wilens

a tiny Mac app, made for one annoying moment

Snap the Wi-Fi code.
Skip the password.

WiLens points your Mac's camera at a Wi-Fi QR code, shows you the network, and joins it. No more squinting at a 24-character password taped to the café counter.

Download for macOSWindows (beta) →View the source →

Apple Silicon · Windows x64 (beta) · free · MIT

How it works

three snaps, that's the whole thing

  1. 1 point it at the code

  2. SCANNED NETWORKCafe_WiFiWPA2••••••visible

    2 check it's the right one

  3. connected

    3 join. done.

The WiLens window: camera viewfinder on the right, scanned network details below it.
the whole app is one window

Small on purpose.

  • Reads any standard Wi-Fi QR: router stickers, café menus, a friend's phone screen.
  • Shows the network and security type first. Nothing joins until you click.
  • Everything happens on your Mac. No account, no server, no analytics.
  • Free and open source, MIT licensed.

Get it.

WiLens is a side project, so it isn't notarized by Apple (that costs $99 a year). macOS asks you to confirm the first launch. It takes about ten seconds. On Windows, the installer is unsigned for now, so SmartScreen asks once too.

Download WiLens.dmgWiLens-setup.exe (Windows) →All releases →

INSTALL · APPLE SILICON

  1. Drag to ApplicationsOpen WiLens.dmg and drag WiLens into Applications.
  2. Open it oncemacOS says it can't verify the developer. Click Done.
  3. Allow itSystem Settings → Privacy & Security → scroll down → Open Anyway.

IF IT SAYS "DAMAGED"

Older downloads can trip this. Run once in Terminal, then open WiLens again:

xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine /Applications/WiLens.app

INSTALL · WINDOWS X64 (BETA)

  1. Run the installerOpen WiLens-setup.exe. It isn't signed yet, so SmartScreen asks first: More info → Run anyway.
  2. Allow the cameraSettings → Privacy & security → Camera → Let desktop apps access your camera.
  3. Optional: LocationTurn on Let desktop apps access your location so WiLens can confirm the join (Windows 11 24H2+).

THANK YOU · COME AGAIN