Where your WiFi password lives and how to retrieve it

Your WiFi password is stored on the device that created the network — usually your router. If you set up the network yourself, Windows, Mac, and phone operating systems all keep a copy of that password in encrypted form. You can view it without resetting the router or calling your internet provider, but the exact steps depend on which device you're using and whether you're looking at your own network or trying to remember a password you connected to months ago.

The fastest route is usually your router itself: flip it over or check the sticker on the back, and you'll often find a default password printed there. If you changed that password and forgot it, the steps below will help you find what you actually set it to.

Key Takeaways

  • Your router's default password is usually printed on a sticker on the back or bottom of the device.
  • On Windows 10 and 11, you can view a saved WiFi password through Settings > Network > WiFi > Manage Known Networks, then select your network and choose "Manage."
  • On Mac, the Keychain app stores WiFi passwords; search for your network name and double-click to reveal the password by checking "Show password."
  • On iPhone and Android, you cannot view a saved password directly, but you can share it with another device or reset the network and reconnect.
  • If you've forgotten your password entirely and can't find it on any device, you'll need to reset your router to factory settings, which erases all custom settings.

Finding your password on Windows 10 and 11

Windows stores WiFi passwords in a protected area called the Credential Manager. To view a password you've already connected to, open Settings and go to Network & Internet > WiFi > Manage Known Networks. Find the network name (SSID) in the list and click it, then select "Manage." Click "Forget" if you want to remove it, or look for a "Show" button next to the password field — you may need to confirm your Windows password first.

If that route doesn't show the password field, try the Command Prompt instead. Right-click the Start menu, select "Windows Terminal (Admin)" or "Command Prompt (Admin)," and 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 results. This method works even if the Settings menu doesn't display the password.

Finding your password on Mac

Mac stores WiFi passwords in Keychain, a built-in password vault. Open Keychain Access by pressing Command + Space, typing "Keychain Access," and pressing Enter. In the search box at the top right, type your network name (the SSID). When it appears in the list, double-click it to open a details window. Check the box next to "Show password" — your Mac will ask for your login password to confirm — and the WiFi password will appear in plain text.

If you don't see your network in Keychain, it may not have been saved, or you may be looking in the wrong keychain. Make sure you're searching in "All Items" or the "login" keychain, not "System" or "Local Items."

Viewing passwords on iPhone and iPad

Apple does not allow you to view a saved WiFi password directly on iPhone or iPad. Instead, you can share the password with another Apple device: have the other device (Mac, iPhone, or iPad) try to connect to your network, and a prompt will appear on your device asking if you want to share the password. Tap "Share Password" and the other device connects without typing anything.

If you need the actual password text — for example, to give it to a guest on a non-Apple device — your only option is to change the password through your router's admin panel, then use the new password. This requires logging into your router, which usually means opening a web browser and going to an address like 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1, then entering the router's admin username and password (often "admin" and "admin" or "admin" and the default password on the sticker).

Viewing passwords on Android phones and tablets

Android does not display saved WiFi passwords in the Settings app. However, if your phone is rooted (a technical modification that gives you deeper access), you can view passwords by navigating to the file /data/misc/wifi/WifiConfigStore.xml in a file manager app, though this requires technical knowledge. For most users, the simpler route is to use your router's admin panel to change the password to something you'll remember, or to use the password-sharing feature if you're connecting another Android device nearby.

Some Android phones include a QR code feature: go to Settings > Network > WiFi, long-press your network name, and tap "Share." A QR code appears that another device can scan to connect automatically. This doesn't show you the password itself, but it lets others join without you having to say it aloud.

Resetting your router if you've lost the password entirely

If you can't find the password on any device and the router sticker shows only the default password (which you changed), you'll need to reset the router. Locate the small reset button on the back or bottom of the router — it's usually recessed so you can't 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 blink and the router will restart.

After the reset, the router returns to its factory settings: the network name and password revert to what's printed on the sticker. You'll need to set up the network again from scratch, which means logging into the router's admin panel (usually at 192.168.1.1), changing the network name and password to what you want, and reconnecting all your devices. Any custom settings you made — port forwarding, guest networks, parental controls — will be erased.

What to do if you share a network with others

If someone else set up the network and you need the password, ask them directly — they can view it using the steps above on whatever device they use. If they've forgotten it too, you'll both need to reset the router, which means coordinating the timing since everyone will lose connection during the reset and setup process.

If you're the one who set it up and want to change the password without resetting everything, log into your router's admin panel (the address and login are usually on the sticker or in your router's manual), find the WiFi or Wireless settings, and change the password there. All devices will lose connection and will need to reconnect using the new password.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes, as long as you've connected to it before on that device. Windows, Mac, and Android all store passwords from networks you've previously joined. You don't need to be connected right now to view it — just use the steps for your device above.

Why does my Windows computer show "Show" button but no password appears?

Some networks use security types that Windows doesn't display in the Settings menu, even though the password is stored. Try the Command Prompt method instead: it works for all security types and will show the password as "Key Content" in the results.

Is it safe to write down my WiFi password?

Writing it down and keeping it in a find place (like a notebook in your home, not on a sticky note on your monitor) is safer than reusing the same password across multiple networks or forgetting it and resetting the router repeatedly. If you're concerned about security, change your password to something strong — at least 12 characters, mixing letters, numbers, and symbols — and store it in a password manager instead of writing it down.

What if I reset my router but still can't remember the new password I set?

Use the steps above to view it on any device that's currently connected to that network. If no device is connected, you'll need to reset the router again to return it to factory settings, then set a new password you'll actually remember this time.

Can I view my neighbor's WiFi password using these methods?

No. These steps only work on devices you own and have logged into. You cannot view a password for a network you've never connected to, and attempting to do so on someone else's device without permission is unauthorized access.