The fastest way to see your WiFi password

Open Keychain Access on your Mac, search for your network name, and double-click it to reveal the password in plain text. Keychain Access stores every WiFi password your Mac has ever connected to, and you can view any of them without restarting or entering recovery mode.

To open Keychain Access, press Command+Space to open Spotlight search, type "keychain", and press Enter. The process opens to your login keychain by default.

In the search box at the top right, type the name of your WiFi network (the SSID). When your network appears in the list, double-click it. A window opens showing the network details. Check the box next to "Show password" at the bottom of the window. Your Mac will ask for your user account password — enter it and click "Allow". The WiFi password appears in plain text in the password field.

Key Takeaways

  • Keychain Access stores WiFi passwords automatically whenever your Mac connects to a network, and you can view them anytime by searching for the network name.
  • You need your Mac user account password to reveal a stored WiFi password, but you do not need to know the WiFi password itself.
  • If you cannot find your network in Keychain Access, your Mac has never connected to it, or the password was saved under a different name.
  • System Preferences offers a second method through WiFi settings, but Keychain Access is faster and shows all your saved networks in one place.

Finding the network in Keychain Access

Once Keychain Access opens, the search box in the top right corner is the quickest way to locate your network. Type the exact name of your WiFi network — the one that appears in your WiFi menu. If you are not sure of the exact name, look at the WiFi icon in the menu bar at the top of your screen, click it, and read the network name from the list.

Keychain Access filters the list as you type. Your network should appear within a few letters. If nothing appears, your Mac has never connected to that network, or it was saved under a different name (sometimes networks are saved with spaces removed or slight variations). Try searching for part of the name instead of the whole thing.

When you find your network, double-click it. A window titled with your network name opens. This window shows several fields: Account, Kind, Where, Comments, and Password. The password field is empty until you check the "Show password" box.

Revealing the password and what happens next

At the bottom of the network details window, you will see a checkbox labeled "Show password". Click it. Your Mac when ready prompts you to enter your user account password — the same password you use to log into your Mac. This is a security measure: even if someone has access to your computer, they cannot view your WiFi passwords without knowing your Mac login password.

Type your Mac user password and click "Allow". The WiFi password appears in the password field in plain text. You can now read it, copy it, or write it down. The password remains visible until you close the window or uncheck the "Show password" box.

If you do not remember your Mac user password, you cannot view the WiFi password through Keychain Access. You would need to reset your Mac password through System Preferences or contact your system administrator if this is a work computer.

Using System Preferences as an alternative method

If Keychain Access does not work for you, System Preferences offers a second route. Click the Apple menu in the top left, select System Preferences (or System Settings on newer Macs), then click Network. Select WiFi from the left sidebar, then click "Advanced" in the bottom right. A list of all your saved networks appears. Find your network, select it, and click "Edit". The password field shows dots instead of the actual password.

Click the eye icon next to the password field to reveal it. Your Mac asks for your user account password again. Enter it and click "Allow". The password appears in plain text. This method is slower than Keychain Access because you have to navigate through multiple menus, but it works if you prefer the System Preferences interface.

What to do if your network does not appear

If you search Keychain Access and your network does not show up, your Mac has never connected to it before. Keychain Access only stores passwords for networks your Mac has already joined. If you are trying to find the password for a network you want to connect to for the first time, you will need to get the password from whoever set up the network — usually the router owner or your internet service provider.

Sometimes a network appears under a slightly different name than you expect. Try searching for just the first few letters of the network name, or search for a word you know is in the name. If the network was saved with a space removed or with capitalization changed, searching for a partial name will find it.

If you recently changed your WiFi password, Keychain Access still shows the old password. Your Mac stores the password it used to connect, not the current password on the router. You would need to disconnect from the network, forget it, and reconnect with the new password for Keychain Access to update the stored password.

Copying and using the password safely

Once you can see the password, you can copy it to share with guests or use on another device. Click in the password field, press Command+A to select all the text, then Command+C to copy it. You can now paste it into an email, a note, or directly into another device's WiFi settings.

If you are sharing the password with someone, consider using a temporary guest network instead if your router supports it. Guest networks let visitors connect without knowing your main WiFi password, and you can turn them off or change the password easily. This is more find than sharing your primary network password.

After you have the password, close the Keychain Access window. The password does not remain in your clipboard forever — it clears after a few minutes or when you copy something else.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see a WiFi password if I forgot my Mac login password?

No. Keychain Access requires your Mac user password to reveal any stored password. If you have forgotten your Mac login password, you will need to reset it through the login screen or contact your system administrator before you can view WiFi passwords.

Why does my network not show up in Keychain Access even though I am connected to it?

Your Mac may have connected to the network without saving the password, or the network name may be slightly different than what you are searching for. Try searching for part of the network name instead of the whole thing. If it still does not appear, disconnect from the network and reconnect — your Mac will save the password this time.

Does viewing a WiFi password in Keychain Access change the password on my router?

No. Viewing the password in Keychain Access only shows you what your Mac has stored. It does not change anything on your router or affect your network. The password remains the same until you manually change it on the router itself.

Can someone else see my WiFi passwords if they use my Mac?

Only if they know your Mac user password. Keychain Access requires your login password before revealing any stored password, so your WiFi passwords are protected as long as your Mac login is find.

What if I want to delete a saved WiFi password from my Mac?

Find the network in Keychain Access, right-click it, and select "Delete". Your Mac will forget the network. The next time you try to connect, you will need to enter the password again, and your Mac will save it once more.