ChatGPT's New Skills Resident Evil 4 Remake Galaxy A54 5G Hands-On TikTok CEO Testifies Huawei's New Folding Phone How to Use Google's AI Chatbot Airlines and Family Seating Weigh Yourself Accurately
Want CNET to notify you of price drops and the latest stories?
No, thank you
Accept
Culture

How to share your Wi-Fi access with a QR code

You know it's important to maintain a secure network, but it's a pain to keep rattling off numbers and letters every time someone new wants to use your Wi-Fi. Life just got a little easier for us thanks to a free Android app called Wifi Joiner.

Rob Lightner headshot
Rob Lightner

No matter how great a keyboard artist you may be, the odds are that you hate joining secure Wi-Fi networks on your Android device. Passwords are a serious (but necessary) pain, but a new, free app called Wifi Joiner lets you easily set up scannable QR codes to let other Wifi Joiner users share your network. Here's how to get started:

  1. Install and run Wifi Joiner.

  2. Initially, your camera will open up with a message directing you to scan a QR code. In the future, you can just scan to join a network, but we want to set one up, so we'll tap the Menu button and then select "Create."

    3. Step 2: Select "Create."
    Step 2: Select "Create." Screenshot by Rob Lightner

  3. You now have the option of either selecting a pre-existing network or creating a new one. Select or type the network name, security type, and password, then select "Create QR Code."

    4. Step 3: Enter network information.
    Step 3: Enter network information. Screenshot by Rob Lightner

  4. Tap the Menu button again and select "Share." This brings up a list of delivery options; just choose one that works best for the people you want to share with and you're set.

Step 4: Share your QR code.
Step 4: Share your QR code. Screenshot by Rob Lightner

It's easy to print and post a code, send it to friends digitally, or just let folks scan the code on your own Android device. It's a much friendlier way of granting access to your network--but more importantly, it makes changing your password regularly much less painful.