Need your Wi-Fi password for another device, but can't remember it? Your Mac can reveal saved network passwords, starting with the Passwords app on macOS Sequoia 15 and Tahoe 26. If the network isn't saved there, try System Settings, Keychain Access, another Apple device, or your router.
Reveal the password in Passwords
Open Passwords on your Mac. Then unlock it with Touch ID or your Mac user account password. If the sidebar is hidden, click the Sidebar button.
Click Wi-Fi in the sidebar. Select the network you want. Both your currently connected network and previously saved networks are supported.
Hold the pointer over the dots beside Password to reveal it. Click the dots to copy the password. Tip: Click Show Network QR Code in the network's entry to let another device scan it and join.
Find a missing network in System Settings
A previously used network disappears from the main Wi-Fi settings view when it isn't available, because that view lists available known networks.
Open System Settings from the Apple menu. Click Network, then select Wi-Fi. Open Advanced to reach the complete known-network list.
Click the More button beside your network. Choose Copy Password. Paste it into a text field with Command-V to read it. This route works on macOS Ventura 13 and later, including Macs without the Passwords app.
For the shorter route on Tahoe 26, open System Settings from the Apple menu. Click Wi-Fi. Under Known Networks, click the More button beside an available network.
Choose Copy Password. This option is unavailable for some networks. Paste the password into a text field with Command-V.
Look up the network in Keychain Access
Keychain Access offers another way to reveal a saved Wi-Fi password. This requires an accessible network-password item in a keychain; a Passwords entry alone doesn't establish that the item is available here.
Search for Keychain Access in Spotlight. Press Return to open it. If the keychain viewer isn't visible, press Command-1. Select the keychain containing the network-password item.
Double-click the item for your network. Select Show password. Enter that keychain's password to reveal the saved Wi-Fi password. If you can't find or unlock the item, try an iPhone or iPad that has the network saved.
Read it on your iPhone or iPad
Use Wi-Fi settings on iOS 16 or later, or iPadOS 16.1 or later, to read a connected or previously saved network's password.
- 1.Open Settings.
- 2.Tap Wi-Fi.
- 3.For an older saved network, tap Edit and authenticate; for the connected network, continue to its details.
- 4.Tap the Info button beside the network.
- 5.Tap Password and authenticate if prompted.
- 6.Read or copy the displayed password for use on your Mac.
Bring saved passwords over with iCloud Keychain
iCloud Keychain brings another approved Apple device's saved Wi-Fi credentials to your Mac.
Open System Settings from the Apple menu. Click your name. Select iCloud.
Open Passwords. On macOS Sonoma or earlier, this section is called Passwords & Keychain. Turn on Sync this Mac. Click Done.
Enable iCloud Keychain synchronization on your other device using the same Apple Account. iCloud Keychain requires two-factor authentication. Complete any approval prompt.
On a Mac running Sequoia 15 or Tahoe 26, open Passwords. Click Wi-Fi. Select the synced network. Hold the pointer over the dots beside Password to read it.
Check the router when the password isn't saved
Look at your router's label for the network name and password or network key. The printed password works only if the default hasn't changed.
Check the router documentation or ISP setup sheet for the same details. Sign in to your router's administration webpage to access its wireless settings. The address and menus depend on the model; the following steps apply to TP-Link Archer A7/C7 V5 routers.
Connect your Mac to the TP-Link router by Ethernet if necessary. Visit http://tplinkwifi.net in your browser. Sign in with your TP-Link ID or router administration password.
Choose Basic. Open Wireless to retrieve the Wi-Fi password. Tip: Follow the instructions for your exact router model, since other routers use different addresses and menus.
Get help when there's no password to reveal
Some networks have no shared Wi-Fi password to display, including certain open and enterprise networks. Apple also states that Copy Password is unavailable for some networks.
On a work or school Mac, ask your organization's administrator about unavailable password-sharing options. Management restrictions control nearby Wi-Fi password requests and sharing through Passwords, with no universal consumer setting to override them.
Forgetting a network doesn't reveal its password. Resetting the router replaces its configuration instead of showing the existing password.
If none of these methods gives you a usable password, ask the network owner, installer, ISP, or venue staff for the current connection details.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Siri help me find a saved Wi-Fi password?
Yes. Activate Siri and say “Show my passwords,” then authenticate. On macOS Sequoia 15 or Tahoe 26, click Wi-Fi in Passwords, select the network, and hold the pointer over the dots beside Password. Siri opens saved passwords; you complete the Wi-Fi lookup in the app.
Can I get my Google Wifi password from Google Home?
Yes. For Google Nest Wifi or Google Wifi, open Google Home on your mobile device and go to Home > Wifi > Share password. Swipe left for the guest network password. Use Copy, Message, or Email to transfer it for use on your Mac.
How do I view an AirPort or Time Capsule Wi-Fi password?
Open AirPort Utility on your Mac, select the base station in the graphical overview, and click Edit. Choose Base Station > Show Passwords. You must know the base station or Time Capsule password. This method applies to Apple routers managed through AirPort Utility.
Do I need to download an app to find my Wi-Fi password?
No. The built-in Passwords, System Settings, and Keychain Access methods require no download or installation.