How to Find Your Wi-Fi Password
Forgot the Wi-Fi password but need to add a new phone, TV or guest? If a device you own is already connected, the password is sitting right there. Here is how to reveal it on every device — plus the router fallback.
You almost never need to “crack” a Wi-Fi password — you just need to read the one your own devices already know. Any phone or computer that is connected to a network has the password stored, and every modern operating system has a built-in way to show it to you (after you prove it is your device). Below are the exact steps for Windows 11, Mac, iPhone, Android and the router itself, so you can recover the password whatever you happen to have in your hand.
Key takeaways
- iPhone (iOS 16+) and Android reveal the saved password in Settings → Wi-Fi after you authenticate — the fastest route.
- Windows 11: use Settings → Wi-Fi properties, or run
netsh wlan show profile name="X" key=clearin Command Prompt. - No saved device? Read the default off the router sticker, or sign in to the admin page at 192.168.1.1.
- Changing the router password logs out every device — reveal it instead of resetting it when you just need to share.
On Windows 11
There are three reliable ways on a Windows 11 PC that is already connected to the network.
Settings (easiest): open Settings → Network & internet → Wi-Fi, click your network’s name to open its Properties, and scroll to the View Wi-Fi security key (or properties) option to reveal it. On recent builds Windows shows the key directly here once you click to view it.
Command Prompt (most reliable): press the Start button, type cmd, open Command Prompt, and run:
netsh wlan show profile name="YOUR_NETWORK" key=clear
Replace YOUR_NETWORK with your exact network name (keep the quotes if it has spaces). In the output, look under Security settings for the Key Content line — that is your Wi-Fi password in plain text. To list every saved network first, run netsh wlan show profiles.
Classic Control Panel: open Control Panel → Network and Sharing Center, click your Wi-Fi connection next to “Connections”, choose Wireless Properties, open the Security tab, and tick Show characters to display the network security key.
On a Mac
macOS stores Wi-Fi passwords in the keychain. Open Keychain Access (Applications → Utilities), search for your network name, double-click the entry, tick Show password, and enter your Mac login password to reveal it. Even simpler: if you have an iPhone or iPad signed in to the same Apple Account nearby, your Mac can share the password automatically when a trusted device tries to join — no lookup needed.
On iPhone (iOS 16 and later)
Apple added a proper reveal in iOS 16, so this is now trivial. Open Settings → Wi-Fi, tap the blue (i) next to the network you are connected to, tap Password, and authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. The password appears in plain text and a Copy button lets you paste it elsewhere. If you are on an older iOS version without this option, share the password to the new device by holding the two phones near each other, or fall back to the router.
On Android
Modern Android makes sharing effortless via a QR code. Open Settings → Network & internet → Wi-Fi, tap the network you are connected to, and tap Share. After you authenticate with your PIN, pattern or fingerprint, the phone displays a QR code with the password printed underneath it. The other person points their camera at the code and taps the prompt to join — or you simply read the password off the screen and type it in.
Don’t change it when you only need to share it. Changing the router’s Wi-Fi password logs out every connected device — phones, laptops, TVs, speakers and smart-home gadgets — and each one must be reconnected with the new password. To add one device, reveal the existing password using the steps above; only change it when you actually want to lock unknown devices out.
On the router sticker or admin page
If no device has the password saved, go to the source. Most routers print the default Wi-Fi name and password on a sticker on the bottom or back — if nobody changed it, that is your password. To view or change the current one, sign in to the router’s admin page: open a browser and go to 192.168.1.1 (or 192.168.0.1, or the address printed on the router), log in with the admin credentials (also often on the sticker), and open the wireless settings. There you can read the current password and, if you choose, set a new one. If you do plan to change it, our guide to securing your home Wi-Fi covers picking a strong one, and the router buying guide helps if it is time for new hardware.
Method by device, at a glance
| Device | Where to look | Need |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 11 | Settings → Wi-Fi properties, or netsh ... key=clear | Connected PC |
| Windows (classic) | Network & Sharing Center → Wireless Properties → Security → Show characters | Admin user |
| Mac | Keychain Access → Show password | Mac login |
| iPhone (iOS 16+) | Settings → Wi-Fi → (i) → Password | Face ID / passcode |
| Android | Settings → Wi-Fi → network → Share (QR + text) | PIN / fingerprint |
| Router | Sticker, or admin page at 192.168.1.1 | Physical / admin access |
With the password in hand you can add the new device. If it then connects but the network feels slow or keeps dropping, see fixing Wi-Fi that keeps disconnecting, speeding up your Wi-Fi, or extending coverage with a range extender or a mesh network. And if you are constantly forgetting passwords, a password manager stores your Wi-Fi key alongside everything else.
Last updated 20 June 2026. Steps verified against current Windows 11, macOS, iOS 16+ and Android settings paths.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find my Wi-Fi password on Windows 11?
On a Windows 11 PC already connected to the network, open Settings, then Network and internet, then Wi-Fi, then your network's Properties to see the security key. The fastest method is Command Prompt: type netsh wlan show profile name="YOUR_NETWORK" key=clear and read the Key Content line. You can also use the classic Control Panel route through Network and Sharing Center, Wireless Properties, Security tab, and tick Show characters.
How do I see the Wi-Fi password on my iPhone?
On iOS 16 or later, open Settings, tap Wi-Fi, tap the blue circled i next to the network you are connected to, then tap Password and authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. The password appears in plain text and you can tap Copy. On older iOS versions there is no built-in reveal, so share it from another device or check the router instead.
Can I find a Wi-Fi password without being connected to it?
Only if you have access to the router. Every reveal method on a phone or computer requires the device to have the password already saved, which means it must have connected before. If no device has the password, read the default off the sticker on the router, or sign in to the router admin page at 192.168.1.1 to view or reset it. Trying to recover a neighbour's password you were never given is not possible by legitimate means.
How do I share my Wi-Fi password from Android?
On modern Android, open Settings, then Network and internet, then Wi-Fi, tap the network you are connected to, and tap Share. After you authenticate, the phone shows a QR code with the password printed underneath it. The other person opens their camera, points it at the code, and taps the prompt to join the network without typing anything.
Does changing my router password log out all my devices?
Yes. Changing the Wi-Fi network password disconnects every device currently using that password, and each one will have to reconnect with the new password before it can get online again. Only change it if you are ready to re-enter the new password on your phones, laptops, TVs, smart speakers and other connected gadgets, or if you specifically want to kick unknown devices off your network.
Sources & further reading
- Microsoft Support — Find your Wi-Fi network password in Windows
- Apple Support — Share your Wi-Fi password from iPhone or iPad
- Google Android Help — Connect to Wi-Fi networks on your Android device
This guide is independently produced. We reference primary documentation from device makers and security authorities (NIST, CISA). Tudug is reader-supported and may earn from ads.