Where your WiFi password actually lives

Your WiFi password is stored in three places: on your router itself (usually on a sticker), in your device's memory after you connect once, and in your router's settings page. The easiest route depends on whether you remember connecting to the network before, whether you still have access to the router, and what device you are using right now.

If you have never connected to this network, you will need the password from the router sticker or the router settings. If you have connected before, your device remembers it — you just need to know where to look and how to display it instead of hiding it behind dots.

Key Takeaways

  • Most routers have the default WiFi password printed on a sticker on the back or bottom of the device itself.
  • Windows stores passwords in Settings > Network > WiFi > Manage Known Networks, where you can view the password in plain text.
  • Mac users can find saved passwords in Keychain Access by searching for the network name, then copying the password from the "Show password" checkbox.
  • On iPhone and Android, you cannot view a saved password directly, but you can share the network with another device or reset the router to its default password.
  • If you have changed the password and forgotten it, you will need to reset the router to factory settings, which erases all your custom settings.

Check the router sticker first

Walk to your router — the box that connects to your internet line. Look on the back, bottom, or sides for a white or silver sticker. This sticker usually shows the network name (called the SSID) and the password printed in small text. The password may be labeled "WiFi Password", "Network Key", "Passphrase", or just "Password".

This is the default password that came with the router from the manufacturer. If you or someone else has changed it since then, this sticker will no longer work. But if you have never changed it, this is your answer and you are done.

Find the password on Windows

Open Settings and go to Network & internet. Click WiFi on the left side, then scroll down and click Manage known networks. Find the network name you are looking for in the list and click it.

Click Forget if you want to remove it from your device, or click Properties to see more details. Scroll down to the Security type section. You will see a line that says Security key with dots or asterisks hiding the password. Click the eye icon next to it to show the password in plain text.

This only works if you have already connected to this network on this Windows device before. If you have never connected, Windows has no password to show you.

Find the password on Mac

Open Spotlight by pressing Command + Space, type Keychain Access, and press Enter. In the search box at the top right, type the name of your WiFi network exactly as it appears in your network list.

When the network name appears in the results, double-click it. A window will open showing details about that network. Near the bottom, you will see a checkbox that says Show password. Click it, and your Mac will ask for your user password to confirm. Enter it, and the WiFi password will appear in plain text in that same field.

Like Windows, this method only works if you have connected to this network on this Mac before.

What to do on iPhone and Android

Neither iPhone nor Android lets you view a saved WiFi password directly through settings. Apple and Google treat the password as sensitive information and do not display it, even to the device owner.

Your options are limited. You can share the network with another Apple device by opening Settings > WiFi, tapping the network name, and tapping Share — the other device will connect without needing to type the password. On Android, you can generate a QR code of the network by opening Settings > WiFi, long-pressing the network name, and tapping Share — another device can scan the code to connect.

If you need the actual password text, your only real option is to reset the router and use the default password from the sticker, or to log into the router's settings page from a computer and change the password to something you choose.

Access the router settings page to see or change the password

Open a web browser on any device connected to the WiFi and type 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 into the address bar. Press Enter. You may also try routerlogin.net or myrouter.local.

A login page will appear asking for a username and password. These are not your WiFi password — they are the credentials to access the router itself. Check the sticker on your router for these login details. The default username is often admin and the default password is often admin, password, or blank. If those do not work, look up your specific router model online.

Once logged in, look for a section called WiFi Settings, Wireless, or Network. You will see the current WiFi password displayed there. You can view it or change it to a new one. Write down any changes you make, because you will need this password to reconnect devices later.

Reset the router if you cannot remember the admin password

If you cannot log into the router settings page because you have forgotten the admin password, you can reset the router to factory defaults. This erases all your custom settings, including the WiFi password, and returns everything to what came on the sticker.

Look for a small reset button on the back of the router, usually recessed so you need a paperclip or pen 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 is back online, the WiFi password will be the one printed on the sticker.

After reset, you will need to set up the router again from scratch — reconnect to the default network, log in with the default admin credentials, and change both the WiFi password and the admin password to something new.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see a WiFi password if I have never connected to that network before?

No. Your device only stores passwords for networks you have already joined. If you have never connected, you need the password from the router sticker or the router settings page. You cannot retrieve a password that was never saved to your device.

What if the sticker on my router is worn out and unreadable?

Log into the router settings page using the default admin credentials (usually admin/admin or admin/password). If those do not work, reset the router to factory settings using the recessed reset button on the back. This will restore the default password from the sticker.

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 you can remember. Store it somewhere a guest would not see it — a drawer, a safe, or a notebook you keep private. Do not email it to yourself or store it in an unencrypted note on your phone.

Why can't I see the password on my phone even though I am connected?

Apple and Google intentionally hide saved passwords from the phone's settings for security reasons. If you need the password text, use a computer running Windows or Mac, or log into the router settings page from any device with a web browser.

What happens if I reset my router?

All your custom settings disappear and the router returns to factory defaults. The WiFi password becomes the one on the sticker, the admin password resets to default, and any custom network names or security settings you configured are erased. You will need to set everything up again from scratch.