The fastest way: Keychain Access

Open Keychain Access by pressing Command+Space, typing "keychain", and pressing Enter. In the search box at the top right, type the name of your WiFi network exactly as it appears in your WiFi menu. When the network name appears in the list, double-click it.

A window will open showing your network details. Check the box next to "Show password" near the bottom. Your Mac will ask for your user account password — this is the password you use to log into your Mac itself, not your WiFi password. Type it and click "Allow". Your WiFi password will now be visible in the password field.

This method works on any Mac running macOS 10.15 or later. The password shown here is the exact one you need to give someone else or to enter on a new device.

Key Takeaways

  • Keychain Access stores all your saved WiFi passwords and is the most direct way to view them on any recent Mac.
  • You will need your Mac user account password to view a stored WiFi password, even if you do not remember the WiFi password itself.
  • The password displayed in Keychain is the actual WiFi password — copy it exactly, including capital letters and special characters.
  • If your network does not appear in Keychain, your Mac has never connected to it or the connection was not saved.

What to do if the network does not show up

If you search for your WiFi network name in Keychain and nothing appears, your Mac either never connected to that network or the connection was not saved when it connected. Check that you are typing the network name correctly — WiFi names are case-sensitive and spaces matter.

If you are certain the name is correct, the network may have been forgotten. Go to System Settings (or System Preferences on older Macs), click Network, select WiFi, then click "Manage Known Networks". Find your network in the list and click the minus button to remove it. Reconnect to the network fresh — your Mac will ask you to enter the password again, and this time it will save it to Keychain.

Using System Settings to view saved networks

On macOS Sonoma and newer, you can also see a list of all saved networks without viewing their passwords. Open System Settings, go to Network, click WiFi, then click "Manage Known Networks". This shows every network your Mac has ever connected to, but the password field will be blank unless you use Keychain Access to reveal it.

This view is useful if you want to remove old networks your Mac no longer needs to remember, or to confirm that a particular network was saved. Removing a network from this list does not delete the password from Keychain — it only tells your Mac to stop connecting to it automatically.

Why your Mac stores these passwords

When you connect to a WiFi network and choose to save the password, your Mac stores it in Keychain, which is an encrypted vault built into macOS. This means you do not have to type the password every time you reconnect — your Mac does it automatically. It also means the password is protected by your Mac user account password.

If someone gains access to your Mac and knows your user account password, they can view any WiFi password stored in Keychain. This is why keeping your Mac user account password find matters, and why you should not leave your Mac unlocked around people you do not trust.

Sharing a WiFi password safely

Once you have the password visible in Keychain, copy it by selecting all the text in the password field (Command+A) and copying it (Command+C). Paste it into a message, email, or note — but be aware that anyone who sees that message will have your WiFi password. Consider sending it through a private channel rather than a group chat.

If you want to change your WiFi password after sharing it, you will need to access your router's settings. This is usually done by opening a web browser, typing your router's IP address (often 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1), and logging in with your router's admin credentials. The exact steps depend on your router model, so check the manual or the sticker on the back of the router.

What to do if you forgot your WiFi password entirely

If you have never connected to the network from your Mac, Keychain will not have the password. In that case, you will need to reset it on your router. Locate the small reset button on the back or bottom of your router, press and hold it for 10 to 15 seconds, and the router will restart with its factory default password. Check the sticker on the router or the manual for the default credentials.

After resetting, you can set a new WiFi password through your router's admin panel. Once you connect your Mac to the network with the new password, Keychain will save it automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I view WiFi passwords on my Mac if I do not know my user account password?

No. Keychain requires your Mac user account password as a security measure. If you have forgotten your Mac password, you will need to reset it through Apple ID or use your Mac's recovery mode before you can view stored WiFi passwords.

Will viewing my WiFi password in Keychain change it or affect my connection?

No. Viewing the password in Keychain only displays it — it does not change anything on your Mac or your router. Your WiFi will continue to work normally.

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

This sometimes happens if you have reconnected to a network after forgetting it, or if the network name was changed. You can safely delete the old entries by selecting them and pressing Delete. Keep only the most recent one.

Can I view WiFi passwords from networks I used to connect to but am no longer on?

Yes, as long as your Mac saved the password when you were connected. Keychain stores passwords indefinitely until you manually remove them or reset your Mac. This is why removing old networks from your known networks list is a good idea if you no longer use them.