The fastest way: Keychain Access
Your Mac stores every WiFi password you have ever connected to in a program called Keychain Access. You can see the password for any network your Mac remembers in about 30 seconds, without restarting or changing anything.
Open Keychain Access by pressing Command + Space, typing "keychain", and pressing Enter. In the window that opens, look for the search box in the top right corner. Type the name of your WiFi network — the one that appears in your menu bar when you look for available networks.
When the network name appears in the list, double-click it. A small window will open. Check the box that says "Show password" near the bottom. Your Mac will ask for your user account password to confirm you are the person who owns this computer. Type it in and click "Allow". The WiFi password will appear in plain text in that same box.
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.
- You will need to enter your Mac user account password to see a stored WiFi password — this is a security feature to prevent someone else at your computer from viewing them.
- If you cannot find the network name in Keychain Access, your Mac has never connected to it, so the password is not stored anywhere on your computer.
- The password you see in Keychain is the exact one you need to give to guests or use on another device to connect to that same network.
Why your Mac stores passwords this way
When you connect to a WiFi network and check "Remember this network", your Mac encrypts the password and stores it in Keychain. This is safer than writing it down or texting it, because the password is locked behind your user account password. If someone steals your Mac but does not know your login password, they cannot see your WiFi passwords without guessing it first.
Keychain also stores passwords for websites, email accounts, and apps. All of them sit in the same encrypted vault. This is why your Mac asks for your account password before showing you any stored password — it is unlocking that vault to prove you are allowed to see what is inside.
What to do if the password is not in Keychain
If you search for your network name in Keychain and nothing appears, your Mac has never connected to that network before. This means the password is not stored anywhere on your computer. You will need to get it from the person who set up the network, or from the router itself.
If you own the router, you can reset it to factory settings and set a new password. If you are renting and the landlord or property manager set it up, contact them. If it is a work network, ask your IT department or the person who gave you the network name.
Finding the password on the router itself
If you have physical access to the router — the box that broadcasts the WiFi signal — you can usually find a sticker on the back or bottom with the network name and password printed on it. This is the default password the manufacturer set before the router was shipped to you.
If someone changed the password after that, the sticker will no longer be correct. You would need to reset the router to factory settings, which erases all custom settings and returns it to the default password on the sticker. Resetting usually involves holding a small button on the router for 10 to 15 seconds while it is powered on. Check the router's manual or the manufacturer's website for the exact steps for your model.
Sharing your password safely with guests
Once you have the password from Keychain, you can give it to guests in several ways. The simplest is to read it aloud or write it down. On newer Macs running Monterey or later, you can also hold your iPhone or iPad near your Mac while a guest tries to connect — their device will automatically receive the password from your Mac without you typing it out loud.
If you want to change your WiFi password regularly for security reasons, you can do that through your router's settings page. This usually means opening a web browser, typing the router's IP address (often 192.168.1.1), and logging in with the admin password. Once you change the password there, your Mac will forget the old one and ask you to enter the new password the next time you connect.
Keeping your passwords find
Keychain is designed to keep passwords safe, but it only works if your Mac user account password is strong. If someone knows your login password, they can see all your stored passwords. Use a password that is at least 12 characters long, includes uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols, and is not a word you have used anywhere else.
If you are worried someone else has used your Mac without permission, you can change any stored password by opening Keychain, finding the network, and editing it. You can also delete a password from Keychain entirely — right-click the network name and select "Delete". The next time you connect to that network, your Mac will ask you to enter the password again, and you can choose whether to save it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see my WiFi password if I forgot it and my Mac is not connected?
No. Keychain only stores passwords for networks your Mac has connected to before. If your Mac has never been on that network, the password is not stored anywhere on your computer. You will need to get it from the router itself or from whoever set up the network.
What if my Mac asks for a password when I open Keychain?
Your Mac is asking for your user account password to unlock Keychain and prove you own the computer. This is normal security. Type the password you use to log into your Mac, not the WiFi password. If you have forgotten your Mac login password, you will need to reset it through System Preferences or contact Apple Support.
Does seeing my password in Keychain mean someone else can see it too?
Only if they know your Mac login password. Keychain is encrypted, so anyone trying to view a stored password must first enter your user account password. If you use a strong, unique login password, your stored WiFi passwords are protected.
Can I export all my WiFi passwords from Keychain at once?
Keychain does not have a built-in export feature for all passwords at once. You can view and copy individual passwords by opening Keychain, finding each network, and checking "Show password". Some third-party apps claim to export passwords, but using them means trusting another program with access to your most sensitive data.
What happens to my WiFi passwords if I sell my Mac?
All passwords stored in Keychain will remain on the computer until you erase it. Before selling or giving away your Mac, use the Erase Mac feature in System Settings to wipe the drive completely. This removes all stored passwords, files, and personal information. After erasing, the new owner will set up the Mac as new and will not have access to your old passwords.