The fastest way: Keychain Access
Your Mac stores WiFi passwords in Keychain Access, a built-in app that holds passwords and login information. To retrieve a password you've already connected to, open Keychain Access (search for it in Spotlight by pressing Command + Space, typing "Keychain Access", and pressing Enter), then search for your network name in the search box at the top right.
When you find your network listed, double-click it. A window opens showing the network details. Check the box next to "Show password" at the bottom of that window — your Mac will ask you to enter your user account password to confirm you're the account holder. Once you do, the WiFi password appears in plain text.
This method works for any network your Mac has connected to before, whether it's your home network, a guest network, or a network at a previous location. If you don't see your network in the list, it means either your Mac has never connected to it, or the password was never saved.
Key Takeaways
- Keychain Access stores every WiFi password your Mac has ever connected to, and you can view any of them by searching for the network name and entering your user account password.
- The "Show password" checkbox in Keychain Access reveals the actual WiFi password in readable text, not a masked version.
- If a network doesn't appear in Keychain Access, your Mac either hasn't connected to it before or the password wasn't saved during connection.
- You need administrator access to your Mac user account to view stored passwords — this is a security feature that prevents other users from seeing your passwords.
What to do if you can't find the network in Keychain
If you search Keychain Access and don't see your network name, the most common reason is that your Mac has never connected to that network before. Keychain only stores passwords for networks you've already joined. If you're trying to find the password for a network you're currently connected to, you're in the right place — it should be there.
Another possibility is that the password wasn't saved when you first connected. If you typed a password to join the network but didn't check "Remember this network" (or the equivalent prompt on your version of macOS), Keychain won't have stored it. In that case, you'll need to ask whoever set up the network for the password, or reset the router itself if you own it.
Using System Settings as an alternative
Newer versions of macOS (Ventura and later) let you view WiFi passwords through System Settings instead of Keychain Access. Open System Settings, go to WiFi, then click "Details" next to the network you're connected to. Look for a "Password" field — if one appears, click the eye icon next to it and enter your user account password to reveal the full password.
This method is faster if you're already in System Settings, but it only shows the password for the network you're currently connected to. Keychain Access remains the better choice if you need to find passwords for networks you've connected to in the past but aren't using right now.
Why your Mac asks for your password
When Keychain Access asks you to enter your user account password before showing a stored WiFi password, it's a security checkpoint. Your Mac is confirming that you're the person who owns this account and has permission to see sensitive information. This prevents someone else who has access to your computer from viewing your passwords without your knowledge.
If you share your Mac with other users, each person has their own Keychain. They can only see passwords stored in their own account, not passwords stored by other users. This separation is intentional — it keeps household members' or roommates' passwords private from each other.
What to do if you've forgotten your Mac password
If you can't remember your Mac user account password, you won't be able to view stored WiFi passwords through Keychain Access or System Settings. You'll need to reset your Mac password first. Go to the login screen, click "Forgot password?" and follow Apple's recovery process, which usually involves answering security questions or using a recovery key you set up earlier.
If you don't have access to recovery options, you may need to use another administrator account on the Mac, or contact Apple Support. Once your password is reset, you'll be able to access Keychain and retrieve your WiFi passwords.
Viewing passwords for networks you don't own
If you're trying to find the password for a network set up by someone else — a guest network at a friend's house, a work network, or a rental property — you can only see it if your Mac has connected to that network before and saved the password. You cannot retrieve a password for a network you've never joined.
If you need the password for a network you haven't connected to yet, ask the network owner directly. They can tell you the password, or in some cases reset the network so you can set a new password together. This is the only legitimate way to get a password you don't already have stored.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see WiFi passwords on my Mac if I'm not the administrator?
No. Viewing stored passwords requires entering your user account password, which only works if you're logged into your own account. If you're a standard user without administrator privileges, you can only see passwords for networks you personally connected to and saved.
What if the password field is blank in Keychain?
A blank password field usually means the network doesn't actually use a password — it's an open network. Some public WiFi networks and guest networks operate this way. If you're certain the network requires a password, the entry may be corrupted, and you'll need to forget the network and reconnect to it to save the password again.
Does viewing my password in Keychain change it?
No. Looking at a stored password in Keychain Access or System Settings doesn't change anything on your Mac or on the router. You're only viewing information that's already saved — the actual network password remains the same until someone with router access changes it.
Can I export all my WiFi passwords at once?
Keychain Access doesn't have a built-in export feature for all passwords at once. You can view them one at a time by searching and opening each network entry. If you need to move passwords to another device, you'll have to write them down or view them individually and type them in elsewhere.
What if I see a network in Keychain that I don't recognize?
It means your Mac connected to that network at some point in the past. This could be a neighbor's network your Mac joined by mistake, a network from a place you visited, or a network someone else set up on your Mac. You can delete it from Keychain by right-clicking the entry and selecting "Delete" — this removes it from your saved networks but doesn't affect the actual network.