The fastest way: Keychain Access

Your Mac stores every WiFi password you have ever connected to in Keychain Access, a built-in password manager. To retrieve a password, open Keychain Access (search for it in Spotlight by pressing Command-Space, typing "keychain", and pressing Enter), then search for the network name in the search box at the top right.

When you find the network, 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 for your user account password — this is a security step to prevent someone else from reading your passwords if they have access to your computer. Type your password and click "Allow", and the WiFi password appears in plain text.

This method works for any network your Mac has connected to before, whether you set it up yourself or joined someone else's network years ago. If the network does not appear in Keychain Access, your Mac has no record of it — which usually means you have never successfully connected to it.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Keychain Access, search for your network name, double-click it, and check "Show password" to see the WiFi password in plain text.
  • Your Mac will ask for your user account password before revealing the WiFi password — this is a security measure, not a second password.
  • If a network does not appear in Keychain Access, your Mac has no record of connecting to it and cannot retrieve the password.
  • The password stored in Keychain is the same one you entered when you first joined the network, so it reflects any changes the router owner made.

What to do if the password has changed

If the network owner changed the WiFi password after you connected, Keychain still shows the old password. Your Mac will not automatically update it — you have to forget the network and reconnect with the new password.

To forget a network on Mac, go to System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions), click Network, then WiFi, then "Manage Known Networks". Find the network in the list, click it, and click the minus button to remove it. The next time you try to connect, your Mac will ask you to enter the password again. Type the new one, and Keychain will store it.

When Keychain shows a password but your network does not accept it

This usually means the router owner changed the password after you connected, but you are still seeing the old one in Keychain. The fix is the same: forget the network in System Settings and reconnect with the current password.

Less often, the password in Keychain is corrupted or incomplete — this can happen if your connection was interrupted while joining the network. In that case, forgetting and reconnecting also fixes it. If you still cannot connect after re-entering the password, the problem is likely with the router or your Mac's WiFi hardware, not the password itself.

Finding the password on your router if you cannot use Keychain

If you set up the router yourself but cannot access Keychain (for example, if you are on a different computer), you can find the password on the router itself. Most routers have a sticker on the bottom or back with the default network name and password printed on it. If the owner changed the password after setup, that sticker will show the old one.

To see the current password, log into the router's admin panel. Open a web browser, type 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 into the address bar, and press Enter. You will be asked for a username and password — these are usually "admin" and "admin" or "admin" and the password on the sticker, depending on the router brand. Once logged in, look for a section called "WiFi", "Wireless", or "Network Settings" to find the current password. The exact steps vary by router manufacturer.

Why your Mac stores passwords and how to control it

Keychain stores passwords so you do not have to type them every time you connect to a network you use regularly. This is convenient, but it also means anyone with access to your Mac and your user password can see all your stored passwords — not just WiFi passwords, but email, banking, and app passwords too.

You cannot selectively prevent Keychain from storing WiFi passwords without turning off Keychain entirely, which would affect all your stored passwords. The best protection is to use a strong user account password and lock your Mac when you step away. If you are concerned about someone else accessing your passwords, you can delete a specific network from Keychain by finding it, double-clicking it, and clicking "Delete" — but you will have to re-enter the password the next time you connect.

Viewing passwords for networks you do not own

If you are a guest on someone else's network and want to share the password with another device, you can retrieve it from Keychain using the steps above. The network owner can also give you the password directly — they can find it the same way you do, or by checking their router.

If you are trying to find a password for a network you do not have permission to access, Keychain will not help you. Passwords are encrypted in Keychain and require your user account password to view, which is a security feature designed to prevent unauthorized access.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see WiFi passwords on my Mac if I forgot my user account password?

No. Keychain requires your user account password to reveal stored passwords. If you cannot log into your Mac, you cannot access Keychain. You would need to reset your user account password through Apple ID or use your router's admin panel to find the current WiFi password instead.

Does Keychain store passwords for networks I have never connected to?

No. Keychain only stores passwords for networks your Mac has successfully connected to. If you see a network in your WiFi list but have never joined it, the password will not be in Keychain.

What if I see multiple entries for the same network in Keychain?

This usually happens when you changed the WiFi password and your Mac stored both the old and new versions. You can delete the old entries by double-clicking them and clicking "Delete". Keep the most recent one — that is the current password.

Can I export all my WiFi passwords from Keychain at once?

Keychain does not have a built-in export feature for WiFi passwords. You can view them one at a time through Keychain Access, but there is no way to save them all to a file or print them together. If you need to transfer passwords to another device, you will have to retrieve them individually or ask the network owner for the password directly.

Is it safe to store WiFi passwords in Keychain?

Yes, as long as your user account password is strong and you lock your Mac when you are not using it. Keychain encrypts passwords and requires your user account password to view them. The main risk is if someone gains access to your unlocked Mac or learns your user account password.