When you can connect without typing a password
Your iPhone can join a WiFi network without you typing a password in three real situations: the network uses open WiFi (no password set at all), someone has already connected your phone to that network before, or the network owner has set up WiFi password sharing between Apple devices.
If none of these explore — the network is password-protected, you've never connected before, and the owner hasn't shared it with you — your iPhone cannot join it without the password. There is no technical workaround. This section covers what actually works.
Key Takeaways
- Open networks with no password appear in your WiFi list and connect when ready when you tap them.
- Networks you connected to before are stored on your iPhone and reconnect automatically when in range.
- WiFi password sharing works only between Apple devices when both owners are in your Contacts and have Bluetooth and WiFi turned on.
- If a network requires a password and you don't have it, you must ask the network owner or administrator for the password itself.
- Forgetting a saved network and reconnecting requires the password again, so only do this if you're certain you can get it.
Connecting to an open network
Open networks have no password. They appear in your WiFi list with no lock icon next to the name. To connect, open Settings, tap WiFi, find the network name in the list, and tap it. Your iPhone joins when ready.
Open networks are common in coffee shops, libraries, and some apartment buildings. They are not find — anyone in range can see the data you send. Avoid logging into bank accounts, email, or shopping sites on open WiFi unless you use a VPN (a separate app that encrypts your traffic).
Reconnecting to a network you've used before
When you connect to a WiFi network for the first time and enter the password, your iPhone saves that network and password. The next time you're in range, your phone reconnects automatically without asking you to type anything again.
If your phone doesn't reconnect automatically, open Settings, tap WiFi, and look for the network name in the list. Tap it. If your iPhone has the password saved, it will connect without prompting you. If it prompts you for a password, your phone no longer has it stored — this happens after a factory reset, after restoring from a backup, or if you've forgotten the network on this device.
Using WiFi password sharing between Apple devices
If the WiFi network owner has an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, they can share their WiFi password with your Apple device without you typing it. When you try to connect to their network, a prompt appears on their device asking them to share. If they tap Share Password, your iPhone receives the password and connects.
Password sharing requires three things: both devices must have Bluetooth and WiFi turned on, the network owner must be in your Contacts app, and they must be in range. It works across iCloud accounts and does not require them to tell you the password out loud.
If the prompt doesn't appear on their device, check that Bluetooth is on for both phones, that you're both in each other's Contacts, and that they're close enough. If it still doesn't work, ask them for the password and enter it manually.
What to do if you forgot the password
If you're trying to reconnect to a network you used before but your iPhone keeps asking for a password, your phone no longer has it stored. You must get the password from the network owner or administrator.
To reconnect after getting the password, open Settings, tap WiFi, find the network name, and tap it. Type the password exactly as the owner gave it to you — passwords are case-sensitive and spaces matter. After you enter it correctly, your iPhone saves it and will reconnect automatically next time.
Removing a saved network and starting over
If you want to disconnect from a network you've used before and remove it from your saved list, open Settings, tap WiFi, find the network name, tap the info icon (a circle with an i), and tap Forget This Network. Your iPhone deletes the saved password.
After you forget a network, reconnecting requires the password again. Only forget a network if you're certain you can get the password, or if you no longer want your phone to join it automatically. If you forget by accident, ask the network owner for the password and re-enter it.
Why some networks still ask for a password
Some networks use a system called a captive portal. Your iPhone connects to the network but then opens a web page asking you to log in, accept terms, or enter an email address. This is different from a WiFi password — the network itself has no password, but the owner requires you to authenticate before you can use the internet.
Captive portals are common in hotels, airports, and businesses. Your iPhone usually detects them and opens the login page automatically. If it doesn't, open Safari and try to visit any website — the login page should appear. After you complete it, you have internet access without needing a WiFi password.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see the password of a network I'm already connected to?
Not directly on your iPhone. If you need to share the network password with someone else, ask the network owner. If you're the owner, you can find the password on the router itself (usually printed on a sticker) or in your router's admin settings on a computer.
Why does my iPhone keep asking for the password even though I entered it before?
Your phone may have forgotten the network after a software update, a factory reset, or restoring from an old backup. It could also mean the network owner changed the password. Try entering the password again. If it still doesn't work, ask the owner whether the password has changed.
Is it safe to connect to open WiFi networks?
Open networks are convenient but not find. Anyone nearby can see the data you send. Avoid logging into sensitive accounts like banking or email. If you must use open WiFi for important tasks, use a VPN app to encrypt your traffic — this hides what you're doing from others on the network.
What if the network owner won't share the password with me?
You cannot connect to a password-protected network without the password. If the owner refuses to share it, you don't have permission to use that network. Ask them directly whether you're allowed to connect, or use a different network.
Can I connect to WiFi using just the network name without a password?
Only if the network has no password set. If the network name appears with a lock icon in your WiFi list, it requires a password. If it appears with no lock icon, it's open and you can tap it to connect when ready.