The fastest way to see your WiFi password on Mac

Open Keychain Access on your Mac, search for your network name, and the password appears in plain text. Keychain Access is a built-in Mac tool that stores passwords for networks you've connected to — it's the same place your Mac remembers login details for websites and apps. You don't need to read anything or restart your computer.

The password shows up in seconds once you find the right entry. This method works on any recent version of macOS and doesn't require administrator permission, though your Mac will ask you to confirm your identity before revealing the password.

Key Takeaways

  • Keychain Access stores every WiFi password your Mac has ever connected to, and you can view them by searching for the network name.
  • The password appears in a checkbox field labeled "Show password" — click the checkbox and your Mac asks for your user password to confirm.
  • If you don't remember your network name, System Settings shows all networks your Mac has connected to in the past.
  • Resetting your WiFi password on your router will not erase the old password from Keychain, so you may need to delete the old entry manually.

Step-by-step: Finding your password in Keychain Access

Start by opening Keychain Access. Press Command + Space to open Spotlight search, type "keychain", and press Enter. The Keychain Access window opens to show a list of stored passwords and certificates.

In the top-left corner, make sure you're viewing the "login" keychain — this is where network passwords live. Then click the search box in the top-right corner and type your WiFi network name exactly as it appears on your router or in your network list. Keychain filters the results as you type.

When your network appears in the list, double-click it to open the details window. A new window pops up showing the network name and other information. Near the bottom, you'll see a checkbox labeled "Show password". Click that checkbox. Your Mac prompts you to enter your user account password — this is the password you use to log into your Mac, not your WiFi password. Type it and click "Allow".

The WiFi password now appears in plain text in the "Show password" field. You can copy it by clicking in the field, selecting all the text with Command + A, and pressing Command + C.

Finding your network name if you've forgotten it

If you don't remember which network you're looking for, System Settings shows every network your Mac has ever connected to. Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner, select "System Settings", then click "WiFi" in the left sidebar.

Under "Known Networks", you'll see a list of every network your Mac has joined before. This list includes networks you connected to years ago, even if you're not currently connected. Find the network you want the password for, then go back to Keychain Access and search for that exact name.

If you're currently connected to the network, you can also see the network name in the WiFi menu at the top of your screen — click the WiFi icon and look for the network with a checkmark next to it.

What to do if the password doesn't appear

If you search Keychain Access and your network doesn't show up, it means your Mac has never saved the password. This happens when you've never connected to that network before, or when the password was deleted from Keychain manually.

If you're currently connected to the network but the password isn't in Keychain, your Mac may have connected using a different method — for example, through a QR code or a shared network configuration. In this case, you'll need to check your router's settings directly. Log into your router's admin panel (usually by typing your router's IP address into a browser) and look for the WiFi password or security key in the wireless settings.

If you recently changed your WiFi password on your router, the old password will still appear in Keychain until you delete it manually. To remove it, right-click the network entry in Keychain Access and select "Delete". Then reconnect to the network with your new password, and Keychain will save the updated one.

Why your Mac stores WiFi passwords in Keychain

Keychain Access is designed to remember passwords so you don't have to type them every time you connect to a network. When you join a WiFi network and enter the password, your Mac stores it securely in Keychain. The next time you're in range of that network, your Mac connects automatically without asking for the password again.

This automatic connection is convenient, but it also means your password is stored on your Mac. Keychain encrypts the password, so it's not sitting in plain text on your hard drive, but anyone with access to your Mac and your user password can view it through Keychain Access. If you're concerned about security, you can delete old network passwords from Keychain that you no longer use.

Removing a WiFi password from Keychain

Open Keychain Access, search for the network name, and right-click the entry. Select "Delete" from the menu. A confirmation dialog appears asking if you're sure — click "Delete" again. The password is now removed from your Mac.

After you delete a network from Keychain, your Mac will no longer connect to it automatically. The next time you try to connect, your Mac will ask you to enter the password again. If you want to reconnect, you'll need to type the password or have someone provide it to you.

Deleting a network from Keychain does not affect the network itself or the password on your router — it only removes the stored password from your Mac. Other devices that have connected to that network will still have the password saved in their own systems.

Viewing passwords for networks you're not currently connected to

Keychain Access shows passwords for every network your Mac has ever connected to, whether you're currently in range of that network or not. This is useful if you want to share a password with someone else, or if you need to reconnect to a network you haven't used in months.

The process is the same: open Keychain Access, search for the network name, double-click the entry, check "Show password", enter your Mac user password, and the WiFi password appears. You don't need to be connected to the network or even in range of it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see WiFi passwords for networks I've never connected to?

No. Keychain only stores passwords for networks your Mac has actually connected to and saved. If you've never joined a network, your Mac has no record of its password. You would need to get the password from the network owner or access the router's settings directly.

Will deleting a WiFi password from Keychain disconnect me from that network?

No. Deleting the password from Keychain only removes the stored entry on your Mac. You'll stay connected to the network until you manually disconnect. The next time you reconnect, your Mac will ask for the password instead of connecting automatically.

What if my Mac asks for a password when I try to view the WiFi password in Keychain?

Your Mac is asking for your user account password — the one you use to log into your computer. This is a security measure to prevent someone else from viewing your stored passwords. Type your Mac login password and click "Allow".

Can I see WiFi passwords on my Mac if I forgot my user password?

No. Keychain requires your Mac user password to reveal stored passwords. If you've forgotten your user password, you'll need to reset it through Apple ID or use another administrator account on your Mac before you can view WiFi passwords.

Does viewing a WiFi password in Keychain change or reset the actual network password?

No. Looking at the password in Keychain Access has no effect on your WiFi network or router. The password on your router stays the same. You're only viewing what your Mac has stored locally.