How to see a saved Wi-Fi password (Windows, Android, iPhone, Mac)

Once your phone or computer has joined a Wi-Fi network, the password stays saved on the device. If you need to connect a new phone, a guest's device or a smart TV and cannot remember the password, you can read it from that saved entry; on Windows, Android, iPhone, iPad and Mac it takes a few taps and your screen lock code or administrator account.

This guide is only for seeing the password of a network you are allowed to use, saved on your own device; it is not a way to get into someone else's network or to crack a password. If a device has never joined a network, there is no saved password on it. Below we go through the menu names and version differences for each operating system step by step.

1. Work out which device has the password saved You can only see the password on a device that has joined that network before and saved the password; a device that has never connected has nothing to show. If you have several devices, use the easiest one: a Windows PC, iPhone, iPad or Mac shows the password as text, while Android shares the network as a QR code. The device asks for your screen lock password, PIN, fingerprint or face before revealing the password, so have that ready.
2. Windows 11: show the password of the network you are on Open <strong>Start > Settings</strong> and go to <strong>Network & internet</strong> in the left menu. Click <strong>Properties</strong> for the Wi-Fi network you are connected to. On the page that opens, find <strong>Wi-Fi network password</strong> and click <strong>Show</strong> next to it; the password appears as text. You can also scan the QR code shown on this screen with another device to connect it to the network.
3. Windows 11: check a network saved earlier Open <strong>Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks</strong>. The list holds the networks the PC has joined and saved; click the network whose password you want. Click <strong>Show</strong> next to <strong>Wi-Fi network password</strong>. This works for saved networks even when you are not connected to them right now.
4. Windows 10: look in Network and Sharing Center Open <strong>Settings > Network & Internet > Status</strong> and click <strong>Network and Sharing Center</strong>. Next to <strong>Connections</strong>, click the name of your Wi-Fi network. In the <strong>Wi-Fi Status</strong> window, click <strong>Wireless Properties</strong>, then go to the <strong>Security</strong> tab. Tick the <strong>Show characters</strong> check box; the password appears in the <strong>Network security key</strong> box. This screen only covers the network you are connected to at the moment.
5. Windows 11 and 10: list saved networks with Command Prompt Type <strong>cmd</strong> in the Start menu, right-click <strong>Command Prompt</strong> and choose <strong>Run as administrator</strong>; the password is only shown in plain text with administrator rights. First type <strong>netsh wlan show profiles</strong> and press Enter to list the networks saved on the PC. Then type <strong>netsh wlan show profile name="Network name" key=clear</strong>, putting the network name inside the quotes exactly as it appears in the list, and press Enter. The password is on the <strong>Key Content</strong> line under <strong>Security settings</strong>.
6. Android: share the network as a QR code Open the <strong>Settings</strong> app and tap <strong>Network & internet > Internet</strong>. Tap the settings icon next to the Wi-Fi network you are connected to, then tap <strong>Share</strong>. If asked, confirm it is you with your screen lock. A QR code appears; the person who needs to connect scans it with their own device and joins without typing the password. Menu names vary by phone maker and Android version; according to Google's help page, some of these steps work only on Android 12 and up.
7. iPhone and iPad: see the password of the network you are on Tap <strong>Settings > Wi-Fi</strong>. Tap the blue <strong>Info</strong> (i) button next to the network you are connected to. Tap the <strong>Password</strong> field and unlock with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode; the password appears and can be copied. This feature arrived with iOS 16 and iPadOS 16.1; if you are on an older version, update the software first.
8. iPhone and iPad: check networks you joined before In <strong>Settings > Wi-Fi</strong>, tap <strong>Edit</strong> in the upper-right corner and unlock with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode; the networks you joined before are listed. Tap the <strong>Info</strong> (i) button next to a network with a lock icon, then tap the <strong>Password</strong> field. On iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 you can also get there from the <strong>Passwords</strong> app: open it, unlock it, tap <strong>Wi-Fi</strong>, find the network and tap the <strong>Password</strong> field.
9. Mac: use the Passwords app (macOS Sequoia and later) Open the <strong>Passwords</strong> app. Click <strong>Wi-Fi</strong> in the sidebar; the network you are connected to is at the top, with networks you saved before below it. If the sidebar is hidden, click the sidebar button at the top of the window. Click the network and hold the pointer over the dots next to <strong>Password</strong>; the password appears, and clicking the dots copies it.
10. Mac: use Keychain Access On older versions of macOS without the Passwords app, type <strong>Keychain Access</strong> into Spotlight and press Return to open it. Click <strong>Passwords</strong> in the category list, find the item named after your Wi-Fi network and double-click it. Tick the <strong>Show password</strong> check box and enter your keychain password when asked; by default it is the same as your Mac login password. Click <strong>Allow</strong> in the window that appears and the password shows in the box.

⚠ This guide is general information. Yudum cannot be held responsible for the outcome of following it; for official procedures always rely on the institution's own statement. Steps and fees change over time.

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