Many Android phones can share Wi-Fi connection details as a QR code from their built-in network settings. On a Google Pixel, connect to the network you are allowed to share, open its settings, tap Share, and complete the phone's identity check if asked. The recipient scans the displayed code to join the same network.

Android brands and versions can use different labels or locations for Wi-Fi sharing. Pixel phones offer Share in the connected network's settings, while many Samsung Galaxy phones offer QR code. The code lets a compatible receiving device join without typing the password, even if your phone does not display that password as readable text.

Choose the Network You Intend to Share

On the sending Pixel, open Settings > Network & internet > Internet. Turn Wi-Fi on and confirm that the phone is connected to the exact network you want the other person to join. Look for Connected beneath the network name. If you are not connected to that network, join it before opening the Share screen.

Read the network name carefully. You may see a main network, a guest network, and an extender's network with similar names. Sharing the guest network while the recipient expects the main network can lead to confusion even when the QR code scans correctly. If the network belongs to a workplace, school, or someone else's home, make sure you are allowed to provide access to the recipient.

Open the Pixel Share Screen

  1. In Settings > Network & internet > Internet, find the connected Wi-Fi network.
  2. Tap the settings icon beside that network, then tap Share.
  3. If the phone requests an unlock method, verify your identity on the device.
  4. Keep the resulting QR code visible while the recipient scans it.

On a Pixel, you can also swipe down from the top of the screen to open Quick Settings, tap Internet, and tap Share Wi-Fi at the bottom left. The phone may again ask you to authenticate before showing the QR code. Use whichever route your Pixel presents; both are intended to share the current connection.

The identity check protects access to stored network credentials. Do not give someone your phone unlock code so they can operate the share screen themselves. Unlock the device, choose the correct network, and show the code only to the person you intend to connect.

Share from a Samsung Galaxy Phone

On a compatible Galaxy phone, open Settings > Connections > Wi-Fi and connect to the network you want to share. Tap the settings icon beside that network, then tap QR code. Keep that screen open for the recipient to scan, completing any identity check that appears.

The QR code option inside a connected network's settings is for sharing that network. A scanner icon on the main Wi-Fi screen serves the opposite purpose: it opens the camera to read someone else's code. If the camera opens when you meant to share, return to the connected network's settings and look for its sharing option.

Have the Recipient Scan and Join

Ask the recipient to open their device's QR scanner and point it at the code on your phone. On a Pixel receiving the code, the Camera app can recognize QR codes when Camera scan suggestions is enabled in Camera Settings > More settings. Another option is the Scan QR code tile in Quick Settings; swipe through the tiles or use the edit control to add it if it is missing. Have the recipient check the network name and confirm the connection if prompted.

Keep the sending screen bright enough for the entire code to be clear, and hold the receiving phone steady with the whole square in the camera view. The recipient usually does not need to take a photo. If scanning sends the recipient to an unrelated website or action, stop and check that the correct code was scanned. QR scanner behavior varies by device and software; check the receiving device maker's instructions if the recipient cannot join through the code.

Once the other device has joined the network, close the QR code on your phone. A successful scan transfers connection details, but a network outage or sign-in page can still prevent ordinary internet access after the Wi-Fi connection is established.

If Share or Scan Does Not Work

On the phone sharing the code, check that Wi-Fi is on and the phone is connected to the intended network. Return to that network's settings and look for the sharing option used by your phone brand. On a Pixel, the Share Wi-Fi button in Quick Settings provides another route. If neither route matches your screen, check the instructions for your model and installed Android version.

On the receiving device, check that its scanner can read a code displayed on another screen, then improve lighting and framing. Hold the phone steady, clean a smudged lens, and fit the entire code in view without glare. If the camera app does not recognize QR codes, try a built-in QR scanner if available. If the receiving device cannot join through a QR code, ask the network owner for the password and enter it in that device's Wi-Fi settings.

If the code scans but joining fails, compare the exact network name, check that the recipient is within Wi-Fi range, and ask the network owner whether the password has changed. The receiving phone may still have an old password saved for that network. If the owner uses a sign-in portal or device enrollment, a QR scan alone may not complete that separate authorization.

Protect the QR Code

Protect the QR code as you would the network password. Someone who obtains a clear image of it may be able to join the network while the encoded details remain valid. Do not post screenshots in a public chat, social feed, or shared folder.

If an image of the code has been shared more widely than intended, tell the network owner. The owner can decide whether to change the Wi-Fi password or adjust network access. Deleting a screenshot from your phone does not remove copies that others may already have.