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 process takes about a minute and works on any iPhone running iOS 16 or later.

The password appears in plain text once you confirm your identity with Face ID, Touch ID, or your Apple ID password. You'll need to be connected to that WiFi network or have connected to it before — iPhone only shows passwords for networks you've previously joined.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, tap WiFi, find your network name, and select the info icon to view the password if you're running iOS 16 or later.
  • You must confirm your identity with Face ID, Touch ID, or your Apple ID password before the password becomes visible.
  • This method only works for networks your iPhone has already connected to; you cannot view passwords for networks you've never joined.
  • If you don't see a password field, your iPhone is running an older iOS version and you'll need to check your router or contact your internet provider instead.

Step-by-step: viewing your password in Settings

Open the Settings app and tap WiFi. You'll see a list of networks your iPhone knows about. Find the network name (called the SSID) that you want the password for — it will have a checkmark next to it if you're currently connected.

Tap the blue info icon (a circle with an "i") on the right side of that network name. A details screen opens. Look for the Password field. The password will appear as dots or asterisks at first. Tap the eye icon next to the password field to reveal it in plain text, or straightforward look at the field — iOS will prompt you to authenticate.

When prompted, use Face ID, Touch ID, or enter your Apple ID password. Your iPhone confirms you own the device before showing the password. Once authenticated, the password displays in full and you can read it, screenshot it, or copy it to paste elsewhere.

What to do if you don't see a password field

If the password field doesn't appear in the network details screen, your iPhone is running iOS 15 or earlier. Apple added this feature in iOS 16, so older versions don't support viewing saved passwords this way.

Check your iOS version by opening Settings, tapping General, then About. Look at the Software Version line. If it shows iOS 15 or lower, you'll need to find the password another way: check your router's label (usually on the bottom or back), log into your router's admin panel from a computer, or contact your internet provider.

Viewing passwords for networks you've forgotten you joined

Your iPhone may have connected to networks you no longer remember — a friend's house, a previous workplace, a coffee shop you visited months ago. These passwords are still stored in Keychain. Scroll through the full WiFi list in Settings to see every network your phone has ever joined, then tap the info icon for any of them to view the password using the same method above.

This is useful if you're trying to reconnect to a network after resetting your iPhone or switching to a new device. The password hasn't changed on the router — you just need to retrieve what your old phone stored.

Copying and sharing the password safely

Once the password is visible, you can tap and hold it to copy it to your clipboard, then paste it into a message, note, or email. You can also screenshot the password, though this creates a record on your device that you may want to delete later.

If you're sharing the password with someone in person, reading it aloud is safer than sending it in a text or email. If you must send it digitally, use a messaging app that deletes messages after a set time, or delete the message from both sides once the other person has connected.

When you need to reset the password instead

If you want to change your WiFi password — not just view the current one — you'll need to access your router's settings from a computer or the router's mobile app. The password you see in iPhone Settings is the current password set on your router. Changing it requires logging into the router itself, which is a separate process from viewing the saved password on your phone.

If you've forgotten the router password and can't log in, you can reset the router to factory settings by holding the reset button for 10 to 15 seconds. This erases all custom settings and returns the router to its default password, which is usually printed on the router's label or in the manual.

Troubleshooting: password not showing up

If you tap the info icon but no password field appears at all, the most common reason is that your iPhone is running iOS 15 or earlier. Update to iOS 16 or later by opening Settings, tapping General, then Software Update.

If you're on iOS 16 or later and still don't see a password field, the network may be a guest network or a captive portal (like a hotel WiFi that requires you to log in through a web page). These networks don't store passwords in the same way. You may also see no password field if the network uses WPA3 security with individualized data encryption, which stores passwords differently. In these cases, check your router settings or contact your internet provider for the password.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see WiFi passwords on my iPhone if I'm not connected to that network right now?

Yes, as long as your iPhone has connected to it before. The password is stored in Keychain even after you disconnect. Open Settings, WiFi, find the network name in the list, tap the info icon, and view the password the same way.

What if I forgot my Apple ID password and can't authenticate?

You can use Face ID or Touch ID instead if you have either set up on your iPhone. If you don't have biometric authentication enabled, you'll need to reset your Apple ID password through Settings or iCloud.com before you can view the WiFi password. Alternatively, check your router directly for the password.

Does viewing my WiFi password on iPhone change anything on my router?

No. Viewing the password in Settings only reads what's already stored on your phone. It doesn't change the password, reset the network, or affect anyone else connected to it. The password remains the same on your router.

Can I view passwords for networks I've never connected to?

No. Your iPhone only stores passwords for networks it has actually joined. You cannot see the password for a neighbor's network or a public WiFi you've never used, even if it's in range. You would need access to that router to view or change its password.

Will resetting my iPhone erase the saved WiFi passwords?

Yes. If you perform a factory reset, all saved WiFi passwords are erased from your iPhone. You'll need to reconnect to each network and enter the password again. If you have an iCloud backup, some networks may restore, but it's safer to have the passwords written down or stored elsewhere first.