Find Wi-Fi Passwords on Windows, Mac, iPhone

Always getting asked “What’s the Wi-Fi password?” No shame - lots of people forget it after first setup. Below you’ll find clear, safe, SEO-friendly steps to recover your Wi-Fi password on Windows, Mac, Android, and iPhone. I’ll include simple command-line snippets you can copy-paste when helpful. Let’s get your guests online fast!

Quick checklist (before you start)​

• You must already be connected to the Wi-Fi network on the device (or have admin access).
• For Android/iPhone, some methods require root or jailbreak - avoid unless you know what you’re doing.
• Never use these methods on networks you don’t own or have permission to access.

Find Wi-Fi password on Windows (works on Windows 7/8/10/11)​

If your PC already joined the network, Windows can show the saved password.
GUI method

1. Make sure the PC is connected to the Wi-Fi network you want the password for.
2. Open Control Panel → Network and Internet → Network and Sharing Center.
3. Click the Wi-Fi connection name → Wireless Properties → Security tab.
4. Tick Show characters - the password will appear.

Command-line method (fast & handy)
Open PowerShell or Command Prompt as Administrator.

List Wi-Fi profiles:

netsh wlan show profiles

Show the password for a specific profile (replace SSID_NAME):

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

Look for Key Content - that’s the password.

Why use the command line? It’s quick for multiple profiles or remote troubleshooting.

---

Find Wi-Fi password on macOS (MacBook / iMac)​

If your Mac connected to the network, passwords are usually saved in Keychain.
Keychain Access (GUI)

1. Open Finder → Applications → Utilities → Keychain Access.
2. In Keychain, choose System (or login) and Passwords category.
3. Locate your Wi-Fi SSID, double-click it, then tick Show password.
4. Enter your macOS user password when prompted - the Wi-Fi password will reveal.

Terminal method (quick)
Use security tool in Terminal (replace SSID_NAME):

security find-generic-password -D "AirPort network password" -a "SSID_NAME" -gw

If the entry exists and you have permissions, the command prints the password.

Tip: If your Mac uses iCloud Keychain synced across devices, you can view the same network password from any trusted Mac.

---

Find Wi-Fi password on Android​

Android doesn’t show passwords in settings on most phones. Options depend on device/root status:

1) Android 10+ (no root) - share QR code
Many phones (Android 10+) let you share Wi-Fi via QR:

• Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi → tap network → Share → authenticate.
• A QR displays - below it often the plain password is visible or you can scan it with another device.

2) Using ADB (developer route, some devices)
If the phone is connected and you have adb enabled (USB debugging), you can sometimes pull the config - but most modern devices restrict access without root.

Sample (requires root or permissive device):

adb shell "su -c 'cat /data/misc/wifi/wpa_supplicant.conf'" > wifi.conf
grep -E 'ssid|psk' wifi.conf

This prints SSIDs and their PSKs (passwords). Warning: This requires root - proceed only on your own device.

3) Third-party apps
Many apps claim to show saved Wi-Fi networks but typically require root and may have ads or privacy risks. Check reviews and developer reputation before installing.

---

Find Wi-Fi password on iPhone / iPad (iOS)​

Apple keeps passwords very locked down for security; you normally can’t view saved Wi-Fi passwords directly on the iPhone.

1) Use a trusted Mac (iCloud Keychain)
If you have iCloud Keychain enabled and a trusted Mac that shares the same iCloud account:

• On the Mac, open Keychain Access → search the SSID → double-click → Show password.
• Enter your Mac password - it shows the Wi-Fi password.

2) iOS 16+ (password sharing improvements)
Newer iOS versions improved password sharing between Apple devices - you can share network access rather than view the password.

3) Jailbroken devices
If your device is jailbroken, Cydia tweaks (like NetworkList) can show saved Wi-Fi passwords. Jailbreaking has security risks - not recommended for most users.

---

Extra tips & security advice ​

• If you can’t recover the password, reset your router to factory defaults - then log into the router’s admin page and set a new Wi-Fi password. The default admin credentials are usually printed on the router.
• Change weak default passwords and use WPA2/WPA3 encryption.
• Use a strong password: length > 12, a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols.
• If guests often ask for Wi-Fi, create a guest network to keep your devices separated.
• Keep backups of important router info (safely stored) so you don’t need to recover it later.

Router admin route (if you can access router)​

If you have admin access to the router, you can view/change the Wi-Fi password via the web admin UI.

1. Connect to router IP (commonly 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1).
2. Login with admin credentials.
3. Go to Wireless settings and view/change the passphrase (WPA/WPA2 key).

If you lost the router admin password, a physical factory reset button on the router restores defaults - then you can reconfigure.

Example: Resetting router from terminal (advanced)​

Some routers support SSH/Telnet (advanced users only). Example commands vary widely; refer to vendor docs. Don’t attempt unless you know your router supports it.

When things go wrong - troubleshooting checklist​

• Are you actually connected to the network? (must be)
• Did you run the command with administrator/root rights? (Windows/mac Terminal)
• Is the profile saved on the device? (old networks may be removed)
• For mobile: is the device rooted/jailbroken? Most safe methods don’t require that.

Quick security reminder​

Only recover passwords for networks you own or have explicit permission to manage. Using these techniques on someone else’s network without permission is illegal and unethical. Respect privacy.