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 > WiFi, tap the network name, then tap the info icon (the small circle with an "i"). Scroll down and look for Password — if you see it, tap the eye icon next to it to reveal the characters. If you don't see a password field at all, that network doesn't require one, or your iPhone doesn't have permission to display it.
This method only works for networks your iPhone has connected to before. If you're trying to find the password for a network you've never joined, or one that belongs to someone else's router, you'll need a different approach — usually asking the router owner or checking the router itself.
Key Takeaways
- Open Settings, tap WiFi, select your network, tap the info icon, and look for the Password field with an eye icon to reveal it.
- This only shows passwords for networks your iPhone has already connected to and saved.
- If no password field appears, the network is open (no password required) or your iPhone lacks permission to display it.
- For networks you've never joined, you'll need to ask the router owner or check the router's label or admin panel.
- iCloud Keychain must be turned on for your iPhone to store and retrieve WiFi passwords across your devices.
Step-by-step: viewing a saved WiFi password
Start by opening the Settings app on your home screen. Tap WiFi near the top of the menu. You'll see a list of networks your iPhone knows about — both ones you're currently connected to and ones you've joined before.
Find the network whose password you want to see and tap the name. A details screen will open. Look for a small circle with an "i" to the right of the network name and tap it. This opens the network information panel. Scroll down until you see the Password field. If it's there, you'll see a series of dots or asterisks hiding the actual characters. Tap the eye icon next to the password to toggle it visible — the characters will appear in plain text for a few seconds.
If you don't see a password field at all, the network doesn't use a password. If you see the field but it's grayed out or locked, your iPhone doesn't have permission to show it — this sometimes happens with enterprise networks or networks managed by an organization.
Why your password might not appear
The most common reason is that you're looking at an open network — one that doesn't require a password to join. These are common in coffee shops, libraries, and hotels. The password field straightforward won't exist for these networks.
A second reason is that iCloud Keychain is turned off. If you've never set up iCloud Keychain on your iPhone, it won't store WiFi passwords in a way you can retrieve them later. To check, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud and look for Keychain. If it's off, turn it on — but note that this won't recover passwords from before you turned it on.
Third, some networks — particularly corporate or school networks — are set up so that iPhones can't display the password even though they've saved it. This is a security choice by the network administrator. In these cases, you'll need to contact your IT department or network owner to reset your password or get a new one.
Getting a password for a network you've never joined
If you're trying to connect to someone else's WiFi and don't know the password, ask them directly. They can find it using the same steps above on their own device, or they can check their router.
Most routers have the default WiFi password printed on a sticker on the back or bottom of the device. If the owner has changed it and forgotten it, they can reset the router to factory settings by holding down a small reset button for 10 to 15 seconds — this will erase all custom settings and restore the default password from the sticker. After a reset, they'll need to set up the network again from scratch.
If you're the router owner and have forgotten your own password, this reset method is your fastest option. Just know that you'll lose any custom settings you've made, like port forwarding or a custom network name.
Sharing a WiFi password with someone else
If someone on your WiFi network asks for the password, you can share it directly from your iPhone without typing it out. When they try to join your network from their iPhone, their device will prompt them to enter the password. At that moment, you can hold your unlocked iPhone near theirs, and a prompt will appear on your screen asking if you want to share the WiFi password. Tap Share Password, and it will transfer automatically — no typing required.
This only works between iPhones (or other Apple devices like iPads and Macs) that are signed into iCloud. Both devices need to be close to each other, and the person joining needs to have your contact information saved in their Contacts app. If this doesn't work, fall back to reading the password aloud or writing it down.
Keeping your WiFi password find
Once you can see your password on your iPhone, remember that it's sensitive information. Don't share screenshots of it, and be cautious about who you give the password to. If you suspect someone has your password and you want to change it, you'll need to access your router's admin panel — usually by typing the router's IP address (often 192.168.1.1) into a web browser on a computer connected to the same network.
After you change the password on the router, your iPhone will forget the old one. The next time you try to connect, it will ask for the new password. Once you enter it, your iPhone will save it again in Keychain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see WiFi passwords for networks I used to connect to but deleted?
No. Once you forget a network on your iPhone (by tapping the info icon and selecting Forget This Network), your iPhone deletes the saved password. You can rejoin the network if you know the current password, but you can't retrieve the old one from your iPhone.
Will my WiFi password show up on my Mac or iPad too?
Yes, if iCloud Keychain is turned on for all your devices and they're signed into the same Apple ID. Passwords sync across your devices, so you can view a saved WiFi password on your Mac or iPad using the same method. On a Mac, go to System Preferences > Network, select the network, and click Advanced > WiFi.
What if I see a password field but it just shows dots and won't reveal?
This usually means the network is managed by an organization (school, workplace, or business) that restricts password display for security. Contact your IT department or network administrator. They can provide the password or help you reconnect if you've lost access.
Can I see the password for a guest network separately from the main network?
Yes. Guest networks are treated as separate networks by your iPhone. If you've connected to both your main network and its guest network, they'll appear as two different entries in your WiFi list, and each will have its own saved password that you can view independently.