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 possibly written down somewhere you put it when you first set up the network. The easiest place to find it depends on what device you're using and whether you still have access to the router.

If you can physically reach your router, the password is usually printed on a sticker on the back or bottom — look for a label that says "WiFi Password", "Network Key", or "Pre-Shared Key". If you've changed the password since setup, it won't be on that sticker. If you can't reach the router or the sticker is worn away, you can retrieve the password from any computer that's already connected to the network.

Key Takeaways

  • Most routers have the default WiFi password printed on a physical sticker on the back or bottom of the device.
  • On Windows, you can find a saved WiFi password through Settings > Network > WiFi > Manage Known Networks, then select your network and choose "Manage".
  • On Mac, the WiFi password is stored in Keychain; open Keychain Access, search for your network name, double-click it, check "Show password", and enter your Mac login password.
  • If you've forgotten the password and can't retrieve it from a connected device, you can reset the router to factory settings, which will restore the default password on the sticker.

Finding your password on Windows 10 and 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. Click the Manage button that appears.

A new window opens showing your network details. At the bottom, you'll see a checkbox that says Show next to a password field. Click that checkbox. Windows will ask you to enter your computer login password — this is the password you use to sign into Windows itself, not your WiFi password. Once you enter it, your WiFi password appears in plain text.

If your network doesn't appear in the "Manage Known Networks" list, your computer has never connected to it before, and you'll need to use a different method — either check the router sticker or retrieve the password from another device that is connected.

Finding your password on Mac

Open Keychain Access. The fastest way is to press Command + Space, type "keychain", and press Enter. Once Keychain Access opens, use the search box in the top right corner and type your WiFi network name exactly as it appears.

When your network appears in the list, double-click it. A window pops up showing the network details. Near the bottom, check the box that says Show password. Your Mac will ask you to enter your login password — again, this is your Mac user password, not your WiFi password. Type it and click Allow. Your WiFi password now appears in the password field.

Retrieving the password directly from your router

If you can access your router's admin panel through a web browser, you can see the WiFi password there. Open any web browser and type 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 into the address bar. Most home routers use one of these addresses.

The router will ask for a username and password. If you've never changed these, they're usually admin for both the username and password, or admin and password. Check your router's sticker for the default login credentials — they're often printed there alongside the WiFi password.

Once you're logged in, look for a section called WiFi Settings, Wireless, or Network. The WiFi password (sometimes called the "Pre-Shared Key" or "Passphrase") will be displayed there. Different router brands organize this differently — Netgear, TP-Link, Linksys, and others have different menu layouts — but the password is always in the wireless settings section.

What to do if you've changed the password and can't remember it

If you changed your WiFi password and now can't find it anywhere, you have one option: reset the router to its factory default settings. This erases all your custom settings and restores the router to the state it was in when you bought it, including the default WiFi password printed on the sticker.

To reset most routers, locate the small Reset button on the back or bottom of the device. You'll need a paperclip or similar thin object to press it — it's recessed so you can't press it by accident. Hold the reset button down for 10 to 15 seconds while the router is powered on. The lights on the router will blink, and it will restart. Once it's back online, the WiFi network name and password will be whatever is printed on the sticker.

After the reset, you'll need to set up the router again from scratch: connect to the default network, log into the admin panel, and create a new WiFi password. Any devices that were previously connected will no longer work until you reconnect them using the new password.

Why you might not see the password even when connected

Some older versions of Windows and Mac don't display the password field, or the option to show it is hidden in a different location. If you're using an older operating system, the steps above may not work exactly as described. In that case, the most reliable method is to check the router sticker or reset the router.

If your computer is connected to the network through a guest account or a work network managed by an organization, you may not have permission to view the password. Work networks especially are often locked down so individual users can't see shared credentials. Contact your network administrator or IT department in that case.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. You can only retrieve a saved password from a device that has previously connected to that network. If no device in your home is connected, you'll need to check the router sticker or access the router's admin panel directly.

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

Only if you haven't changed it since you set up the router. If you've customized the password, the sticker shows the original default password, not your current one. You'll need to retrieve it from a connected device or the router's admin panel.

What if I don't know my Windows or Mac login password?

You won't be able to view the WiFi password through Settings or Keychain without it. Your best option is to check the physical sticker on the router or reset the router to restore the default password.

Can someone else see my WiFi password if they use my computer?

They can if they know your computer login password, since that's what's required to view saved WiFi passwords. Keep your computer password find if you want to keep your WiFi password private.

What's the difference between the router password and the WiFi password?

The router password (or admin password) lets you log into the router's settings to change configurations. The WiFi password is what devices use to connect to your network. They're completely separate — you need the router password to change the WiFi password, but you don't need it just to connect to WiFi.