Where to find your saved WiFi password on iPhone
Your iPhone stores WiFi passwords in the Keychain, Apple's built-in password manager. To see a password you've already connected to, go to Settings > Passwords, then tap WiFi Passwords at the top. Find the network name in the list, tap it, and the password appears in plain text. You need Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode to view it — the phone won't show it without one of those.
This method only works for networks you've already joined and saved to your phone. If you've never connected to a network, or if you deleted it from your saved list, the password won't be there to view.
Key Takeaways
- Open Settings, tap Passwords, then WiFi Passwords to see all saved network passwords on your iPhone.
- Your phone requires Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode before showing any password in plain text.
- If you forgot the password before saving it to your phone, you'll need to reset the router or ask the network owner.
- Passwords stored in Keychain sync across your Apple devices if you use the same iCloud account.
Step-by-step: viewing a WiFi password you've saved
Open the Settings app on your home screen. Scroll down and tap Passwords — it's usually near the bottom, below Mail and Maps. Your phone will ask you to authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode. Once you're in, tap WiFi Passwords at the very top of the screen.
You'll see a list of every network your iPhone has ever connected to and saved. Tap the network name you're looking for. The password field will show dots or asterisks until you tap it, then it displays in plain text. You can also tap the eye icon next to the password to toggle between hidden and visible.
If the network isn't in the list, your phone either never connected to it or you deleted it from Keychain. In that case, you'll need another way to recover the password.
What to do if the network isn't in your list
If you're looking for a password your iPhone never saved, the phone has no way to retrieve it. WiFi passwords are stored only after you successfully connect — if you typed it wrong the first time or never joined the network, nothing was saved.
Your options are to reset the router (which erases all settings and returns it to factory defaults) or ask whoever set up the network. Most home routers have a reset button on the back; holding it for 10 to 15 seconds restarts the device. You'll need to set up the network again from scratch, including creating a new password. For work or public networks, contact the IT department or network owner instead.
How passwords sync across your Apple devices
If you use the same iCloud account on multiple Apple devices — iPhone, iPad, Mac — your WiFi passwords sync automatically through Keychain. When you connect to a network on one device, the password becomes available on your other devices without you typing it again.
This sync only happens if iCloud Keychain is turned on. Check by going to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud and making sure Keychain is toggled on. If it's off, passwords won't sync, and you'll need to enter them separately on each device.
Why your iPhone won't show the password
The most common reason is that you haven't authenticated yet. Settings > Passwords requires Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode every time you open it — this is a security feature to prevent someone else from viewing your passwords if they have your phone.
If Face ID or Touch ID isn't working, use your passcode instead. If you've forgotten your passcode, you'll need to reset your iPhone through Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Reset All Settings, or use a computer with Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows) to restore it. Resetting erases your data unless you have a backup.
Viewing passwords for networks you no longer use
Deleted networks don't appear in the WiFi Passwords list. If you removed a network from your saved list and now need the password, it's gone from your phone. You can't recover it without resetting the router or asking the network owner.
To avoid this in the future, don't delete networks from Settings > WiFi unless you're sure you won't need them. Forgetting a network (which removes it from auto-connect but keeps the password in Keychain) is different from deleting it — forgetting still lets you see the password later in Settings > Passwords.
Sharing a WiFi password with someone else
If someone with an iPhone, iPad, or Mac is near you and wants to join your network, you don't need to tell them the password. When they try to connect, your phone will prompt you to share it. Tap Share Password, authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID, and their device receives the password automatically through AirDrop.
This only works between Apple devices on the same WiFi network. For Android phones, computers, or devices not nearby, you'll need to tell them the password manually or show them the password from your Settings > Passwords screen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see a WiFi password if I'm not the network owner?
Yes, if your iPhone has connected to and saved the password. The phone stores it regardless of who set up the network. You can view it anytime through Settings > Passwords > WiFi Passwords, as long as you authenticate with your own Face ID, Touch ID, or passcode.
What if I see a WiFi network but can't remember if I've connected before?
Go to Settings > Passwords > WiFi Passwords and search for the network name. If it's there, you've connected and saved it. If it's not in the list, you haven't joined it yet, or you deleted it from Keychain.
Does resetting my iPhone delete my saved WiFi passwords?
A full factory reset erases everything, including WiFi passwords. However, if you back up your iPhone to iCloud before resetting, the passwords restore when you set up the phone again from that backup. Always back up before resetting.
Can I change a WiFi password from my iPhone?
No. Your iPhone can only view passwords stored in Keychain, not change them. To change a network password, you need to log into the router's admin panel through a web browser or the router's app — usually on a computer or another device.
Why does my iPhone keep asking for the WiFi password even though I saved it?
The password may have changed on the router, or the network was removed from your saved list. Try forgetting the network (Settings > WiFi, tap the info icon next to the name, then Forget), then reconnect and enter the current password. Your phone will save it again.