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've connected before, and possibly in your phone or tablet. The easiest route depends on whether you remember connecting to the network and which device you're using right now.

If you've never written down your password and can't remember it, your router is the source of truth. If you've connected before on a Windows PC or Mac, you can pull it from your device without touching the router. If you're locked out of everything, you'll need to reset the router itself — which erases all your settings and requires you to set up the network from scratch.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows, you can see a saved WiFi password by opening Settings, going to Network and Internet, then WiFi, selecting your network, and clicking "Manage known networks" to view the password.
  • On Mac, open System Settings, click WiFi, select your network, and click "Details" to see the password in Keychain.
  • On your router, the default password is usually printed on a sticker on the back or bottom — look for "WiFi Password" or "Network Key".
  • If you've forgotten the password and can't find the sticker, you can reset the router to factory settings by holding the reset button for 10 seconds, then set up a new password from scratch.
  • Your phone or tablet may also have the password saved — check your WiFi settings to see if it displays the password in plain text.

Finding your password on Windows

If you've connected to your WiFi network on a Windows computer before, Windows stores the password in encrypted form. You can view it without resetting anything.

Open Settings and go to Network and Internet. Click WiFi on the left side. Under "WiFi networks," find the network you're looking for and click Manage known networks. Select your network from the list, then click Forget — don't worry, this doesn't delete anything yet. Go back to WiFi settings, find your network in the list of available networks, and click it. When Windows asks for the password, click Can't connect? at the bottom. A link will appear that says I forgot my password — click that, and Windows will show you the saved password in plain text.

If that method doesn't work, you can also use the Command Prompt. Right-click the Start button, select Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin), and type this exactly: netsh wlan show profile name="YourNetworkName" key=clear — replace "YourNetworkName" with your actual network name. The password will appear next to "Key Content."

Finding your password on Mac

Mac stores WiFi passwords in Keychain, which is Apple's password manager. If you've connected to the network before, you can retrieve it in seconds.

Open System Settings and click WiFi. Find your network in the list and click the information icon (a circle with an "i") next to it. Click Details. A window will open showing your network information. Look for the Password field — it will be hidden by dots. Click the eye icon next to it, and your Mac will ask you to authenticate using your fingerprint or Apple ID password. Once you do, the password appears in plain text.

If the eye icon doesn't appear, you can also open Keychain Access from Applications > Utilities. Search for your network name, double-click it, check the box that says Show password, and authenticate when prompted.

Finding the password on your router

Your router has a default WiFi password printed on a physical sticker. This is usually on the back or bottom of the device, though some routers place it on the side.

Look for text that says WiFi Password, Network Key, Passphrase, or Security Key. The password is typically a long string of letters, numbers, and symbols. Write it down or take a photo. If the sticker is worn off or missing, you'll need to reset the router.

If you've changed the password since you first set up the router and can't remember the new one, you'll also need to reset. To reset your router, locate the small reset button (usually recessed so you need a paperclip or pin to press it). Hold it down for 10 to 15 seconds while the router is powered on. The lights will blink and the router will restart. Once it comes back online, the password will revert to whatever is printed on the sticker.

What happens after you reset your router

Resetting a router erases all your custom settings, including the WiFi password you created, your network name, port forwarding rules, and any devices you've blocked or allowed. You'll need to set everything up again from scratch.

After the reset, connect to the network using the default password from the sticker. Open a web browser and go to 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 (check your router's manual if neither works). Log in using the default username and password, also printed on the sticker — often "admin" and "admin" or "admin" and the router's serial number. Once logged in, you can create a new WiFi password, change your network name, and reconfigure any other settings.

Checking your phone or tablet

If you've connected to the network on an iPhone, Android phone, or tablet, the device may display the password in your WiFi settings.

On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, tap WiFi, find your network, and tap the information icon. If you're running iOS 16 or newer, the password will appear under "Password" — you may need to authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID to see it. On older iOS versions, the password is not displayed in settings.

On Android, the process varies by manufacturer. On most phones, go to Settings, tap WiFi, find your network, and look for a "Show password" option or a QR code that encodes the password. Some Android phones do not display the password in plain text, but will show a QR code that another device can scan to connect automatically.

If you can't find the password anywhere

If the sticker is gone, you don't remember connecting on any device, and you can't access the router's settings page, your only option is a factory reset. This will erase all custom settings and return the router to its default state.

After resetting, you'll use the default password from the sticker to connect. If you've lost the sticker entirely, you can usually find the default credentials by searching online for your router's model number — it's printed on the device itself. Once you're connected with the default password, log into the router's settings page and create a new password that you write down or save somewhere safe.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see my WiFi password if I've never connected to it before?

No, not from your computer or phone. Your device only stores passwords for networks you've previously connected to. Your only option is to check the sticker on the router itself or log into the router's settings page if you know the admin password.

What if I see my network but it says "can't connect" when I enter the password?

Double-check that you're typing the password exactly as it appears — WiFi passwords are case-sensitive, and spaces or special characters matter. If you're copying from the sticker, make sure you're not including any extra characters. If the password still doesn't work, try resetting the router to restore the default password.

Is it safe to write down my WiFi password?

Writing it down and keeping it somewhere find in your home is fine. Avoid posting it online, texting it to people you don't trust, or leaving it visible on a sticky note near your router where guests can see it. If you want to share it with guests, you can also create a separate guest network with its own password instead of giving out your main one.

Will resetting my router affect my internet connection?

No, resetting the router won't affect your internet service itself. Your modem and internet provider connection remain unchanged. You'll just need to reconnect all your devices to the WiFi network using the default password after the reset.

What if I don't know the admin password to log into my router's settings page?

The default admin password is usually printed on the sticker alongside the WiFi password. If you've changed it and forgotten it, you'll need to reset the router to factory settings to regain access.