Where your computer stores the WiFi password you already connected to

Your computer remembers every WiFi network you have ever connected to, including the password. When you need that password again — to give to a guest, to reconnect a device, or to check what you actually set it to — you can pull it directly from your computer's network settings without resetting the router or calling your internet provider.

The steps differ depending on whether you use Windows, Mac, or Linux. In each case, you are looking in the same place your operating system stores saved network credentials. You do not need special software or administrator access on most systems, though some corporate networks lock this down.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows stores WiFi passwords in Credential Manager, which you can open by searching "Credential Manager" in the Start menu and looking under "Windows Credentials."
  • On Mac, open Keychain Access (search "Keychain" in Spotlight), find your network name, and check the "Show password" box after entering your Mac login password.
  • Linux users can view saved passwords in the NetworkManager connection editor or by reading the network configuration files directly if they have sudo access.
  • You must have logged into the network at least once before; your computer cannot show you a password for a network it has never connected to.
  • If you cannot find the password, the network may have been saved under a different name, or your computer may not have permission to display it.

Finding the password on Windows 10 and Windows 11

Open the Start menu and type Credential Manager into the search box. Click the result to open it. You will see a window with sections for different types of saved credentials.

Look for the section labeled Windows Credentials and expand it. Scroll through the list until you find an entry that starts with "WIFI-" or shows your network name. Click on it to expand that entry. You will see a field labeled Password with dots or asterisks hiding the actual characters. Click Show next to the password field. Windows will ask you to confirm your user account password. Enter it, and the WiFi password will appear in plain text.

If you do not see your network listed, it may have been saved under a different name than what appears in your network list, or you may need to look in the generic "Windows Credentials" section rather than a WiFi-specific one. Try searching for partial matches of your network name.

Finding the password on Mac

Press Command + Space to open Spotlight search, type Keychain Access, and press Enter. The Keychain Access process will open.

In the search box at the top right, type the name of your WiFi network exactly as it appears when you look at available networks. When the network name appears in the list below, double-click it. A window will pop up showing details about that network. Check the box labeled Show password. Your Mac will prompt you to enter your Mac user account password. Type it and click Allow. The WiFi password will now be visible in the password field.

If you cannot find the network by name, make sure you are searching in the "Passwords" category (visible in the left sidebar). Some older networks or networks with special characters in the name may be stored under a slightly different label.

Finding the password on Linux

The method depends on which network manager your system uses. Most modern Linux distributions use NetworkManager. Open your system settings and look for a "Network" or "WiFi" section. Find your connected network and look for an option to view or edit the connection. Some distributions show a "Show password" checkbox directly in the settings window.

If the graphical method does not work, you can view the password through the terminal. Open a terminal and run the command sudo cat /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/[network-name], replacing [network-name] with your actual network name. You will be asked for your sudo password. The output will show the network configuration, including a line labeled psk= followed by the WiFi password in plain text.

On systems using other network managers like ConnMan or iwd, the configuration files are stored in different locations. Check your distribution's documentation for the exact path, or use the graphical network settings as your first option.

What to do if the password does not appear

If you follow these steps and the password field remains blank or does not show, your computer may not have permission to display it. This is common on corporate or school networks where IT administrators restrict access to saved credentials. In that case, you will need to contact your network administrator or reset the router to factory settings and set a new password.

Another possibility is that you are looking at the wrong network. Check the exact spelling and capitalization of your network name in your WiFi list, then search again using that exact name. Networks with spaces, numbers, or special characters are straightforward to mistype.

If you have never successfully connected to the network from this computer before, it will not be stored anywhere. You will need to connect once first, then return to these steps.

Why your computer stores passwords and what that means for security

Your operating system saves WiFi passwords so you do not have to type them every time you reconnect. This is convenient, but it also means anyone with access to your computer can potentially view those passwords. If someone sits down at your unlocked machine, they can follow these same steps and see every network password your computer knows.

This is why it matters whether your computer login itself is password-protected. If your computer requires a password to wake from sleep or to log in, that is your first line of defense. The second is that Windows and Mac both require you to enter your user password again before showing a saved WiFi password — a small but real barrier.

If you are concerned about someone accessing your computer, change your user account password and consider enabling a PIN or biometric login. If you believe someone has already seen your WiFi password, you can change the password on your router and remove the old one from your computer by deleting it from Credential Manager (Windows) or Keychain (Mac).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see a WiFi password for a network I am not currently connected to?

Yes, as long as your computer has connected to that network before and saved the password. The network does not need to be in range or active. You are straightforward retrieving what your computer already stored.

What if I forgot my computer login password and cannot unlock Credential Manager or Keychain?

You will not be able to view the saved WiFi password without entering your computer login password. You would need to reset your computer login password through your operating system's account recovery process, or reset the router to factory settings and create a new WiFi password.

Does viewing a saved password change or reset it?

No. Looking at a saved password in Credential Manager, Keychain, or NetworkManager only displays what is already stored. It does not modify the password on your router or on any other device.

Can I view passwords for networks I connected to on a different computer?

No. Each computer stores passwords separately. A password saved on your laptop is not automatically available on your desktop or phone. You would need to retrieve it from the computer where you originally saved it.

Is it safe to share my WiFi password after I find it?

That depends on your situation. Sharing your password with trusted guests is normal. If you share it with someone you later want to disconnect, you will need to change the password on your router — straightforward removing it from your computer will not prevent them from using it.