Where your computer stores your WiFi password

Your computer keeps the password for every network you have ever connected to, even after you close the connection. Windows and Mac store these passwords in different places and use different methods to show them to you, but both let you retrieve a password you have forgotten without calling your internet provider or resetting your router.

The password is encrypted on your computer — it is not sitting in a text file anyone can read. To view it, you need to open the network settings with administrator permission and navigate to the saved network details. This takes about two minutes on either operating system.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows stores WiFi passwords in Settings under Network and Internet, where you can view them by selecting the network and clicking "Manage known networks."
  • Mac users can find saved passwords in System Preferences under Network, or retrieve them when ready from Keychain Access without navigating menus.
  • You need administrator access on your computer to view a saved password — a standard user account cannot retrieve it.
  • If you cannot remember your computer's password, you cannot view the WiFi password, because the encryption requires your login credentials.

Finding your WiFi password on Windows 10 and 11

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings," then select the Settings app. Go to Network and Internet, then WiFi. Scroll down and click "Manage known networks." Find the network name you want the password for and click it.

Click "Forget" if you want to remove it from your saved networks, or click the network name again and select "Properties." Scroll down to the Security section. You will see "Security type" and "Encryption type," but the actual password is hidden. Click the eye icon next to "Password" to reveal it in plain text.

If you do not see an eye icon, your network may not have a password, or you may not have saved the password when you first connected. In that case, you will need to reset your router or contact your internet provider for the default password.

Finding your WiFi password on Mac

The fastest way on Mac is to use Keychain Access. Press Command and Space to open Spotlight search, type "Keychain Access," and press Enter. In the window that opens, type your network name in the search box at the top right.

When your network appears in the list, double-click it. A small window will open showing the network details. Check the box next to "Show password" at the bottom. Your Mac will ask you to enter your computer password — type it and click "Allow." The WiFi password will appear in plain text in the password field.

If you prefer to use System Preferences instead, go to System Preferences (or System Settings on newer Macs), click Network, select WiFi, then click "Advanced." Find your network in the list and click it, then click "TCP/IP" or look for a password field. This method is slower and does not always show the password directly — Keychain Access is the standard route.

What to do if you cannot see the password

If the password field is blank or grayed out, your computer may not have saved the password when you connected. This happens if you selected "Do not save" or if the connection was interrupted during setup. In this case, you will need to forget the network and reconnect, entering the password again when prompted.

If you see the network listed but cannot click it or view its details, you may not have administrator rights on your computer. Ask whoever set up your computer to log in and retrieve the password for you, or contact your IT department if this is a work machine.

If you cannot remember your own computer password, you cannot view the WiFi password. The encryption that protects your saved passwords requires your login credentials to unlock. You would need to reset your computer password through your Microsoft account (Windows) or Apple ID (Mac) before you can proceed.

Retrieving a password from a network you are not currently connected to

You do not need to be connected to the WiFi network to view its password. As long as your computer has connected to it before and saved the password, you can retrieve it from Settings or Keychain Access whether you are on that network, on a different network, or not connected to anything.

This is useful if you want to give the password to someone else, or if you need to reconnect a device that has forgotten the network. Just follow the same steps above — the password will be there even if you are currently using a wired connection or a different WiFi network.

Why your router password is different from your WiFi password

Your router has two passwords: the WiFi password (also called the network key or pre-shared key) that devices use to connect, and the admin password that lets you log into the router's settings page. Your computer stores only the WiFi password, not the admin password.

If you need to change your WiFi password or adjust router settings, you will need the admin password, which is usually printed on a sticker on the back of the router. The WiFi password you retrieve from your computer is what you give to guests or use to reconnect devices — it is not the same thing as the admin password.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see the WiFi password if I am not the one who set up the network?

Yes, as long as you have logged into that network on your computer and saved the password. The password is stored on your machine, not tied to who created the network. You can view it the same way whether you set it up or someone else did.

What if the password shows as asterisks or dots instead of letters?

On Windows, click the eye icon to reveal it. On Mac, check the "Show password" box and enter your computer password when prompted. If neither option appears, the network may not have a saved password on your computer.

Does viewing my WiFi password put my network at risk?

No. Viewing the password on your own computer does not change it or expose it to others. The password remains encrypted on your machine. Only someone with physical access to your computer and your login credentials could retrieve it.

Can I find the WiFi password if I forgot my computer password?

No. The WiFi password is encrypted using your computer password as part of the key. You would need to reset your computer password through your Microsoft account or Apple ID first, then you can view the WiFi password.

What if my network does not appear in the saved networks list?

Your computer has not connected to that network before, or the connection was never saved. You will need the actual WiFi password from whoever set up the network, or you can reset the router to factory defaults and set it up again from scratch.