcodes that are read in only one direction, QR codes are read from top to bottom, and from left to right. As a result, QR codes contain more data. They’re used to store website addresses, passwords, payment information, and more.

Apple added native QR scanning to its Camera app in iOS 11—the standalone QR scanner appeared in iOS 12. Android’s Camera app began supporting native QR code scanning in version 9 (Pie).

Do I need a standalone app to scan QR codes?

No, you do not need a third-party app to scan QR codes. Apple and Android devices have native tools to scan QR codes. You need only the Visual Codes app for iOS and iPadOS to create a scannable QR code for Android devices.

Sources

1. Kaspersky, “QR Code Security: What Are QR Codes and Are They Safe to Use?,” Accessed July 12, 2021.

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Author - Kevin Parrish

Kevin Parrish has more than a decade of experience working as a writer, editor, and product tester. He began writing about computer hardware and soon branched out to other devices and services such as networking equipment, phones and tablets, game consoles, and other internet-connected devices. His work has appeared in Tom’s Hardware, Tom's Guide, Maximum PC, Digital Trends, Android Authority, How-To Geek, Lifewire, and others. At HighSpeedInternet.com, he focuses on network equipment testing and review.

Editor - Cara Haynes

Cara Haynes has been editing and writing in the digital space for seven years, and she's edited all things internet for HighSpeedInternet.com for five years. She graduated with a BA in English and a minor in editing from Brigham Young University. When she's not editing, she makes tech accessible through her freelance writing for brands like Pluralsight. She believes no one should feel lost in internet land and that a good internet connection significantly extends your life span.

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