How to view your Wi-Fi password on a Mac: full instructions

Many users are familiar with the situation of needing to connect a new device to the network but completely forgetting the Wi-Fi password. Often, this password was written on a sticker on the router that has long since been lost, or entered once and saved to the memory of an old smartphone. Fortunately, modern operating systems make it easy to find saved access keys without having to reset the router.

In this article, we will discuss in detail how to find a forgotten password on devices. Apple And AndroidWe'll also look at alternative methods via the router's web interface. You can restore network access in minutes using the device's standard features. The key is to have physical access to a device that's already authorized on the network.

Recovering access on Apple devices with iOS 16 and later

Since version iOS 16, company Apple has introduced a long-awaited feature that allows you to view saved Wi-Fi passwords directly in Settings. Previously, this required a computer. Mac with access to iCloud Keychain, which created inconvenience for users working exclusively on Windows or Linux.

To view the passkey, you need to ensure your iPhone or iPad is updated to the latest operating system version. After that, the procedure becomes as transparent and secure as possible, as it requires biometric authentication via Face ID or Touch ID.

Open the app Settings and go to the section Wi-FiFind the network whose password you want to know in the list and tap the blue information icon (the letter "i" in a circle) to the right of the network name. In the menu that opens, find the "Password" field and tap the hidden dots.

The system will ask you to confirm your identity. After a successful face or fingerprint scan, the hidden characters will be converted into readable text. You can copy them by clicking the appropriate button or simply rewrite them.

⚠️ Note: The Wi-Fi password viewer feature is not available on devices running iOS versions earlier than 16. If you have an older iPhone, use the method described below using a Mac or router.

For computer owners Mac The process has also been simplified in new versions. macOSHowever, if you have an older version of the system, you can use the Keychain Access app. Find your network name there, double-click it, and check the "Show password" box.

How to find out the password on Android smartphones and tablets

In the ecosystem Android The ability to share Wi-Fi and see the password appeared in version Android 10The operating mechanics are similar to iOS, but have their own peculiarities depending on the manufacturer's shell (for example, Samsung One UI, Xiaomi MIUI or pure Android).

Go to Settings -> Connections (or Network and Internet) -> Wi-FiTap the name of the network you're connected to or select the gear icon next to it. In the network management menu, find the "Share" or "QR Code" button.

After confirming your identity (PIN code, fingerprint), a QR code will appear on the screen to connect guests. On most modern smartphones (especially Xiaomi, Realme, Honor) the password is displayed in clear text.

• 📱 If there is no password written under the QR code, take a screenshot.
• 📷 Open the image in the app Google Lens (Google Lens) or any QR scanner.
• 🔍 The system will recognize the code and display a text string with the access key.

Some manufacturers, such as Samsung, can hide the password even in the QR code menu. In this case, after the QR code appears on the screen, use a second phone with a QR code scanner installed. Point the second device's camera at the first device's screen—the scan results often show the full connection URL, including the password.

⚠️ Note: On some corporate or guest networks, the password saving feature may be disabled by the administrator. In this case, you won't be able to view the key using standard tools.

Using the Command Prompt on Windows

If you don’t have a smartphone at hand, but you have a computer with WindowsIf your device is connected to Wi-Fi (or was previously connected), you can retrieve the password via the command line. This method is considered the most secure and works on all versions of Windows from 7 to 11.

You don't need any third-party programs; a standard terminal is enough. Open the system search and enter cmd, right-click on "Command Prompt" and select "Run as administrator".

First, you need to find out the exact name of the network profile. Enter the command: netsh wlan show profilesIn the "User Profiles" list, find your network name. Then, use the following command to display the key:

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

In the command output, find the line "Key Content." This is where your password will be. This method is universal and doesn't depend on the driver version or router model.

This method is especially useful if the Windows graphical interface is not working correctly or if you need to find out the password for the network to which the computer is currently connected.

Viewing the key through the router's web interface

The most direct way to find out the password is to look into the router's settings. This method works even if no devices are currently connected to Wi-Fi, but you can connect to the router via cable. LAN or you know the password for the admin panel.

Open your browser and enter the IP address of your router (often it is 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1). The default address, login, and password are usually located on a sticker on the bottom of the device. If you changed the password for accessing the router settings and forgot it, this method will not work without a reset.

Interfaces from different manufacturers (TP-Link, Asus, Keenetic, D-Link) are different, but the logic is the same. You need to find the section related to the wireless network. It may be called "Wireless," "Wi-Fi," or "Wireless Mode."

• 🌐 Find the “Wireless Settings” tab.
• 🔐 Go to the "Wireless Security" subsection.
• 👁️ The "Wireless Network Password" (PSK Password) field will be visible. If there are dots there, try clicking "Show" (the eye).

If the password is hidden behind dots in the web interface and there is no "show" button, you can try a simple trick. On the page with the password field, right-click and select "Inspect." Find the line in the code that says input type="password" and replace the word password on textAfter this, the dots will turn into text.

⚠️ Warning: Changing settings in the router's web interface may result in connection interruptions. Use caution when changing encryption types or channels if you are unsure of what you are doing.

Password recovery apps

There are many applications in Google Play And App Store, which promise to reveal passwords. However, it's important to understand how they work. On modern OS versions (Android 10+, iOS 14+), apps don't have direct access to system files where security keys are stored, for security reasons. security.

So-called Wi-Fi "crackers" are typically user-collected password databases. They can help you connect to open or weak neighboring networks, but they won't reveal your personal network password unless it's previously uploaded to the cloud.

For legitimate tasks (legal recovery), you can use specialized utilities on your PC, such as WirelessKeyView from NirSoftThis program reads keys from the Windows registry and displays them in a convenient form.

Is it safe to use such programs?

Using trusted utilities from reputable developers (like NirSoft) is safe. However, downloading cracked versions from untrusted websites can infect your computer with miners or Trojans. Always scan your files with an antivirus.

On Android applications like WiFi Password Viewer only work on devices with Root rightsWithout superuser rights, they are generally useless for viewing already saved networks, but only display the QR code of the current network (if the shell allows it).

What to do if none of the methods helped

There are situations when none of the devices remember the password, access to the admin panel is lost, and root privileges are missing. In this case, the only drastic, but 100% effective, solution is to reset the router to factory settings.

There is a small hole on the router body with the inscription Reset or RestorePress it with a paperclip for 10-15 seconds (the indicators will blink). The router will reboot, and all settings, including the network name and password, will be reset to the factory defaults indicated on the sticker.

After this, you'll have to reconfigure your internet connection (PPPoE, L2TP, or dynamic IP), which may require calling your provider. However, you'll still have your Wi-Fi password—it'll be printed on that sticker.

⚠️ Warning: Resetting your router will delete all customized settings, including static IP addresses, port forwarding rules, and parental controls. Use this method only as a last resort.

If you're unsure how to configure your router after a reset, it's best to contact your internet service provider's technical support. They can configure it remotely or advise you on the exact settings for your model.

Is it possible to find out the Wi-Fi password on an iPhone without jailbreaking?

Yes, this is possible on iOS 16 and later through the default settings. On older versions of iOS, you can't find the password directly on the phone without jailbreaking, but you can sync keys via iCloud Keychain with your Mac.

Where can I find the password if my phone is connected but there is no internet?

You can still view your saved password without internet access. Follow the instructions for your operating system (Android or iOS), as the key is stored locally in your device's memory.

Is it safe to share a password via QR code?

Yes, it's safe if you show the code to a trusted person nearby. The QR code is a one-time scan and contains no extra data other than the network SSID and the password itself.

What should I do if the password in my router settings is hidden behind asterisks?

Try using the "View Code" function in your browser (F12), replacing type="password" with type="text." If this doesn't help, the only solution is to reset the router or use the Windows command line if the PC is already connected.