How to Find Your Wi-Fi Password on Mac and Windows

Many people forget their Wi-Fi passwords, especially when hosting guests or setting up new devices. Fortunately, both macOS and Windows store these passwords securely, making them easily accessible with the right steps. This guide explains how to retrieve your Wi-Fi passwords on both platforms.

Retrieving Wi-Fi Passwords on macOS

macOS stores all saved passwords, including Wi-Fi credentials, within the Keychain Access app. This built-in password manager is the simplest way to find your network keys.

1. Open Keychain Access: Use Spotlight search (🔍) or navigate through Applications > Utilities.
2. Select Wi-Fi: In the left sidebar, click “Wi-Fi.”
3. Find Your Network: Locate the network you need the password for in the list.
4. View the Password: Either hover your mouse over the “Password” field to temporarily reveal it, or click “Show Password” to display it permanently. A QR code option is also available for quick connection on other devices.

The Keychain Access method is straightforward and efficient, ensuring you can quickly share your Wi-Fi password without unnecessary hassle.

Retrieving Wi-Fi Passwords on Windows

Windows offers two primary methods for finding Wi-Fi passwords: one for the currently connected network and another for all saved networks.

Finding the Password for Your Current Network

For the network you’re actively connected to, the process is relatively simple:

1. Open Network Settings: Go to Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center (Windows 11) or Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Network and Sharing Center (Windows 10).
2. Click Wi-Fi Network: Next to “Connections,” click your current Wi-Fi network name.
3. Wireless Properties: In the Wi-Fi Status window, click “Wireless Properties” and navigate to the “Security” tab.
4. Show Characters: Check the box labeled “Show characters” to reveal the password.

This method is quick and direct, but only works for the network you’re currently using.

Finding All Saved Wi-Fi Passwords

To access all previously saved Wi-Fi passwords, you need to use the Windows Terminal or Command Prompt:

1. Open Windows Terminal (Admin): Right-click the Windows icon in the taskbar and select “Windows Terminal (Admin).”
2. List Networks: Type netsh wlan show profile and press Enter. This displays all Wi-Fi networks your computer has ever connected to.
3. View Password for a Specific Network: Type netsh wlan show profile "(Wi-Fi network name)" key=clear (replace “(Wi-Fi network name)” with the actual network name). For example: netsh wlan show profile "Netgear667" key=clear.
4. Find the Password: The Wi-Fi password will appear under “Security settings” next to “Key Content.”

This method requires command-line knowledge but provides access to all stored Wi-Fi credentials. You can also use Command Prompt instead of Windows Terminal for the same result.

Finding your Wi-Fi password is straightforward on both Mac and Windows. Whether you need it for guests, new devices, or simply peace of mind, these methods ensure you can access your network credentials quickly and securely.