Android Q has a trick to make Wi-Fi password sharing a whole lot simpler

Finally, no more digging through old papers to find your Wi-Fi password.
 By 
Stan Schroeder
 on 
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

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.

Topics Android Google

Stan Schroeder
Stan Schroeder
Senior Editor

Stan is a Senior Editor at Mashable, where he has worked since 2007. He's got more battery-powered gadgets and band t-shirts than you. He writes about the next groundbreaking thing. Typically, this is a phone, a coin, or a car. His ultimate goal is to know something about everything.

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