How to Find Your Wi-Fi Password

Your Wi-Fi password is stored in multiple places across your devices and your router, so forgetting it does not mean you need to reset anything. Whether you need to connect a new phone, share access with a visitor, or reconnect after a device reset, retrieving the saved password takes just a few steps.

This guide covers every method: pulling it from Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and directly from your router admin panel.

Find Your Wi-Fi Password on Windows

Windows stores the password for every Wi-Fi network you have connected to. The command line method is the fastest way to retrieve it.

Open Command Prompt as an administrator. Press the Windows key, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.

First, list all saved Wi-Fi profiles:

netsh wlan show profiles

This displays every network your computer has connected to. Find your network name in the list, then run:

netsh wlan show profile name="YourNetworkName" key=clear

Replace YourNetworkName with the exact SSID of your Wi-Fi network. Look under the Security settings section for the line labeled Key Content. That is your Wi-Fi password in plain text.

If the Key Content field is blank, you may not have run Command Prompt as administrator. Close and reopen it with admin privileges.

You can also use the graphical method. On Windows 10, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Network and Sharing Center, click your Wi-Fi network, then Wireless Properties > Security > Show characters.

Find Your Wi-Fi Password on macOS

macOS stores Wi-Fi passwords in the system Keychain, which is accessible through Keychain Access or the Terminal. Both methods require your Mac login password for authentication.

Using Keychain Access:

1. Open Finder > Applications > Utilities > Keychain Access.
2. In the search bar at the top right, type your Wi-Fi network name.
3. Double-click the entry that appears (it will show as an AirPort network password or Wi-Fi password type).
4. Check the box labeled Show Password.
5. Enter your Mac administrator username and password when prompted.
6. The Wi-Fi password appears in the password field.

You can also use Terminal: run security find-generic-password -wa "YourNetworkName" and enter your Mac login password. On macOS Sonoma and newer, go to System Settings > Wi-Fi, click the info button (i) next to your network, and click the password field to reveal it with Touch ID.

Find Your Wi-Fi Password on Android

Android devices running version 10 (released 2019) and newer can display the saved Wi-Fi password directly in the settings. Older versions required root access, but modern Android has made this straightforward.

1. Open Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi (or Settings > Connections > Wi-Fi on Samsung devices).
2. Tap the network you are connected to, or tap the gear icon next to it.
3. Tap the Share button or QR Code button.
4. Authenticate with your fingerprint, PIN, or pattern.
5. A QR code appears that other devices can scan to connect. Below the QR code, the Wi-Fi password is displayed in plain text.

On Samsung phones running One UI, the path is Settings > Connections > Wi-Fi. Tap the gear icon next to your connected network, then tap QR Code. If your Android phone runs a version older than 10, use the router admin panel method below, or retrieve the password from a computer connected to the same network.

Find Your Wi-Fi Password on iPhone and iPad

iOS does not provide a direct way to view saved Wi-Fi passwords in the same way Android does, but Apple added password viewing in iOS 16. The method depends on your iOS version.

iOS 16 and newer:

1. Open Settings > Wi-Fi.
2. Tap the info button (i) next to the connected network.
3. Tap the Password field.
4. Authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode.
5. The password is revealed and you can copy it.

iOS 15 and older (using iCloud Keychain on Mac):

If you have a Mac signed into the same Apple ID with iCloud Keychain enabled, your Wi-Fi passwords sync across devices. Open Keychain Access on your Mac and search for the network name using the macOS steps above.

Find Your Wi-Fi Password From the Router Admin Panel

Your router stores the Wi-Fi password in its wireless settings, and you can view it from any device connected to the network. This method works regardless of which operating system you are using.

1. Connect to the router via Wi-Fi or Ethernet cable. If you cannot connect wirelessly (because you forgot the password), use an Ethernet cable from your computer directly to the router.
2. Open a web browser and type 192.168.1.1 in the address bar. If that does not load, try 192.168.0.1 or check the router label for the correct address.
3. Log in with the router admin credentials. These are different from the Wi-Fi password. Check the router label for defaults, or consult the default router passwords list.
4. Go to Wireless Settings, Wi-Fi Settings, or Wireless Security depending on your router brand.
5. Look for a field labeled Password, Passphrase, Pre-Shared Key, or Security Key. Click the eye icon if the password is hidden.

On TP-Link routers, go to Wireless > Wireless Security. On ASUS routers, click Wireless in the sidebar and look for WPA Pre-Shared Key. On Netgear routers, go to Wireless Setup or Setup > Wireless Settings and find the Passphrase field.

Check the Router Label for the Default Password

Every router ships with a sticker that displays the factory-default Wi-Fi credentials. This label is typically found on the bottom of the router, on the back panel, or on a pull-out card on the side.

The label includes the default SSID (network name) and the default Wi-Fi password. It may be labeled as Wireless Key, Wi-Fi Password, Network Key, WPA Key, or Default Password.

This method only works if you have never changed the Wi-Fi password from the factory setting. If you did change it and cannot retrieve it through any method above, factory reset the router by pressing and holding the reset button (small pinhole on the back) for 10 seconds. After the reboot, use the default credentials from the label.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

If the Windows netsh command shows no Key Content, make sure you opened Command Prompt as administrator. If Keychain Access on macOS does not show your network, switch to the System keychain using the sidebar.

For networks that use enterprise authentication (common in offices and universities), there is no single password to retrieve. Those networks use individual credentials managed by the IT department.