Android Q will let you share Wi-Fi password with a QR code

Do you know your house’s Wi-Fi password, or is it lost in a stack of papers in one of seven possible drawers?

If it’s the latter (it sure is for me), you’ll welcome Android Q’s new, clever way of sharing Wi-Fi passwords: Via a QR code. 

Android Authority reports that Android Q, which just came out in beta, now lets you go into your Wi-Fi settings, tap on your current network, then tap “Share,” which will generate a QR code (note that you will have to authenticate with a fingerprint or pin to do this). 

Then, you can take another phone running Android Q, go to Wi-Fi settings, and tap the icon on the right of the Add network setting. This will give you the QR scanner; now scan the code on the other phone, and you’ll connect to the Wi-Fi network. 

There are two problems with this. One, it’s still too damn complicated, but it’s better than digging through those drawers for your password (on iOS, the solution is different but still too complicated). Two, it’ll take a while before enough people run Android Q on their phones to make this useful. 

Still, it seems that Android Q is chock-full of small improvements like this, and it puts a smile on my face. The entire “share your Wi-Fi password” problem feels like something that could’ve easily be solved years ago, but I’m happy to see Google finally working on it.