Where to find and enter your WiFi password

Your WiFi password is the code you type when you first connect a device to your home network. On most devices, you enter it once during setup, and the device remembers it afterward. If you need to enter it again — because you changed the password, reset your router, or added a new device — the steps are nearly identical across phones, tablets, and computers.

The password itself comes from your router, the box that broadcasts your WiFi signal. You either set this password yourself during initial setup, or it came pre-printed on a sticker attached to the router. If you have never changed it, check the bottom or back of your router for a sticker labeled "WiFi Password", "Network Key", or "Pre-Shared Key".

Key Takeaways

  • Your WiFi password is entered only once per device, and the device stores it automatically after that.
  • On phones and tablets, go to Settings, find WiFi or Network settings, select your network name, and type the password when prompted.
  • On Windows and Mac computers, click the network icon in the system tray, select your network, and enter the password in the dialog box.
  • If a device rejects your password, restart the router, wait 30 seconds, and try again — the router may not have registered a recent password change.
  • The password is case-sensitive, so uppercase and lowercase letters matter; if you are unsure, check the sticker on your router.

Entering WiFi password on iPhone or iPad

Open Settings and tap WiFi. You will see a list of available networks. Find your network name (called the SSID) and tap it. A dialog box will appear asking for your password.

Type the password exactly as it appears on your router sticker or in your router settings. Pay attention to uppercase and lowercase letters — the password is case-sensitive. Tap Join when you are done. The device will connect and remember this password for future use. If the password is rejected, double-check that you typed it correctly, including any numbers or special characters.

Entering WiFi password on Android phone or tablet

Open Settings and look for WiFi, Wireless, or Network — the exact name varies by manufacturer. Tap it to see available networks. Select your network name from the list.

A password field will appear. Type your password carefully, matching uppercase and lowercase letters exactly. Some Android devices show a checkbox labeled Show password — check this if you want to see what you are typing. Tap Connect or OK. Once connected, the device stores the password and will reconnect automatically when you are in range.

Entering WiFi password on Windows computer

Look for the network icon in the bottom right corner of your screen, near the clock. On Windows 10 and 11, it looks like a WiFi symbol or a series of dots. Click it to open the network panel.

Find your network name in the list and click it. A window will pop up asking for your password. Type it carefully — again, uppercase and lowercase matter. Click Next or Connect. Windows will remember the password and connect automatically the next time you start your computer, as long as you are in range of the network.

Entering WiFi password on Mac computer

Click the WiFi icon in the top right corner of your screen — it looks like a fan or curved lines. A dropdown menu will show available networks. Select your network name.

A dialog box will ask for your password. Type it exactly as it appears on your router, paying attention to capital letters. Click Join. Your Mac will connect and store the password in its keychain, so you will not need to enter it again on this computer.

What to do if the password is rejected

If a device says the password is wrong even though you typed it correctly, the most common cause is that your router has not yet registered a recent password change. Restart your router by unplugging it from power, waiting 30 seconds, and plugging it back in. Wait another minute for it to fully restart, then try entering the password again.

If the problem persists, check the sticker on your router a second time — you may have misread a number or letter. Some routers use the letter O and the number 0 interchangeably, or the letter l and the number 1, which are straightforward to confuse. If you still cannot connect, you can reset your router to its factory password by holding the reset button for 10 seconds, though this will erase any changes you made to the network name or password.

Changing your WiFi password for security

If you want to change your password to something easier to remember, log into your router's settings page. Open a web browser on any device connected to your network and type your router's IP address — usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 — into the address bar. You will be asked for a username and password; these are different from your WiFi password and are printed on the router sticker.

Once logged in, look for a section labeled WiFi Settings, Wireless, or Security. Find the field for WiFi password or pre-shared key and enter your new password. Save the changes. Your router will restart, and all your devices will temporarily lose connection. Reconnect each device using the new password.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to enter the password every time I use WiFi?

No. Once you enter the password on a device, that device stores it and reconnects automatically whenever it is in range of your network. You only need to enter it again if you change the password, reset your router, or add a new device.

What if I forgot my WiFi password?

Check the sticker on the back or bottom of your router — it usually has the password printed there. If the sticker is missing or unreadable, you can reset your router to its factory settings by holding the reset button for 10 seconds. This erases your current password and network name, and you will need to set them up again from scratch.

Is the WiFi password the same as my router login password?

No. Your WiFi password is what you type to connect to the network. Your router login password is what you type to access the router's settings page. They are separate and can be different. The WiFi password is on the network sticker; the router login password is usually on the same sticker or in your router's manual.

Why does my device keep asking for the password even though I already entered it?

This usually means the device did not save the password correctly, or you are connecting to a different network with a similar name. Check that you are selecting the exact network name from the list. If the problem continues, forget the network on your device (in WiFi settings, select the network and choose "Forget"), then reconnect and enter the password again.

Can I see my WiFi password if I forgot it?

On Windows, right-click your network name in WiFi settings, select Properties, and look for a field labeled "Security key" — check the box to show it. On Mac, open Keychain Access, search for your network name, double-click it, and check "Show password". On phones, you cannot view a saved password through settings, but you can reset your router or check the sticker on the device itself.