Where to find your WiFi password depends on your device and whether you set up the network

If you already connected to a WiFi network on your computer or phone, your device stores the password — you just need to know where to look. The steps differ between Windows, Mac, iPhone, and Android. If you set up the router yourself, you can also reset it to factory defaults and create a new password. If you forgot the password and cannot retrieve it from a device, your last option is to contact your internet provider or the network owner.

The fastest route is usually your phone or laptop if you have ever connected to that network before. Windows and Mac both let you view saved passwords through their settings. iPhones and Android phones make this harder but not impossible. If none of your devices have connected, you will need to access the router itself.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows 10 and 11, open Settings, go to Network & Internet, then WiFi, select your network, and click "Manage known networks" to view the saved password.
  • On Mac, open System Preferences, select Network, choose WiFi, click Advanced, find your network in the list, and the password appears in Keychain Access.
  • iPhones running iOS 16 or later show the password when you tap the WiFi network name in Settings, but earlier versions require Keychain Access on a Mac.
  • Android phones do not display saved passwords in settings, but you can view them through your Google Account if you synced your passwords.
  • If you cannot retrieve the password from any device, you can reset your router to factory settings and create a new password through its admin panel.

Retrieving your password on Windows 10 and 11

Windows stores WiFi passwords in a way you can view without special tools. Open the Settings app, then select Network & Internet. Click WiFi on the left side, then scroll down and click "Manage known networks." Find the network name you are looking for and click it. Select "Forget," then reconnect to the network — when you do, Windows will show you the password in plain text as you type it in.

If you want to see the password without forgetting and reconnecting, there is a second method using Command Prompt. Right-click the Start button, select "Windows Terminal (Admin)" or "Command Prompt (Admin)," then type this command: netsh wlan show profile name="YourNetworkName" key=clear — replace "YourNetworkName" with your actual network name. The password appears next to "Key Content" in the output.

Finding your password on Mac

Mac stores WiFi passwords in Keychain, which is its password manager. Open System Preferences (or System Settings on newer Macs), click Network, select WiFi, then click Advanced. Find your network name in the list, select it, and click OK. This does not show the password directly, but it opens Keychain Access. In Keychain Access, search for your network name, double-click it, check the box next to "Show password," and enter your Mac login password when prompted.

A faster route on newer Macs is to use Spotlight. Press Command + Space, type "Keychain Access," open it, search for your network name, double-click the entry, check "Show password," and authenticate with your Mac password.

Viewing the password on iPhone

iPhones running iOS 16 or later make this straightforward. Go to Settings, tap WiFi, find your network in the list, tap the info icon (the small circle with an "i"), and the password appears at the top of the screen. You can tap it to copy it to your clipboard.

If you are running iOS 15 or earlier, your iPhone does not display the password in Settings. Your only option is to use a Mac with Keychain Access, following the Mac steps above — the password will appear there if you have ever connected from that Mac. If you do not have access to a Mac, you will need to reset the router or contact the network owner.

Checking saved passwords on Android

Android does not show saved WiFi passwords in the Settings app the way Windows and Mac do. However, if you synced your passwords to your Google Account, you can view them through Google Password Manager. Open a web browser, go to passwords.google.com, sign in with your Google account, and search for your network name. The password appears there if it was synced.

If your passwords were not synced to Google, or if you want to check what is stored locally on your phone, you can look in the WiFi settings file — but this requires connecting your phone to a computer and using Android debugging tools, which is more complex than the other methods. For most people, the Google Password Manager route is simpler, or you can reset the router instead.

Resetting your router to create a new password

If you cannot retrieve the password from any device, you can reset your router to its factory defaults. Look for a small reset button on the back or bottom of the router — it is usually recessed so you cannot press it by accident. Use a paperclip or the tip of a pen to hold it down for 10 to 15 seconds while the router is powered on. The lights will flash and the router will restart.

After the reset, the router returns to its default network name and password, which are usually printed on a sticker on the device itself. Log in with those credentials, then change the network name and password to something you choose. You will find these settings in the router's admin panel — usually accessed by typing the router's IP address (often 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) into a web browser. Resetting erases all your custom settings, so only do this if you cannot recover the password another way.

What to do if you do not own the network

If the WiFi belongs to someone else — your landlord, an office, a coffee shop — you cannot reset the router or access its settings. Your options are to contact the person or organization that runs the network and ask them for the password. If it is a business, check their website or ask an employee. If it is a home network and you live there, ask the person whose name is on the account.

If you are trying to reconnect to a network you used to have access to but no longer do, you will need permission from the current owner to rejoin. There is no way around this — the password is theirs to share or withhold.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. Your device only stores passwords for networks you have already joined. If you have never connected, the password is not saved anywhere on your devices. You will need to contact the network owner or reset the router to factory defaults if you own it.

Why does my phone not show the WiFi password in settings like my computer does?

iPhones and Android phones treat passwords differently than Windows and Mac for security reasons. iPhones only show the password if you are running iOS 16 or later. Android does not display it in settings at all, though you can view it through Google Password Manager if you synced your account.

If I reset my router, will I lose my internet?

No, but you will lose your custom network name and password. After the reset, you will need to log back in using the default credentials on the router's sticker, then set up a new password. Your internet connection will work again once you reconnect with the new password.

What if I see my network in the list but cannot remember the password?

If you have connected before, follow the steps for your device type above — Windows, Mac, iPhone, or Android. If you have never connected, you cannot retrieve it from your device. Contact the network owner or reset the router if you own it.

Can I view someone else's WiFi password from their network?

No. You can only view passwords for networks stored on your own devices. You cannot access another person's saved passwords without their permission and access to their device or router.