WPA, WEP, or none: which security to pick for your WiFi QR code

Last updated: 09/15/2026

When you generate a WiFi QR code in QR Studio, besides the network name (SSID) and password, we ask you to pick a security type: WPA, WEP, or None. That's not a cosmetic detail: if it doesn't match your router's actual settings, the phone scanning the code will try to connect and fail. Here's the difference between the three.

WPA (and WPA2 / WPA3)

WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) is the security standard used by virtually every home or office router for over a decade now. It encrypts network traffic and requires a password to connect. Its newer versions, WPA2 and WPA3, are even stronger, but for QR-code purposes it doesn't matter which: the “WPA” option in QR Studio tells the phone “this network needs a password with modern encryption,” and it works the same with WPA, WPA2, or WPA3. If you don't know exactly which version your router uses but you know it normally asks for a password, pick WPA — it's the right choice in 95% of cases today.

WEP

WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) is the oldest security standard, from 1997. It also requires a password, but its encryption has been broken for years — tools exist that crack it in minutes. Practically no router ships configured with WEP today, except very old equipment that was never reconfigured. Only pick this option if you're completely sure your router specifically uses WEP (you'll see it spelled out in the router's settings panel); if in doubt, try WPA first.

None (open network)

Pick None when the WiFi network doesn't require any password to connect, which is typical of guest networks in cafés, airports, or some events. The QR code simply tells the phone the network's name and that it can join without authentication. One catch: “no password” doesn't always mean “no portal at all” — some open networks still require accepting terms or logging in through a webpage after connecting; the QR code can't handle that part, it only handles joining the network.

How do I know which one to pick?

Check your router's admin panel (usually at an IP like 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1) under the WiFi/Security section: it will literally say “WPA2-PSK,” “WPA3,” “WEP,” or “Open.” If you don't have router access but you do have the password, here's a simpler clue: if the network asks for a password when you connect manually, try WPA (it works in the vast majority of cases); if it doesn't ask for anything, use None. If the QR code doesn't connect with the option you picked, it's almost always because the listed security doesn't match the router's actual setting.