Where to find the password in Settings
Your iPhone stores WiFi passwords in the Passwords section of Settings, but the password itself appears as dots by default. To see the actual characters, you need to tap the eye icon next to the password field. This works for any network your iPhone has connected to before — the phone remembers it automatically.
Open Settings, then tap Passwords (or Passwords and Accounts on older iOS versions). Search for the network name you want, tap it, and you'll see a password field with dots. Tap the eye icon to the right of those dots, and the actual password appears in plain text for about a minute before hiding again.
Key Takeaways
- Your iPhone stores WiFi passwords in Settings > Passwords, and you can reveal them by tapping the eye icon next to the password field.
- You must use Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode to view any saved password — the phone won't show it without authentication.
- The password only stays visible for about a minute before the dots return, so write it down or copy it when ready if you need it elsewhere.
- If you don't see the network listed, your iPhone has never connected to it, so you'll need to get the password from the router or network owner.
- On older iPhones running iOS 16 or earlier, the path is Settings > Passwords and Accounts instead of just Passwords.
Authentication is required before viewing
iPhone won't show you a password without confirming it's really you. When you tap the eye icon, the phone asks for Face ID, Touch ID, or your device passcode. This is a security feature — if someone picks up your unlocked phone, they still can't see your passwords without one of these authentication methods.
If you haven't set up Face ID or Touch ID, your passcode is the only way through. Make sure you remember it, because there's no way around this step.
What to do if the password doesn't appear
If you search for a network name and it doesn't show up in Passwords, your iPhone has never connected to that network. The phone only stores passwords for networks it has already joined. In this case, you'll need to get the password from whoever set up the network — usually the router owner or your internet provider.
If you're trying to reconnect to a network you used before, make sure you're searching for the exact network name. Some routers broadcast multiple networks (like a main one and a guest network), and they have different passwords even though they're the same device.
Copying the password to use elsewhere
Once the password is visible, you can tap and hold it to copy it to your clipboard. This is faster than writing it down by hand, especially for long or complicated passwords. After you copy it, you can paste it into an email, a note, or anywhere else you need it.
The copied password stays in your clipboard for a few minutes, so you have time to switch apps and paste it. If you close Settings without copying, you'll need to go back and reveal the password again.
Viewing passwords on different iOS versions
The path to your passwords changed slightly depending on which version of iOS your iPhone runs. On iOS 17 and newer, go to Settings > Passwords. On iOS 16 and earlier, the same information is at Settings > Passwords and Accounts.
If you're not sure which version you have, open Settings and scroll to the top — it shows your iOS version right there. The steps for revealing the password (tapping the eye icon and authenticating) work the same way on all recent versions.
Why the password hides again after a minute
iPhone automatically hides the password after about 60 seconds for the same reason it asks for authentication in the first place — to protect you if you step away from your phone. If you leave Settings open with the password visible and someone else picks up your phone, they won't see it after a minute passes.
If you need the password for longer than that, copy it to your clipboard or write it down while it's visible. You can also tap the eye icon again to reveal it a second time if you need to check it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see a WiFi password if I forgot my iPhone passcode?
No. Without Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode, there's no way to view any saved password on your iPhone. If you've forgotten your passcode, you'll need to reset your device through Settings or iCloud before you can access passwords. This is intentional — it prevents someone who steals your phone from seeing your network credentials.
What if I see a password but it looks wrong or has special characters I don't recognize?
That's the actual password your iPhone stored. WiFi passwords often contain uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols that look unusual. Copy it exactly as shown, including any spaces or special characters. If it doesn't work when you try to connect another device, double-check that you copied the entire thing without missing a character at the end.
Can I change a saved WiFi password from my iPhone?
No. Your iPhone can only view passwords that are already saved — it can't change them. To change a WiFi password, you need to access your router's settings through a web browser or the router's app, usually on a computer. After you change the password on the router, you'll need to "forget" the network on your iPhone and reconnect using the new password.
Does viewing a password on my iPhone send it anywhere or log it?
No. Viewing a saved password only shows you what's stored locally on your device. It doesn't send the password to Apple, your internet provider, or anywhere else. The only record is on your iPhone itself.
Why does my iPhone show a different password than what I remember setting up?
Your router may have changed the password automatically, or someone else with access to the router changed it. Your iPhone stores whatever password was used the last time it successfully connected. If you think the password has changed, try connecting to the network again — your iPhone will ask you to enter the new one.