Where to find your saved WiFi password

Your iPhone stores WiFi passwords in the Keychain, Apple's built-in password manager. You can view a saved password through Settings without needing to reset your router or contact your internet provider. The password appears in plain text once you confirm your identity with Face ID, Touch ID, or your iPhone passcode.

This works for any network your iPhone has connected to before — whether it's your home network, a work network, or a guest network you joined months ago. If you've never connected to a network, it won't appear in your list.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, tap WiFi, find your network name, and tap the info icon to see the password field.
  • You must verify your identity with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode before the password displays.
  • This method only works for networks you have already connected to on that iPhone.
  • If you cannot see the password field, your iPhone may not have saved that network's credentials.
  • For networks you've never joined, you'll need to ask the network owner or check your router's label.

Step-by-step: viewing your WiFi password in Settings

Start by opening the Settings app on your iPhone. Tap WiFi near the top of the menu. You'll see a list of networks your iPhone knows about — both the one you're currently connected to (marked with a checkmark) and networks you've joined before.

Find the network whose password you need. Tap the small info icon — it looks like a circle with an "i" inside — next to the network name. A details screen will open. Look for the Password field. If you see it, the password is hidden behind dots. Tap the password field once.

Your iPhone will ask you to verify your identity. Use Face ID (look at your phone), Touch ID (press your finger on the home button or side button), or enter your iPhone passcode. Once verified, the dots will change to the actual password in plain text. You can now read it, write it down, or copy it to share with someone else.

Why the password field might not appear

If you tap the info icon but don't see a Password field at all, your iPhone hasn't stored that network's credentials. This usually happens if you connected to the network on a different device, or if someone else set up the network on your iPhone without saving the password.

It can also occur if the network uses a special login method — some public WiFi networks require you to open a web browser and enter a username and password each time, rather than storing a single password on your device. In those cases, there's no password to retrieve from Settings.

What to do if you need a password you've never saved

If the network doesn't appear in your WiFi list at all, you'll need to get the password from the network owner. For your home network, check the sticker on the bottom or back of your router — it usually shows the network name and password. For work or school networks, contact your IT department. For a friend's network, ask them directly.

If you're trying to reconnect to your own home network but can't remember the password, you can reset it through your router. Most routers have a reset button on the back that you hold for 10 to 15 seconds. This erases all settings and returns the router to its factory defaults — you'll find the default password on the router's label. After reset, you'll need to set up the network again from scratch, which takes about 10 minutes.

Sharing a WiFi password with another iPhone user

If someone with an iPhone is trying to join your network and you want to share the password without typing it out, iOS has a built-in shortcut. When they try to connect to your network, their iPhone will show a prompt asking for the password. If you're nearby with your iPhone already connected to that network, tap Share Password on their screen. Your iPhone will verify your identity, and the password transfers automatically — they don't see it, but their phone saves it.

This feature only works between iPhones, iPads, and Macs running recent versions of iOS, iPadOS, or macOS. If the other person has an Android phone or older device, you'll need to tell them the password manually or show them how to find it on your iPhone using the steps above.

Viewing passwords on Mac or iPad

If you use a Mac or iPad, the process is similar. On a Mac, open System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions), go to WiFi, select the network, and click Advanced. Find the network in the list and look for the password field — you may need to click the eye icon to reveal it. On iPad, the steps match the iPhone method: Settings > WiFi > info icon > Password field.

All your Apple devices share the same Keychain, so a password you saved on your iPhone is also available on your Mac and iPad, as long as you're signed in with the same Apple ID.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see a WiFi password on someone else's iPhone?

No. Viewing a saved password requires unlocking the iPhone with Face ID, Touch ID, or the device passcode. Without that, the password stays hidden. This is a security feature — it prevents someone from borrowing your phone and stealing network passwords.

What if I see the password field but it's grayed out?

A grayed-out password field usually means your iPhone doesn't have permission to show that password — often because the network was set up by a parent or administrator through device management. Contact whoever manages the device to ask for the password.

Does viewing a saved password change it?

No. Looking at your password in Settings does not change it on the router or affect the network in any way. You're only reading what your iPhone has stored locally.

Can I find a password for a network I'm not currently connected to?

Yes. As long as your iPhone has connected to that network before, it will appear in your WiFi list in Settings, and you can view the password using the same steps — even if you're currently connected to a different network.

What happens if I forget my iPhone passcode?

If you forget your passcode, you won't be able to verify your identity to view saved passwords. You would need to reset your iPhone through Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Erase All Content and Settings, or use a computer with Finder or iTunes. This erases everything on the phone, including saved passwords.