To share your Wi-Fi password from an iPhone, unlock both phones and hold them close together, tap the network name on the new device, then tap “Share Password” when the prompt slides up on your phone. On Android, open Settings > Network & internet > Internet, tap your connected network, and tap Share to display a QR code the other person scans. Either way, no one has to read out a long, error-prone password.

iPhone to iPhone (or iPad)

Apple’s tap-to-share works between any two nearby Apple devices when a few conditions are met. Make sure:

  • Both devices are unlocked and physically close.
  • Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are on, and neither is in Airplane Mode or on a Personal Hotspot.
  • Both people are signed in to iCloud, and each has the other’s Apple Account email or number saved in Contacts.

Then:

  1. On the new device, open Settings > Wi-Fi and tap the network you want to join.
  2. On your device (already connected), a card slides up saying “Share Your Wi-Fi.” Tap Share Password.
  3. The password fills in on the other device automatically. Tap Done.

The password is transferred behind the scenes, so the other person connects without ever seeing the characters.

Android to Android (or to anyone) with a QR code

Android turns your network into a QR code that any modern phone camera can read. Exact wording varies by brand, but on stock Android:

  1. Open Settings > Network & internet > Internet (on Samsung: Settings > Connections > Wi-Fi).
  2. Tap the network you’re connected to.
  3. Tap Share — you may be asked for your PIN, fingerprint, or face to confirm.
  4. A QR code appears, with the password shown in plain text underneath.
  5. The other person opens their Camera app and points it at the code, then taps the “Join network” prompt.

Sharing across platforms (iPhone ↔ Android)

The systems don’t talk to each other directly, but QR codes bridge the gap:

  • Android to iPhone: generate the QR code on Android as above, then open the iPhone Camera app and point it at the code — iOS offers a “Join Wi-Fi Network” banner.
  • iPhone to Android: iOS has no built-in QR generator for Wi-Fi, so either read the password out or, if your router’s app or admin page can produce a guest-network QR code, use that. Many mesh systems (eero, Google Home) can generate one in their app.

Can’t get the prompt? Look up the password instead

If sharing won’t trigger, you can reveal the saved password and type or send it manually:

  1. iPhone: Settings > Wi-Fi > tap the (i) next to the network > tap the Password field and authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID. Tap Copy.
  2. Android: open the network’s Share screen — the password is printed under the QR code.

If the phone still won’t connect afterward, the issue may be the network rather than the password; our guide on resetting network settings on iPhone covers that fix.

Sharing from a Mac

A Mac shares its Wi-Fi with a nearby iPhone or iPad the same way iPhones share with each other. With the other device sitting on the Wi-Fi selection screen, a prompt appears on the Mac asking whether to share the password — click Share. The same three conditions apply: both signed in to iCloud, each saved in the other’s Contacts, and Bluetooth switched on.

Let your router do the work

Many modern routers and mesh systems create a dedicated guest network with its own QR code you can print or display. Google Home, eero, and most carrier-supplied routers offer this in their apps. A guest network is the tidiest way to share: visitors get internet access without ever touching your main network or the devices on it, and you can change or disable the guest password anytime without disrupting your own gear.

A note on security

Sharing a password is convenient, but treat it like handing over a key. A QR code stuck on a wall or photographed by anyone in the room reveals the network to them, so use a separate guest network for visitors if your router supports one. That keeps your main devices — laptops, smart-home gear, and shared drives — off the same network as one-time guests. If you’re setting up new devices around the house, our overview of managing your iPhone pairs well with tidying up which networks each device remembers.

Quick troubleshooting

  • No prompt on iPhone: the most common cause is a missing Contacts entry — add the other person’s Apple Account address, then try again.
  • QR won’t scan: increase screen brightness and hold the camera 6–8 inches away.
  • Wrong network shared: make sure the device doing the sharing is actually connected to the network you intend, not a hotspot or a neighboring one.
  • Sharing from cellular: confirm the sharing phone is on Wi-Fi rather than cellular data — if it isn’t on the network itself, it has no password to hand over.