Where your WiFi password lives on your device

Your device stores the password you entered when you first connected to your WiFi network. You can view it without calling your internet provider or resetting your router — the steps depend on whether you use Windows, Mac, iPhone, or Android. The password is usually hidden by default, but your operating system lets you reveal it if you are logged into the device as an administrator.

The reason passwords stay hidden is security: anyone with physical access to your computer could otherwise see them when ready. But if you own the device and remember your login, you can view the stored password in under a minute on most systems.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows stores WiFi passwords in Settings under Network and Internet, where you can view the password in plain text after clicking "Show".
  • Mac users can find the password in Keychain Access by searching for the network name, then double-clicking and checking "Show password".
  • iPhone and iPad do not display the password on screen, but you can share it directly to another Apple device or view it through your router settings.
  • Android phones do not show stored passwords in Settings, but you can view them through your router's admin page or by checking your Google Account settings if you saved it there.

Viewing your WiFi password on Windows 10 and 11

Open Settings and go to Network and Internet, then select WiFi. Click "Manage known networks" and choose the network whose password you want to see. Select "Forget" — this does not disconnect you, it just opens the network details. On the next screen, click "View" next to the password field and Windows will display it in plain text.

If that route does not work, try the Command Prompt method instead. Right-click the Start button, select "Windows Terminal (Admin)" or "Command Prompt (Admin)", and type this command exactly: netsh wlan show profile name="YourNetworkName" key=clear — replace "YourNetworkName" with the actual name of your network. The password appears next to "Key Content" in the results.

You must be logged in as an administrator to use either method. If you are not, ask whoever set up the computer to run these steps for you.

Viewing your WiFi 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. When it appears in the list, double-click it. A window opens — check the box next to "Show password" at the bottom. Your Mac will ask for your login password to confirm, then display the WiFi password in plain text.

If Keychain Access does not show your network, the password may not be stored on this Mac. This happens if you connected on a different device or if the network was set up by someone else. In that case, you will need to check the router settings or ask whoever set up the network.

Viewing your WiFi password on iPhone and iPad

Apple does not let you view a stored WiFi password on the iPhone or iPad screen itself. Instead, you can share the password directly to another Apple device: have the other person hold their iPhone or iPad near yours while you are both on the same WiFi network, and a prompt appears asking if you want to share the password. They tap "Share Password" and it transfers automatically.

If you need to see the password yourself, log into your router's admin page from a web browser on your phone. The router address is usually printed on the back of the router itself (often something like 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1). Enter your router's admin username and password — not your WiFi password — and look for a section called "WiFi Settings" or "Wireless" to find the password there.

Viewing your WiFi password on Android

Android does not display stored WiFi passwords in the Settings app the way Windows does. Your best option is to log into your router's admin page from any web browser. Open a browser on your phone, type your router's address (usually on the back of the router), and sign in with the router's admin credentials. Navigate to the WiFi or Wireless section to see the password.

If you saved the password to your Google Account, you can also check there: go to myaccount.google.com, select "Security" on the left, scroll to "Your devices", and look for saved passwords. This only works if you chose to save it when you first connected.

Finding the password through your router settings

Every router has an admin page where the WiFi password is stored. Look on the back or bottom of your router for a sticker with an address (usually starting with 192.168), a username, and a password. Open a web browser on any device connected to the network, type that address into the address bar, and sign in with the username and password from the sticker.

Once logged in, look for a section labeled "WiFi", "Wireless", "Network", or "WLAN". The password is usually called "Passphrase" or "Pre-Shared Key" (PSK). Write it down or take a photo before you leave the page. If you changed the admin password since you set up the router, you will need that changed password, not the one on the sticker.

If you cannot find the admin address or password on the sticker, check the router's manual or search online for "[your router model] default admin password". Most routers use the same defaults across all units of that model.

What to do if you cannot find your password

If none of these methods work, you have two remaining options. First, reset the router to factory settings by holding the reset button (usually a small hole on the back) for 10 to 15 seconds. This erases all your settings and returns the router to its default password, which is printed on the sticker. You will then need to set up the network again from scratch.

Second, contact your internet provider. They have records of your account and can tell you the password or help you reset it. Have your account number ready when you call. This is slower than the other methods but does not require you to reset anything.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Only if you have physical access to the router and know the admin password. The admin password is different from the WiFi password and is usually on a sticker on the router itself. If you do not have permission to access the router, you cannot view the password through normal means.

Is it safe to write down my WiFi password?

Yes, writing it down and storing it somewhere find is safer than trying to remember it or reusing the same password across multiple networks. Keep the written password in a place only you and people you trust can access, like a locked drawer or a password manager.

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

Log into your router's admin page and change the password there. The router remembers what you set it to, even if you forgot. If you also forgot the admin password, reset the router to factory settings and start over.

Why does my device show the network but not the password?

Your device is remembering that the network exists but not storing the password — this sometimes happens after a failed connection or if the network was set up by someone else. Forget the network in your WiFi settings and reconnect, entering the password again. This time it will be stored.

Can I see my WiFi password on a guest device that just connected?

No. A guest device that just connected does not have access to the stored password. Only devices that have been connected before and have the password saved can display it. A new device would need to be told the password by someone who knows it.