Where your WiFi password actually lives

Your WiFi password is stored in two places: on your router (the device that broadcasts the signal) and on each device you've connected to it. When you typed the password into your phone or laptop the first time, that device saved it so you wouldn't have to type it again. To find it, you go to whichever device remembers it — not back to the router itself, unless you want to reset everything.

The password you're looking for is called the pre-shared key or network security key in most operating systems. It's different from your router's admin password (the one that lets you log into the router's settings page). You need the network security key to connect new devices or to give someone else access to your WiFi.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows, open Settings > Network > WiFi > Manage Known Networks, select your network, and choose "Manage" to see the password under "Network security key".
  • On Mac, open Keychain Access from Applications > Utilities, search for your network name, double-click it, check "Show password", and enter your Mac login password.
  • On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > WiFi, tap the info icon next to your network, and look for the password field if you're on iOS 16 or newer.
  • On Android, open Settings > WiFi, long-press your network name, tap "Share", and the password appears as a QR code or text depending on your phone's Android version.
  • If you can't find the password on any device, you can reset the router to factory settings, but this disconnects all devices and requires you to set up WiFi from scratch.

Finding your password on Windows 10 or 11

Open Settings and go to Network & Internet. Click WiFi on the left side, then scroll down and click "Manage Known Networks". Find your network name in the list and click it. A new window opens — click "Manage" at the top. Under "Network security key", there's a checkbox that says "Show". Check that box, and Windows asks for your Windows password. Type it in, and your WiFi password appears in plain text.

If you don't see your network in the "Manage Known Networks" list, it means this computer has never connected to it before. In that case, connect to the network first (from the WiFi menu in the taskbar), then come back to Settings and repeat the steps above.

Finding your password on Mac

Click the Apple menu and go to System Settings (or System Preferences on older Macs). Search for "WiFi" in the search box. Click WiFi, then click "Details" or "Advanced" depending on your macOS version. Look for a field labeled "Password" — if it's blank or hidden, you'll need to use Keychain instead.

Open Finder, go to Applications, then Utilities, and double-click Keychain Access. In the search box at the top right, type your network name (the one you see when you look for WiFi). When it appears in the list, double-click it. A window pops up — check the box that says "Show password" at the bottom. Your Mac asks for your login password. Type it in, and the WiFi password shows up in the password field.

Finding your password on iPhone or iPad

This only works on iOS 16 and newer. Go to Settings > WiFi. Find your network name in the list and tap the info icon (the circle with an "i") next to it. A details screen opens. Scroll down and look for a "Password" field. If it's there, tap it and the password appears. If you don't see a password field, your device is running an older version of iOS, and you'll need to check a different device or the router itself.

On older iPhones and iPads, there's no built-in way to view the password. Your best option is to use a different device (Windows, Mac, or Android) that has connected to the network, or to reset the router.

Finding your password on Android

Go to Settings > WiFi (or Network & Internet > WiFi on some phones). Long-press the name of your network — don't just tap it. A menu appears with several options. Tap "Share" or "Share Password". Your phone displays the password as a QR code and sometimes as text below it. If you see only the QR code, another device can scan it to connect without typing the password.

On some older Android phones, the password doesn't appear in the WiFi settings at all. If that's the case, try a different device or check the router itself.

Finding the password on your router if no device remembers it

If you've forgotten the password and can't find it on any connected device, you can look at the router itself. Most routers have a sticker on the bottom or back with the default network name and password printed on it. This password is usually a long string of letters and numbers — look for a field labeled "WiFi Password", "Network Key", or "Pre-Shared Key".

If the sticker is missing or worn away, or if you changed the password and can't find it anywhere, your only option is to reset the router to factory settings. This erases all your settings and disconnects every device. To reset, hold down the reset button (usually a small hole on the back) for 10 to 15 seconds while the router is powered on. The router restarts and goes back to the default password on the sticker. You then have to set up WiFi again from scratch and reconnect all your devices.

What to do if you changed the password and forgot it

If you changed your WiFi password in the router settings and now can't remember it, check any device that's still connected to that network. A connected device stores the password even if you forgot it, so you can pull it from Windows Settings, Mac Keychain, iPhone, or Android using the steps above.

If no devices are currently connected, or if all your devices have been reset, you'll need to reset the router itself. This is the only way forward — there's no "forgot password" recovery for WiFi the way there is for email or social media accounts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the WiFi password the same as the router admin password?

No. The WiFi password (network security key) is what you type to connect devices to the internet. The admin password is what you use to log into the router's settings page to change WiFi name, password, or other configurations. They're separate, and you only need the WiFi password to use the internet.

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

Only if you've connected to it before on that device. If you've never connected, the device has no record of the password. You'd need to check a different device that has connected, or look at the router itself.

Why does my phone show a QR code instead of the password text?

Some Android phones display the password as a QR code for security — it's harder to accidentally share text than a code. You can still read the password if you look closely, or another device can scan the code to connect without typing anything.

What if I see the password field but it's blank?

A blank password field usually means your network doesn't have a password set (it's open to anyone). This is uncommon for home WiFi but possible. If you want to add a password, you'll need to log into the router's admin panel and set one up.

Can I change my WiFi password from my phone?

Not directly from the WiFi settings. You have to log into your router's admin page through a web browser or the router's app. This requires the router's admin password, which is different from the WiFi password. Check your router's manual or the sticker on the back for the admin login details.