How to Share a WiFi Password on Android

The easiest way to share a WiFi password on Android is with a QR code.

On most modern Android phones, you can open the connected WiFi network, tap Share or QR code, authenticate with your screen lock, and let the other device scan the code.

You usually do not need to type the password manually.

On Pixel and many Android phones:

Open Settings.
Tap Network & internet.
Tap Internet.
Tap the WiFi network you are currently using.
Tap Share.
Authenticate with your PIN, pattern, password, fingerprint, or other screen lock.
Android will display a QR code.

The other person can scan that code with their phone to join the network.

Google currently documents the path as:

Settings > Network & internet > Internet > WiFi network > Share

Samsung uses a slightly different menu.

On most recent Galaxy phones:

Open Settings.
Tap Connections.
Tap Wi-Fi.
Tap the gear icon beside the connected network.
Tap QR code.
Let the other device scan the code.

Samsung currently supports QR-code WiFi sharing on modern Galaxy devices.

How the Other Phone Connects

On the receiving phone:

Open the Camera app.
Point it at the WiFi QR code.
Tap the network prompt.
Confirm the connection.

Many Android phones can also scan WiFi QR codes from:

Quick Settings;
Google Lens;
a built-in QR scanner.

The receiving device does not need to know the password manually.

Some Android phones also let you share a network you are not currently connected to.

On Pixel and some other Android phones:

Open Settings.
Tap Network & internet.
Tap Internet.
Open Saved networks.
Select the network.
Tap Share if available.
Authenticate.
Show the QR code to the other device.

Manufacturer support varies.

Samsung stores older networks under:

Settings > Connections > Wi-Fi > More options > Advanced settings > Manage networks

Whether you can generate a QR code for an old saved network depends on the One UI version.

If your goal is to recover the actual text password rather than simply share access, use How to Find Saved WiFi Passwords on Android.

Android may let you share a network without displaying the password in plain text.

That is normal.

A WiFi QR code already contains the information required for another compatible device to connect.

Some phones also display the password below the code.

Others show only the QR code.

If you need to enter the password manually on a TV, printer, console, or older device, use the saved-password method instead.

The menu can vary by manufacturer.

Look for options such as:

Share;
QR code;
WiFi QR code;
Share network;
Network details.

You may also need to authenticate before the sharing option appears.

If you still cannot find it:

Confirm the network is saved.
Test with the network you are currently connected to.
Update Android.
Check whether the phone is managed by work or school.
Search Settings for WiFi, Saved networks, or Manage networks.

Work-managed devices can restrict credential sharing.

Why the WiFi QR Code Will Not Scan

If the receiving phone cannot read the code:

Increase screen brightness

A dim display can make QR recognition harder.

Clean the receiving phone’s camera lens

Fingerprints can interfere with scanning.

Hold the phones steady

Move the camera slightly closer or farther away until the full code is visible.

Use Google Lens or the QR scanner

If the normal Camera app does not recognize it, try:

Google Lens;
Quick Settings QR scanner;
another built-in scanner.

Generate the QR code again

Close the WiFi details screen and reopen it.

If the router password changed after the phone originally saved the network, the old QR code may contain outdated credentials.

Can You Send the QR Code as a Screenshot?

Yes, but treat the screenshot like the WiFi password itself.

Anyone who gets the QR code may be able to join the network.

Do not:

post it publicly;
leave it in a shared photo album;
send it to people you do not trust.

For temporary guests, a separate guest WiFi network is safer than repeatedly sharing the primary network.

If you need help capturing the QR code, see How to Take a Screenshot on Android.

Yes.

An iPhone can scan a compatible WiFi QR code generated by Android.

Open the iPhone Camera app, point it at the QR code, then tap the WiFi prompt.

You do not need a special Android-to-iPhone sharing app for this.

It depends on whether the device can scan QR codes.

If the laptop, TV, printer, game console, or other device does not support WiFi QR scanning, you will need the actual password.

That is when How to Find Saved WiFi Passwords on Android is more useful than this sharing method.

What if the Other Device Connects but Has No Internet?

If the receiving device successfully joins the WiFi network but cannot get online, the password-sharing step worked.

The problem is now the network itself.

Check whether the Android phone that originally shared the network also has internet access.

If Android says it is connected to WiFi but websites will not load, use Wi-Fi Connected but No Internet on Android.

Do not keep regenerating the QR code when both devices are already connected to the same router.

Usually, no.

Modern Android already includes WiFi sharing in Settings.

A third-party app is unnecessary for most users and may request more access than the task requires.

Use Android’s built-in sharing controls first.

The Simplest Method to Remember

For Pixel and many Android phones:

Settings > Network & internet > Internet > WiFi network > Share

For Samsung Galaxy:

Settings > Connections > Wi-Fi > gear icon > QR code

Then let the other device scan the code.

If you need the actual password instead of a QR code, use the saved-password method.

WiFi sharing on Android is mainly a credential-sharing task now, not a password-recovery project. The built-in QR code is usually the fastest and safest way to connect another phone without typing the password.

How to Share a WiFi Password on Android

How the Other Phone Connects