After setting up your Wi-Fi network, you probably don’t think much about your password because your phone, laptop, and other devices are connected to the Internet, which can be a problem if a friend or family member requests access to your Wi-Fi network, but you don’t. You remember your password – you didn’t write it down.
Is that number too long on the back of your router? Or maybe you changed it to something more personal?
Lucky for you, there is a way to find all your Wi-Fi passwords in one place — your computer.
As long as your Windows or Mac computer has been connected to the network before, this Wi-Fi password is stored permanently in your settings.
It may take a little digging on your part, but all of your passwords are there, saved, and ready to be shared with anyone who wants to connect to Wi-Fi.
Here’s how to find the passwords for all the Wi-Fi networks you’ve ever connected to on macOS and Windows.
Every password you enter and save on your Mac is stored in Keychain Access, the password management system for macOS. This includes Wi-Fi passwords.
To get started, use the search feature to open the Keychain Access app. Do the following:
1. Click on System under System Keychains in the sidebar.
2. Click Passwords at the top of the window.
3. Find the Wi-Fi network whose password you want and double-click it.
4. Check the box next to Show password and enter your password when prompted.
The password field will then display the password you used to log into that Wi-Fi.
You can double-click the password field to select the password and copy it to your clipboard, if needed.
How to find Wi-Fi passwords on Windows
Finding the password for the Wi-Fi network you’re currently connected to is simple on Windows, but getting all your stored Wi-Fi passwords takes a little bit of work.
To find the password for the Wi-Fi network you’re currently connected to on Windows:
1. Click the Start button and go to Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center (Windows 11) or Settings > Network and Internet > Status > Network and Sharing Center (Windows 10).
2. Next to Connections, click on the blue highlighted Wi-Fi network name.
3. On the Wi-Fi status page that opens, click Wireless properties, then the Security tab.
4. Check the box next to Show characters to display the Wi-Fi password over it.
And this is not the only way to find your Wi-Fi passwords.
The above method only allows you to view the password for any Wi-Fi network you are currently connected to, but there is a way to find the passwords for all the Wi-Fi networks you have ever connected to on your Windows PC.
To find all Wi-Fi passwords on Windows:
1. Right-click on the Windows icon in the taskbar on your desktop.
2. Click on Windows Terminal (Admin).
3. Type netsh wlan show profile and press Enter on your keyboard to view every Wi-Fi network you have connected to.
4. Once you find the Wi-Fi network whose password you want, type netsh wlan show profile “(Wi-Fi name)” key = clear (eg netsh wlan show profile key “Netgear667” = clear), Then press the Enter key.
Profile, connection, security, and cost settings will appear. The Wi-Fi password will appear under Security settings, and next to Key Content. In addition to Windows Terminal, you can also use the Command Prompt app to type the above commands to find your Wi-Fi passwords.
If you want to read more about passwords, whether on your computer or smartphone, check out the best password managers to use and nine rules to follow when creating a password.