Forgot Your Wi-Fi Password

If a device has joined the network before, the password is usually still saved on it, and every major system has a built-in way to reveal it. These steps only work for networks your own devices have already joined, and only on devices you own or manage.

The recovery, in order

  1. Windows, current network. Open Settings, go to Network and internet, then Wi-Fi, and open the properties of the connected network. Choose Wireless Properties, open the Security tab, and tick Show characters. The password appears in the Network security key field.
  2. Windows, any saved network. Open Command Prompt as administrator, run netsh wlan show profiles to list every saved network, then run netsh wlan show profile name="NETWORK NAME" key=clear using the exact network name from the list. Read the password next to Key Content, under Security settings. The password is shown in plain text only for a local administrator.
  3. Mac. On recent macOS, open System Settings, go to Wi-Fi, click Advanced or the info button next to a known network, and reveal or copy the password after authenticating. On older macOS, open Keychain Access, search for the network name, double-click the entry, tick Show password, and enter the Mac administrator password.
  4. iPhone, iOS 16 or later. Open Settings, tap Wi-Fi, tap the info button next to the network, then tap the Password field and authenticate with Face ID or the device passcode. This works for the connected network and for saved networks under Known Networks. On iOS 18, the same passwords are in the Passwords app, under Wi-Fi.
  5. Android, Android 10 or later. Open Settings, go to Network and internet, then Wi-Fi, tap the network, and tap Share. Authenticate, and the password appears with the QR code on most devices.

If the usual reset doesn't work

If no device has the password saved, check the label on the bottom or back of the router. It prints the factory default Wi-Fi password, which is only correct if the password was never changed. If a computer or phone is signed in to the router admin page, the current Wi-Fi password is listed in the wireless settings there. If the network belongs to someone else, ask the network owner for the password. As a last resort, reset the router to its factory defaults, which restores the label password, but that erases every custom setting, so read the router reset guide first.

Only look up passwords for networks you own or have permission to use. There is no legitimate way to find the password for a network your devices have never joined, and tools that claim to do it are not to be trusted.

How to avoid getting locked out again

Save the Wi-Fi password in a password manager as soon as it is set, and keep the router label readable, since it holds the factory default and the admin page address. After changing a Wi-Fi password, update every device at once, and keep one written copy in a safe place at home, so a dead phone does not mean a lost password.

Common questions

Can I find the password for a Wi-Fi network I never joined? No. A device only stores the password for networks it has joined. For a network you have never joined, ask the network owner or check the router label for the factory default.

Why is the password on the router label not working? The label shows the factory default password. If the password was changed after setup, the label is out of date, and the saved password on a device that joined the network is the correct one.

Does the Windows command need administrator rights? Yes. The password is shown in plain text only for a local administrator, so run Command Prompt as administrator before using the netsh command.

Related guides

Forgot Your Router Admin Password · Forgot Your Xfinity Password · Forgot Your Spectrum Password · Password Generator

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