How to Find Your WiFi Password on Windows, Mac, and Phone

Where your WiFi password actually lives

Your WiFi password is stored in three places: your router's settings page, your device's network memory, and sometimes written on a sticker on the router itself. The easiest route depends on what you have access to right now. If you can reach the router physically, the sticker is fastest. If you need it from a device that's already connected, Windows and Mac both let you retrieve it without resetting anything.

The password you see when you first connect is the one you need. It's usually 8 to 63 characters long and may contain uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols — whatever the router's manufacturer set as the default or whatever you changed it to.

Key Takeaways

Check the sticker on the bottom or back of your router first — the default password is printed there and takes 10 seconds to find.
On Windows, open Settings, go to Network & Internet, select your WiFi network, and click "Manage known networks" to see the saved password.
On Mac, open System Settings, select WiFi, click "Details" next to your network, and the password appears in the Security tab.
On iPhone or Android, you can see the password only if you set up a QR code during initial connection, or by checking your router's admin panel.
If you cannot find it anywhere, you can reset the router to factory defaults, which erases the custom password and returns it to the sticker default.

Finding the password on the router itself

Most routers have a sticker on the bottom, back, or inside the battery compartment that lists the default WiFi name (SSID) and password. Look for text that says "WiFi Password", "Network Key", "Passphrase", or sometimes just "Password". The sticker may also list a PIN or admin password — those are different and you do not need them to connect to WiFi.

If the sticker is missing or worn away, you can log into the router's admin panel to see or change the password. You will need the router's IP address (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1), the admin username (often "admin"), and the admin password (often "admin" or "password", or printed on the sticker). Open a web browser, type the IP address into the address bar, log in, and look for a WiFi or Wireless settings section. The password field will be there, though it may be hidden behind asterisks.

Retrieving the password from Windows

If your Windows computer is already connected to the WiFi network, you can see the password without touching the router. Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings", then select it. Go to Network & Internet, then scroll down and click WiFi. Under "WiFi networks", find the network you want and click Manage known networks.

Find your network in the list and click it. Select Forget, then go back and click the network again — this time, a password field will appear. Type the password you remember (or leave it blank if you do not remember it), and Windows will attempt to connect. If the connection succeeds, you have the right password. If it fails, the password you entered is incorrect.

Alternatively, if you want to see the password without re-entering it, open Command Prompt as Administrator (right-click the Start menu and select "Windows Terminal (Admin)"). Type netsh wlan show profile name="YourNetworkName" key=clear, replacing "YourNetworkName" with your actual network name. The password will appear next to "Key Content" in the output.

Retrieving the password from Mac

On a Mac connected to the network, open System Settings and click WiFi in the sidebar. Find your network in the list, click the information icon (a small "i" in a circle) next to it, then click Details. Select the Security tab, and you will see a checkbox labeled "Show password". Click it, and your Mac will ask for your user password to confirm. Enter it, and the WiFi password appears in plain text.

If you do not see the network in your list, it may be a hidden network. In that case, click WiFi Settings at the bottom of the WiFi menu, then look for "Known Networks" and repeat the steps above.

Retrieving the password from iPhone or Android

iPhones and Android phones do not display saved WiFi passwords in their settings menus, even if you are connected. However, if you set up a QR code when you first connected to the network, you can retrieve it by opening Settings, going to WiFi, tapping the network name, and looking for a QR code option. Scan that code with another device, and the password will appear in the QR code data.

If you do not have a QR code, your only option is to log into the router's admin panel from your phone's web browser (using the same IP address and login as described above) and view the password there. Alternatively, if another person set up the network, they may have shared it with you through iCloud (iPhone) or Google Account (Android) — check your Settings under "Passwords" or "Saved Networks" to see if it appears there.

What to do if you cannot find the password anywhere

If the sticker is gone, you cannot access the router's admin panel, and no connected device will show you the password, you can reset the router to its factory defaults. This erases your custom password and returns the router to the default password printed on the sticker (or the manufacturer's standard default if the sticker is missing).

To reset, locate the small reset button on the router — it is usually recessed and requires a paperclip or pin to press. Hold it for 10 to 15 seconds while the router is powered on. The lights will flash, and the router will restart. Once it is back online, use the default password from the sticker or the manufacturer's documentation. You will then need to set up your network again, including choosing a new custom password if you want one.

Resetting the router will disconnect all devices currently on the network, and you will need to reconnect them with the new password. If other people in your household use the network, let them know before you reset.

Why the password might not work even if you found it

If you found the password but it is not working, check these things first. Make sure you are typing it exactly as it appears — passwords are case-sensitive, so "MyPassword" is different from "mypassword". If the password contains special characters like quotation marks or apostrophes, make sure you are including those too.

If you are certain the password is correct, the router may have been reset by someone else, or the network name (SSID) may have been changed. Try connecting with the default password from the sticker. If that works, someone has reset the router since you last connected. If neither password works, the router may be malfunctioning or the network may not be broadcasting — restart the router by unplugging it for 30 seconds, plugging it back in, and waiting two minutes for it to fully boot.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Not from your device — you would need to log into the router's admin panel or check the sticker on the router itself. If you do not have physical access to the router and are not connected to the network, you cannot retrieve the password from your device.

Is the password the same as the admin password?

No. The WiFi password is what you use to connect devices to the network. The admin password is what you use to log into the router's settings page. They are separate, and you only need the WiFi password to use the internet.

What if I changed the password and forgot the new one?

You can reset the router to factory defaults using the reset button, which will erase your custom password and return it to the default. This will disconnect all devices, and you will need to reconnect them with the default password and then set a new custom password if you want.

Can I see the password on a guest network?

Guest network passwords are set in the router's admin panel, not on a sticker. You would need to log into the admin panel to see or change it. The steps are the same as for the main network — find the WiFi or Wireless settings section and look for a Guest Network option.

Why does my phone not show the password even though it is connected?

iPhones and Android phones do not display saved WiFi passwords in their settings for security reasons. Your only options are to check the router's admin panel, look for a QR code if one was set up, or ask whoever set up the network originally.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.