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The fastest way to find a forgotten Wi-Fi password is to check a device that is already connected to the network. On Windows, macOS, iPhone, iPad, and many Android phones, you can view or share a saved network credential without resetting the router. If no device has saved it, check the router label or sign in to the router’s official management page.
These methods recover the Wi-Fi password—also called the wireless key or network key. That is different from the router administrator password and from your internet provider account password.
Before you start: identify which password you need
Home internet equipment commonly involves three different credentials:
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- Router administrator password: The credential used to sign in to the router’s settings page or management app.
- ISP account password: The password for your internet provider’s customer account, billing portal, or support service.
The steps below are for finding the Wi-Fi password. You should only retrieve or share a password for a network you own or are authorized to use.
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1. Check the router label or setup paperwork
Look at the bottom, back, or side of the router or ISP gateway. Search for labels such as:
- Wi-Fi Password
- Wireless Key
- Network Key
- WPA Key
- SSID
The SSID is the wireless network name. The Wi-Fi password may be printed beside it. The same information may also appear in the router’s original documentation, a setup sheet, or paperwork left by your internet provider or installer.
This is usually the quickest solution when the router is still using its factory settings. It will not work if someone changed the Wi-Fi name or password after installation. A printed label generally shows the original credentials, not necessarily the current ones.
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2. Find the saved password in Windows 10 or Windows 11
If your Windows PC has connected to the network before, Windows may have saved the password.
Current Settings method
- Open Settings.
- Select Network & internet.
- Open Properties for the Wi-Fi connection.
- Find Wi-Fi network password.
- Select Show. Authenticate with Windows if prompted.
Microsoft also provides a saved-network route:
- Go to Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi.
- Open Manage known networks.
- Select the saved network.
- Choose Show next to the Wi-Fi password option, if it is available.
On some Windows installations, especially older builds, use the classic Control Panel path:
- Open Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center.
- Select the connected Wi-Fi network beside Connections.
- Choose Wireless Properties.
- Open the Security tab.
- Check Show characters.
This only reveals a password that Windows saved for that network. It cannot recover a password that this PC never used, and it does not bypass a network’s security.
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3. Find the saved password on a Mac
On a recent Mac, the simplest route is the Passwords app:
- Open the Passwords app.
- Select Wi-Fi in the sidebar.
- Choose the network name.
- Hold the pointer over the dots beside Password to reveal the saved password.
- Authenticate to the Mac if requested.
On macOS 13 or later, Apple also documents a Wi-Fi settings route:
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- Open Apple menu > System Settings > Network > Wi-Fi.
- Select Advanced.
- Find the saved network.
- Choose Copy Password, then authenticate if prompted.
The Mac must have saved the network credential. If the router password changed after the Mac connected, the displayed password may be an old one.
For sharing rather than reading the characters, the Passwords app can also provide a network QR code on supported current macOS versions. Another device can scan the code to join without manually typing the password.
4. Find or share it from an iPhone or iPad
iOS 18 or later and current iPadOS
- Open the Passwords app.
- Tap Wi-Fi.
- Select the network.
- Tap the Password field to view or copy it.
For supported software, the same network record can offer Show Network QR Code. This is useful when an Android phone, camera, or other compatible device needs to join.
iOS 17 or earlier
- Open Settings.
- Tap Passwords and authenticate.
- Find and select the Wi-Fi network.
- Tap the password field to reveal or copy the saved credential.
Share directly with a nearby Apple device
If you do not need to read the password, Apple’s password-sharing prompt may be easier:
- On the device that needs access, select the Wi-Fi network.
- Keep the already-connected iPhone, iPad, or Mac unlocked and nearby.
- When prompted on the connected device, tap Share Password, then Done.
For this feature to work reliably, both devices should have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled, be close together, and not be using Personal Hotspot. The relevant Apple Account contact information should also be saved in each person’s Contacts. If the prompt does not appear, manually use the Passwords app or Settings instead.
5. Use Android Wi-Fi sharing or the router’s app
Android Wi-Fi sharing
On Android phones that support Google’s documented interface:
- Open Settings > Network & internet > Internet.
- Tap the connected Wi-Fi network.
- Tap Share.
- Authenticate if requested.
The phone displays a QR code. Another device can scan it to join the network. Depending on the phone manufacturer and Android version, the option may be labeled Share, QR code, or appear under a menu such as Share Wi-Fi. Some parts of Google’s documented workflow require Android 12 or later, and Samsung, Motorola, OnePlus, and other manufacturers may organize the menus differently.
This method is primarily designed for sharing access. Some phones display the password below the QR code, while others only provide the code. If you need the actual characters, use the phone’s saved Wi-Fi details if that option is available, or use the router’s management app.
Google Nest Wifi or Google Wifi
If your network is managed by Google Nest Wifi or Google Wifi:
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- Open the Google Home app.
- Tap Home.
- Tap Wi-Fi.
- Choose Share password.
The app can provide the credential for the main network or guest network, depending on which network you select. Other router brands may provide a similar feature in their own official app.
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If none of those methods works: use the router’s management page
A person who administers the network can sign in to the router’s official administrator webpage or app and view or change the Wi-Fi password. The exact address, app, and menu depend on the router manufacturer or internet provider. Look for sections named Wi-Fi, Wireless, WLAN, Security, or Network settings.
You will normally need the router administrator password for this step. That credential is not necessarily the same as the Wi-Fi password. If you do not know the administrator login, check the router documentation or contact the ISP or person who set up the equipment.
Changing the Wi-Fi password disconnects existing wireless devices. You will need to reconnect phones, computers, smart-home equipment, printers, streaming devices, and cameras using the new password.
Factory reset as a last resort
If you own or administer the router and cannot recover its administrator credentials, a factory reset may restore the equipment to its default configuration. This is not a normal password-recovery step: it can erase the network name, Wi-Fi password, port-forwarding rules, parental controls, guest settings, and other custom configuration. Contact the router manufacturer or ISP before resetting provider-supplied equipment.
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If the router label says one password but a saved computer or phone shows another, the label is probably showing the factory credential while the device has a saved custom credential. The device’s saved password or the router’s current management interface is more likely to reflect the configuration that was in use when it connected.
However, a saved device can also contain an old password. Use these checks:
- Try the saved password exactly as displayed. Wi-Fi passwords are case-sensitive.
- Preserve uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, punctuation, and spaces if any are present.
- Check whether you selected the main network or a guest network. They can have different passwords.
- Confirm that you selected the correct SSID, especially if the router broadcasts separate 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, or mesh-network names.
- If the router password was recently changed, remove or forget the old saved network and reconnect with the current password.
Forget and reconnect a stale profile
On Windows, open Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks, select the network, and choose Forget. Then select the network again from the Wi-Fi list and enter the current password.
On Apple devices and Android phones, open the Wi-Fi network’s details and use Forget This Network or Forget, then reconnect. The wording varies by operating system version and manufacturer.
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If you still cannot connect after finding the password
First determine whether the problem is the credential or the connection itself:
- Try the password on a second authorized device.
- Move close to the router and confirm that Wi-Fi is enabled.
- Restart the device and, if appropriate, the router.
- Check whether other devices can connect to the same network.
- Confirm that the router is broadcasting the SSID you selected.
If multiple devices fail, the router, internet service, or network configuration may be the problem. If only one Windows PC fails after the password has been confirmed, its Wi-Fi adapter, driver, or network configuration may need separate troubleshooting. A driver utility does not reveal or recover a Wi-Fi password, so do not use one as a password-recovery tool.
If the confirmed-password connection problem points to an outdated or corrupted Wi-Fi adapter driver, you can optionally consider Outbyte Driver Updater for driver troubleshooting; it does not reveal or recover Wi-Fi passwords.
For a hotel, library, office, apartment, or someone else’s home network, ask the owner, ISP, hotel desk, library staff, or business administrator. Do not attempt to bypass the network or use random “Wi-Fi password recovery” utilities. The operating system and router’s own tools cover the common legitimate recovery cases.
Prevent the problem next time
Once you recover the credential, save it somewhere you can access securely. A password manager, an encrypted note, the router’s official app, or a clearly labeled but private household record can prevent another lockout. For guests, use the router’s guest network and share its QR code when possible rather than giving out the main network password.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I find a Wi-Fi password without being connected to the network?
Yes, if the password is printed on the router label or setup paperwork, stored in a device that previously connected, or available through the router’s management app or webpage. A device that never saved the password cannot reveal it.
Is the Wi-Fi password the same as the router password?
Usually not. The Wi-Fi password connects devices to the wireless network. The router administrator password opens the router’s settings, and an ISP account password is used for the provider’s customer account.
Why does the router label password not work?
The Wi-Fi password may have been changed after the router was installed. The label normally shows factory credentials, so check a device with a saved connection or the router’s current settings.
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Android phones commonly provide a QR code through the Wi-Fi network’s Share option. Some phones also display the password, but the exact behavior and menu names vary by manufacturer and Android version.
What if I forgot both the Wi-Fi password and the router administrator password?
Check the router documentation, contact the person or ISP that manages the equipment, or use the manufacturer’s official recovery instructions. A factory reset may be possible, but it erases custom settings and should be treated as a last resort.
The Bottom Line
Start with a device that already joined the network: Windows can show a saved password, Apple devices can reveal or share one through Passwords or Wi-Fi settings, and Android can usually share it with a QR code. If no authorized device has the credential, check the router label and then use the router’s official management interface. Do not confuse the Wi-Fi password with the administrator or ISP account password, and do not use password-cracking utilities.
