diff --git a/dashboard/js/onboard.js b/dashboard/js/onboard.js
index c92fcad..84e85d2 100644
--- a/dashboard/js/onboard.js
+++ b/dashboard/js/onboard.js
@@ -660,11 +660,11 @@
             '<form id="wifi-form" class="wizard-form">' +
             '<div class="form-group">' +
             '<label for="wifi-ssid">WiFi Network Name (SSID)</label>' +
-            '<input type="text" id="wifi-ssid" required placeholder="MyWiFi" value="' + escapeAttr(state.wifiSSID) + '" autocomplete="off">' +
+            '<input type="text" id="wifi-ssid" required placeholder="MyWiFi" value="' + escapeAttr(state.wifiSSID) + '" autocomplete="off" autocorrect="off" autocapitalize="none" spellcheck="false">' +
             '</div>' +
             '<div class="form-group">' +
             '<label for="wifi-pass">WiFi Password</label>' +
-            '<input type="password" id="wifi-pass" placeholder="Password" value="' + escapeAttr(state.wifiPass) + '" autocomplete="off">' +
+            '<input type="password" id="wifi-pass" placeholder="Password" value="' + escapeAttr(state.wifiPass) + '" autocomplete="off" autocorrect="off" autocapitalize="off" spellcheck="false">' +
             '</div>' +
             '<details class="wizard-details">' +
             '<summary>Advanced: Mothership Address</summary>' +
diff --git a/firmware/main/wifi.c b/firmware/main/wifi.c
index 3a1625d..42f4361 100644
--- a/firmware/main/wifi.c
+++ b/firmware/main/wifi.c
@@ -156,11 +156,19 @@ esp_err_t wifi_start_connect(void) {
     wifi_config_t wifi_config = {0};
     strncpy((char *)wifi_config.sta.ssid, ssid, sizeof(wifi_config.sta.ssid) - 1);
     strncpy((char *)wifi_config.sta.password, password, sizeof(wifi_config.sta.password) - 1);
-    wifi_config.sta.threshold.authmode = WIFI_AUTH_WPA2_PSK;
+
+    // Accept open networks when no password is set; otherwise allow WPA or WPA2
+    // so networks with special characters in the password work regardless of AP mode.
+    if (strlen(password) == 0) {
+        wifi_config.sta.threshold.authmode = WIFI_AUTH_OPEN;
+    } else {
+        wifi_config.sta.threshold.authmode = WIFI_AUTH_WPA_WPA2_PSK;
+    }
     wifi_config.sta.pmf_cfg.capable = true;
     wifi_config.sta.pmf_cfg.required = false;
 
-    ESP_LOGI(TAG, "Connecting to WiFi: %s", ssid);
+    ESP_LOGI(TAG, "Connecting to WiFi: %s (authmode: %s)", ssid,
+             strlen(password) == 0 ? "open" : "WPA/WPA2");
 
     ESP_ERROR_CHECK(esp_wifi_set_mode(WIFI_MODE_STA));
     ESP_ERROR_CHECK(esp_wifi_set_config(WIFI_IF_STA, &wifi_config));