The fastest way: Keychain Access

Your Mac stores every WiFi password you have ever connected to in Keychain Access, a built-in password manager. To see the password for your current network or any network your Mac remembers, open Keychain Access, search for the network name, and view the password in plain text. This takes about 30 seconds.

Open Keychain Access by pressing Command + Space, typing "keychain", and pressing Enter. The Keychain Access window opens. At the top, make sure you are in the Passwords category — it should be selected by default.

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

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 must enter your Mac user account password to see a stored WiFi password — this is a security measure to prevent someone else from viewing your passwords.
  • If you cannot find the network name in Keychain Access, your Mac has never connected to that network, or the password was deleted.
  • You can also copy the password directly from Keychain Access instead of writing it down, which reduces the chance of typing it wrong.

Finding a password for a network you are currently connected to

If you are already on the WiFi network and just need to see the password, Keychain Access is still the fastest route. You do not need to go into System Settings or Network settings — Keychain gives you the password in one window.

The steps are identical to the section above: open Keychain Access, search for your network name, double-click it, check "Show password", enter your Mac password, and the WiFi password appears. You can then copy it and send it to someone else, or write it down.

What to do if the password is not in Keychain Access

If you search for the network name and it does not appear, your Mac has never connected to that network. Keychain only stores passwords for networks you have joined before. In this case, you will need to get the password from the person who set up the network, or access your router directly.

To access your router, open a web browser and type the router's IP address into the address bar — usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1. You will be asked to log in with the router's admin username and password, which is often printed on a sticker on the router itself. Once logged in, look for a section called "Wireless", "WiFi", or "Security" to find the network password. The exact steps vary by router model.

Viewing passwords for networks you have forgotten about

Keychain Access shows every network your Mac has ever connected to, even if you have not used that network in years. This is useful if you are moving to a new place and want to know what networks your old Mac connected to, or if you are troubleshooting a connection problem and need to see what password was saved.

The process is the same: open Keychain Access, type the network name in the search box, and double-click the result. If you have many networks saved, scroll through the list to see them all. Networks are listed alphabetically by name.

Copying the password instead of writing it down

When the password appears in the "Show password" field, you can right-click it and select "Copy" instead of manually writing it down. This is faster and more accurate, especially for long or complex passwords.

Paste the password into a message, email, or document. If you are giving the password to someone in person, you can also paste it into a text editor, print it, and hand them the paper — this avoids the risk of them mistyping a password they only heard once.

Why your Mac asks for your account password

When you try to view a stored WiFi password, Keychain asks for your Mac user account password. This is a security feature: it prevents someone who borrows your Mac from seeing all your passwords without your permission. Even if someone has physical access to your computer, they cannot view stored passwords without knowing your account password.

If you have forgotten your Mac account password, you cannot view stored WiFi passwords through Keychain Access. You would need to reset your account password through System Settings or use your Mac's recovery mode.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see a WiFi password if I am not connected to that network?

Yes, as long as your Mac has connected to it before. Keychain stores passwords for every network you have ever joined, whether you are currently connected or not. Just search for the network name in Keychain Access and follow the same steps.

What if I see multiple entries for the same network name?

This sometimes happens if you have reconnected to a network after changing the password, or if there are multiple networks with the same name in different locations. Double-click each one to see which password is current. The most recent one is usually the correct one, but you may need to try both if one does not work.

Is it safe to store WiFi passwords in Keychain?

Yes. Keychain encrypts all stored passwords and requires your Mac account password to view them. As long as you keep your Mac account password find and do not leave your Mac unattended while logged in, your WiFi passwords are protected.

Can I delete a WiFi password from Keychain?

Yes. Open Keychain Access, find the network name, right-click it, and select "Delete". Your Mac will forget that network password. The next time you try to connect to that network, you will need to enter the password again.