The fastest way: Keychain Access

Your Mac stores every WiFi password you have ever connected to in an app called Keychain Access. You can retrieve any password in about 30 seconds without restarting your router or resetting anything.

Open Keychain Access by pressing Command + Space, typing "keychain", and pressing Enter. In the window that opens, click the Passwords category on the left side. In the search box at the top right, type the name of your WiFi network — the one you see when you look for available networks on your Mac.

When the network name appears in the list, double-click it. A small window will pop up. Check the box that says Show password. Your Mac will ask for your user password — the one you use to log into your computer. Type it in and click Allow. The WiFi password will appear in plain text in that same window.

Key Takeaways

  • Keychain Access stores all your WiFi passwords and is the fastest way to find one without touching your router.
  • You will need to enter your Mac user password to see a stored WiFi password, even if you are the one who set it up.
  • If you have never connected to a network before, it will not appear in Keychain Access and you will need to contact the network owner.
  • The network name you search for must match exactly what appears in your WiFi list — spaces and capitalization matter.

What to do if the password does not appear in Keychain

If you search for your network name and nothing comes up, it means your Mac has never connected to that network before. Keychain only stores passwords for networks you have already joined at least once.

In this case, you will need to contact whoever set up the network — your router owner, your landlord, your workplace IT department, or your internet service provider. They can tell you the password or reset it for you. If it is your own router and you have forgotten the password, you can reset the router to factory settings by holding the reset button for 10 to 15 seconds, though this will erase all your custom settings and require you to set it up again from scratch.

Finding the password on your router itself

If you own the router, the default WiFi password is usually printed on a sticker on the back or bottom of the device. Look for a label that says WiFi Password, Network Key, or Pre-Shared Key. The password may be a long string of letters and numbers.

If you have changed the password since you first set up the router and cannot find it anywhere, you will need to reset the router. Most routers have a small reset button on the back that you hold down for 10 to 15 seconds while the router is powered on. This will erase your custom password and return the router to the default one printed on the sticker. You can then set a new password through your router's admin page, which you reach by typing your router's IP address (usually 192.168.1.1) into a web browser.

Using System Preferences to see your current network

If you just want to confirm which network your Mac is currently connected to, you do not need Keychain. Click the WiFi icon in the top right corner of your screen — it looks like curved lines. The network your Mac is using right now will have a checkmark next to it.

From this same menu, you can see all available networks in your area. However, this menu does not show passwords — it only shows network names. To see the actual password, you still need to use Keychain Access as described above.

Sharing your WiFi password with another device

If someone with an iPhone or iPad is near your Mac, you can share your WiFi password without typing it out. When they try to connect to your network on their Apple device, a prompt will appear on your Mac asking if you want to share the password. Click Share Password and their device will receive it automatically.

This only works if both devices are signed into the same iCloud account or if the other person is in your contacts. If neither is true, you will need to tell them the password manually, which you can find using Keychain Access as described above.

What to do if you cannot remember your Mac password

Keychain Access requires your Mac user password to show any stored WiFi password. If you have forgotten your Mac password, you cannot use this method. You will need to reset your Mac password through your Apple ID or recovery mode before you can access Keychain.

If you do not remember your Mac password and do not have access to your Apple ID, contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Store. They can help you regain access to your account. Once you are back in, you can use Keychain Access normally.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see the password for a network I am not currently connected to?

Yes. Keychain stores passwords for every network your Mac has ever joined, whether you are connected to it now or not. Search for the network name in Keychain Access and follow the same steps to reveal the password.

What if my network name has special characters or spaces?

Type the network name exactly as it appears in your WiFi list, including spaces and special characters. Keychain is case-sensitive, so "MyNetwork" and "mynetwork" are treated as different networks. If you are not sure of the exact spelling, look at your WiFi menu to see the precise name.

Is it safe to write down my WiFi password after I find it?

Yes. Once you have the password, you can write it down, save it in a note, or share it with household members. The password itself is not sensitive — what matters is that only people you trust have access to your network.

Can I change my WiFi password from my Mac?

No. To change your WiFi password, you need to log into your router's admin page through a web browser. Type your router's IP address (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) into the address bar, log in with your router's admin credentials, and look for the WiFi settings or security settings. The exact steps vary by router brand.