The fastest way: Keychain Access

Your Mac stores every WiFi password you have ever connected to in Keychain Access, a built-in password manager. You can retrieve any saved password in about 30 seconds without restarting or changing anything on your router.

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 that appears in your WiFi menu. When you find it, double-click the entry.

A small window will pop up showing the network name and password field. Check the box that says "Show password". Your Mac will ask you to confirm your user account password — type it in and click Allow. The WiFi password now appears in plain text in that field. You can copy it or write it down.

Key Takeaways

  • Keychain Access stores every WiFi password your Mac has connected to, and you can view any of them by searching for the network name and confirming your user password.
  • If you do not remember your network name, check your WiFi menu in the top-right corner of your screen — it shows the name of the network you are currently connected to.
  • The password shown in Keychain is the actual WiFi password, not a Mac-specific code, so you can share it with other devices or people.
  • If Keychain shows no entry for a network, your Mac has never connected to it, or the entry was deleted.

Finding your network name if you forgot it

If you do not remember which network you are looking for, your Mac can tell you. Click the WiFi icon in the top-right corner of your menu bar — it looks like curved lines. The network you are currently connected to appears at the top of the menu with a checkmark next to it. That is the network name to search for in Keychain.

If you are not currently connected to the network, you can still see nearby networks in that same menu. Write down the exact name of the one you want, then search for it in Keychain. Spelling and capitalization must match exactly.

What to do if the password does not appear

If you search Keychain and find no entry for your network, your Mac has never connected to it before. This happens when you are trying to find the password for a network someone else set up, or one you connected to on a different device.

In that case, you will need to reset the password on your router itself. Log into your router's admin panel — usually by typing 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 into a web browser — and look for the WiFi or wireless settings. You will need the router's admin password, which is often printed on a sticker on the back of the device. If you do not have it, contact your internet provider or the person who set up the network.

Viewing passwords for networks you are not connected to

Keychain stores passwords for networks your Mac has connected to in the past, even if you are not currently on that network. This means you can find the password for your home WiFi while you are at work, or retrieve a guest network password you set up months ago.

The process is identical: open Keychain Access, search for the network name, double-click the entry, check "Show password", confirm your user password, and copy the result. Your Mac does not need to be connected to that network for this to work.

Why your Mac asks for your user password

When you reveal a WiFi password in Keychain, your Mac asks you to confirm your user account password. This is a security feature — it prevents someone who briefly uses your computer from stealing all your saved passwords. Your user password is the one you type when you log into your Mac.

If you have forgotten your user password, you cannot view passwords in Keychain without resetting it first. That process requires your Apple ID or a recovery key, and is separate from retrieving WiFi passwords.

Exporting or sharing a password safely

Once you have the password visible in Keychain, you can copy it and share it however you normally share sensitive information — text message, email, or by telling someone in person. The password itself is just text; there is no special format or code.

If you want to give someone access to your WiFi without sharing the password, you can use AirDrop on newer Macs. Hold Option and click the WiFi icon in the menu bar, then look for "Open Network Preferences". In System Settings, you can create a QR code for your WiFi network that other people can scan with their phone to connect — this does not reveal the password to them, but lets them join the network.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see WiFi passwords on my Mac if I am not the one who set up the network?

Yes, if your Mac has connected to that network before, the password is stored in your Keychain. You can view it the same way. The network does not have to be yours — any network your Mac has ever joined will have its password saved.

What if I changed my WiFi password but my Mac still shows the old one?

Keychain stores the password from when you last connected. If you changed the password on your router, the old password in Keychain is no longer correct. You will need to forget the network on your Mac, then reconnect and enter the new password. After that, Keychain will update with the new password.

Is it safe to store WiFi passwords in Keychain?

Yes. Keychain encrypts passwords and requires your user account password to view them. Someone would need physical access to your Mac and your user password to see them. If you are concerned, you can delete individual passwords from Keychain by right-clicking the entry and selecting Delete.

Can I view WiFi passwords on my iPhone the same way?

No. iPhones do not have Keychain Access. On newer iPhones, you can create a QR code for your WiFi in Settings, but you cannot view the actual password. If you need the password, you will have to retrieve it from your Mac or your router.