Rotate Guest Wi‑Fi Passwords with QR Codes

Last updated: December 11, 2025 — See all guides at /guides/

Regularly changing your guest Wi‑Fi password limits long-term access and keeps your main network safer. Use this playbook to rotate quickly without confusing guests.

Why rotate guest Wi‑Fi passwords?

Prevent former guests from reconnecting weeks later.
Reduce credential sharing beyond your venue.
Encourage isolation: keep guest traffic off your main LAN with a dedicated SSID/VLAN.

Rotation cadence to consider

Weekly for cafes, clinics, coworking spaces.
Per booking for short-term rentals and event venues.
Monthly for small offices with limited visitors.

Step-by-step rotation workflow

Log into the router, open the guest SSID settings, and change the password (WPA2/WPA3).
Open the QR generator, enter the SSID, new password, and keep error correction at M/Q.
Export a fresh PNG (800–1200 px for print) with a clear quiet zone.
Replace printed table tents/posters and any digital displays or PDFs you share.
Test on one iOS and one Android device to confirm instant connections.
Recycle old prints so outdated credentials aren’t reused.

Make swaps fast

Keep a reusable sign holder so you can swap printed inserts in seconds.
Save a design template (card or flyer) with space for the QR and “Last updated” date.
Store the exported PNGs by date in a shared folder for staff.

Guest communication tips

Add a short caption: “Scan to join guest Wi‑Fi — updated weekly.”
For events, include the network name and password in small text below the QR as a fallback.
If staff get frequent “Wi‑Fi?” questions, post the updated QR at the entrance and check-in desk.

Troubleshooting after a rotation

Guests still connect to the old password: ensure the guest SSID broadcast didn’t revert and that you replaced all printed versions.
Phones fail to join: verify security mode (WPA2 vs WPA3) matches the QR and router, then re-export with a larger quiet zone.
Captive portal conflicts: if you run a portal, keep SSID/password changes in sync with portal auth and retest.

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