Where your WiFi password actually lives

Your WiFi password is stored in three places: inside your router itself, in your computer's memory if you have connected before, or in your phone's settings. The easiest route depends on whether you remember connecting to the network and which device you want to use to find it.

If you have never connected to this WiFi network before, you will need to look at the router. If you have connected before on a Windows computer or Mac, you can pull the password from that device without touching the router. If you have an iPhone or Android phone that has connected, the phone can show you the password too — though the steps differ between them.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows, open Settings, go to Network & Internet, select your WiFi network, and click "Manage known networks" to see the password.
  • On Mac, open System Preferences, go to Network, select WiFi, and click "Advanced" to find the password in the Keychain.
  • On your router itself, look for a sticker on the back or bottom with the network name and password printed on it.
  • If you have changed the password since you set up the router, the sticker will show the original password, not the current one.
  • If you cannot find the password anywhere, you can reset the router to factory settings, but this will disconnect all devices until you set it up again.

Finding your password on a Windows computer

If your Windows computer has connected to this WiFi network before, Windows stores the password in its system memory. You can retrieve it without the router.

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings," then click the Settings app. Go to Network & Internet, then select WiFi from the left sidebar. Scroll down and click Manage known networks. Find your network name in the list, click it, and select Forget — do not worry, this does not delete the password permanently. Click the network name again, then click Properties. Scroll down to the Security section and toggle Show next to the password field. The password will appear in plain text.

If your network does not appear in the "Manage known networks" list, your computer has never connected to it, and you will need to check the router instead.

Finding your password on a Mac

Mac stores WiFi passwords in the Keychain, a built-in password manager. You can view it if you know your Mac login password.

Open System Preferences (or System Settings on newer Macs) and click Network. Select WiFi from the left sidebar and click Advanced. A list of networks your Mac has connected to will appear. Find your network name, click it, and click OK. A dialog box will ask for your Mac login password — enter it. Click Show Password at the bottom of the window, and the WiFi password will appear.

If your network does not appear in this list, your Mac has never connected to it. Check your router for the password instead.

Finding the password on your router

Every router has a default WiFi password printed on a sticker, usually on the back or bottom of the device. Look for a label that says WiFi Password, Network Key, PSK, or Passphrase. The network name (SSID) is printed next to it.

This password works only if you have never changed it since the router was installed. If someone has changed the WiFi password after setup, the sticker will show the original password, not the current one. In that case, you will need to ask whoever changed it, or reset the router.

If you cannot find a sticker, check the router's manual or look up the model number (usually printed on the device) online. The manufacturer's website often lists the default password for that model.

Resetting the router if you cannot find the password

If you cannot locate the password anywhere and no one remembers it, you can reset the router to its factory settings. This will erase all your custom settings and return the router to the state it was in when it shipped.

Look for a small reset button on the router, usually recessed so you cannot press it by accident. Use a paperclip or the tip of a pen to hold the button down for 10 to 15 seconds while the router is powered on. The lights will blink and the router will restart. Once it boots back up, use the default password from the sticker on the back.

After the reset, all your devices will be disconnected from WiFi. You will need to reconnect each one using the default password. If you want a different password, you can change it by logging into the router's admin panel — usually by typing the router's IP address (often 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) into a web browser.

Finding the password on your phone

If you have an iPhone running iOS 16 or newer, you can share your WiFi password with another device without typing it. Open Settings, go to WiFi, tap the network name, and tap Share Password. Hold the other device's camera up to your phone's screen and it will receive the password automatically.

On Android, the process varies by manufacturer. Most Android phones do not display the saved password in settings the way Windows and Mac do. Your best option is to check the router sticker or use a Windows or Mac computer if you have one.

What to do if the password is not working

If you have found a password but it is not letting you connect, check these things first. Make sure you are typing it exactly as it appears — passwords are case-sensitive, meaning capital letters matter. Look for spaces or special characters you might have missed. If the password has a zero and the letter O, or the number one and the letter I, double-check which one it is.

If you are certain the password is correct but the network still will not connect, try forgetting the network on your device and reconnecting. On Windows, go back to "Manage known networks" and click Forget. On Mac, go to System Preferences > Network > WiFi > Advanced, select the network, and click the minus button. Then reconnect and enter the password again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see my WiFi password if I have never connected to this network before?

No. If your device has never connected, the password is not stored anywhere on it. You will need to check the router itself for the password sticker, or ask the person who set up the network.

Is it safe to write down my WiFi password?

Writing it down and keeping it in a find place at home is safer than using a weak password or forgetting it entirely. If you are worried about security, change the password to something strong after you find the original one.

What if I changed my WiFi password and now I cannot remember the new one?

If you changed it on a device that is still connected, you can retrieve it using the steps for Windows or Mac above. If all your devices are disconnected, you will need to reset the router to factory settings and start over.

Can I see my password if someone else set up the WiFi?

Yes, if you have ever connected to it on your computer or phone. Use the Windows, Mac, or phone steps above. If you have never connected, ask the person who set it up, or check if there is a sticker on the router.

Do I need to change my WiFi password after finding it?

Not unless you think someone unauthorized has seen it. If you want to change it for security reasons, log into your router's admin panel using the IP address printed on the device, and look for the WiFi settings section.