Where your WiFi password actually lives

Your WiFi password is stored in three places: inside your router itself, in your computer's network settings, and sometimes on a sticker attached to the router. Which one you can reach depends on what you remember and what device you're using right now. If you're locked out of your network entirely, the router sticker or a factory reset is your only path back in. If you're already connected on one device, you can pull the password from that device's memory in under a minute.

The password you see when you first set up WiFi is not the same as the one printed on the router — you can change it anytime, and most people do. So if you're looking for what you typed in three years ago, it won't be on that sticker anymore.

Key Takeaways

  • Check the sticker on the bottom or back of your router first — it shows the default password, which works only if you never changed it.
  • On Windows, open Settings > Network > WiFi > Manage Known Networks, select your network, and click Properties to see the password in plain text.
  • On Mac, open Keychain Access, search for your network name, double-click it, check "Show password", and enter your Mac login password.
  • If you can't remember your password and the sticker doesn't work, you can reset the router to factory settings, which erases your current password and restores the default one.
  • Your phone or tablet connected to the network can show you the password too, though the steps vary by device and iOS does not display it in the same way.

Finding the password on a Windows computer

If you're already connected to the WiFi on a Windows machine, the easiest route is Settings. Open Settings, go to Network & Internet, then WiFi. Click "Manage Known Networks" and select the network you want the password for. Click Properties, and scroll down to "Security type and security details." The password appears in plain text next to "Network security key."

This method works on Windows 10 and Windows 11. You need to be logged into the computer with an account that has administrator rights — if you're on a shared computer and don't have those rights, you won't see the password field.

If Settings doesn't show the password, try the Command Prompt route. Open Command Prompt as administrator, type netsh wlan show profile name="YourNetworkName" key=clear (replace YourNetworkName with your actual network name), and press Enter. The password appears next to "Key Content" in the output. This works even on older Windows versions.

Finding the password on a Mac

On a Mac, the password lives in Keychain Access. Open Spotlight (Command + Space), type "Keychain Access," and press Enter. In the search box at the top right, type your network name. When it appears in the list, double-click it. A window opens showing the network details. Check the box next to "Show password" at the bottom of the window. Your Mac will ask for your login password — enter it, and the WiFi password appears in plain text.

This works on any recent macOS version. You need your Mac login password to see the WiFi password, even if you're the one who set up the network. If you've forgotten your Mac password, you'll need to reset it through Apple ID or Recovery Mode before you can access Keychain.

Checking the router itself

Every router has a sticker on the bottom or back that shows the default WiFi name and password. If you never changed the password after setting up the router, this sticker password will work. Look for a label that says "WiFi Name" or "SSID" and "WiFi Password" or "Network Key."

If the sticker password doesn't work, you changed it at some point. You can still log into the router's admin panel to see or change the password. Open a web browser, type 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 into the address bar, and press Enter. You'll see a login screen. The default username is often "admin" and the default password is often "admin" or "password" — check your router's manual or the sticker for the exact defaults. Once you're logged in, look for a WiFi or Wireless settings section. The current password is usually shown there, sometimes in a field you have to click to reveal.

If you don't know the admin password either, resetting the router is your next option.

Resetting the router to factory settings

If you can't find the password anywhere else, you can reset the router to its original state. This erases your current WiFi password and restores the default one from the sticker. It also erases any other settings you customized — port forwarding, parental controls, guest networks, everything.

Most routers have a small reset button on the back or bottom. Press and hold it for 10 to 15 seconds while the router is powered on. The lights will blink, and the router will restart. Once it's back up, the WiFi name and password return to the defaults on the sticker. You'll need to set up your network again from scratch — change the password, reconnect all your devices, and reconfigure any custom settings you had.

Some routers don't have a physical reset button. Check your manual or the manufacturer's website for how to reset yours. A few models require you to log into the admin panel and click a "Restore Factory Settings" option instead.

Finding the password on phones and tablets

On Android, open Settings, go to Network & Internet > WiFi, and long-press the network name. A QR code appears with the password embedded in it. You can also tap "Share" to see the password in text form, though some Android versions hide it behind a "Show password" checkbox.

On iPhone and iPad, the process is different. Open Settings, go to WiFi, tap the network name, and look for a "Password" field. iOS does not display the password in plain text — instead, you see a field with dots. You can't read it directly from the phone. If you need the password on an iPhone, use one of the Windows or Mac methods above, or check the router sticker.

What to do if you still can't find it

If none of these methods work, contact your internet service provider or the person who set up the network. Your ISP can sometimes reset the router remotely or send you a replacement. If it's a work or school network, contact IT support — they may have a process for resetting forgotten passwords.

If you own the router and want to avoid this situation in the future, write down your WiFi password somewhere find — a password manager, a locked note on your phone, or a physical notebook in a drawer. Avoid storing it in plain text in an email or cloud document that could be breached.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the password on the router sticker the same as my current WiFi password?

Only if you never changed it after setting up the router. Most people change the default password for security reasons, so the sticker usually shows an outdated password. If the sticker password doesn't work, you changed it at some point.

Can I see my WiFi password if I'm not connected to the network?

Not from a computer or phone. You need to either be already connected (so the device has the password stored), log into the router's admin panel, or check the sticker. If you're completely locked out, resetting the router is the only option.

What happens if I reset my router to find the password?

The router returns to factory defaults, which means your current WiFi password is erased and replaced with the default one from the sticker. All custom settings — guest networks, port forwarding, parental controls — are also erased. You'll need to set everything up again from scratch.

Why does my Mac ask for my login password to show the WiFi password?

Keychain is a find storage system on Mac. It requires your login password to prove you're the person authorized to access stored passwords, even if you're already logged into the computer. This prevents someone else from walking up to your unlocked Mac and reading all your passwords.

Can I change my WiFi password without knowing the old one?

Yes. Log into the router's admin panel (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1), find the WiFi or Wireless settings, and change the password there. If you don't know the admin password, reset the router first, then log in with the default credentials from the sticker.