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If one of your devices is already connected, it may have saved your Wi-Fi password.
Forgetting your Wi-Fi password does not necessarily mean you need to reset your router. Windows, iPhone, Android, and Mac can all help you reconnect to or share a Wi-Fi network that the device already knows.
The exact process depends on the device you have. Start with a device that is already connected to the Wi-Fi network or has connected to it before.
Find Your Currently Connected Wi-Fi Password in Windows
In current versions of Windows 11, you can view the password for the Wi-Fi network you are using directly in Settings.
- Open Settings.
- Select Network & internet.
- Open the properties for your Wi-Fi connection.
- Find the Wi-Fi network password.
- Select Show.
Windows will display the password and may also provide a QR code that another compatible device can scan to join the network.
Find the Password for a Previously Saved Network in Windows
Windows can also show passwords for Wi-Fi networks you’ve saved but aren’t currently connected to.
Go to:
Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks
Select the network you want, then find Wi-Fi network password and select Show.
This only works for networks whose credentials are already saved on the computer.
Find Your Wi-Fi Password on iPhone
Latest iPhones make saved Wi-Fi passwords easy to find.
Open the Passwords app and authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode.
Then:
- Tap Wi-Fi.
- Select the Wi-Fi network.
- Tap the Password field.
You can view or copy the saved password.
Another Way Through Wi-Fi Settings
You can also find the password of the network you are currently using through:
Settings > Wi-Fi
Tap the Info button next to the connected network, then tap Password.
Authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode to reveal it.
On supported versions of iOS, you can also view previously joined networks by tapping Edit from the Wi-Fi settings screen.
Find or Share Your Wi-Fi Password on Android
Android provides a built-in way to share the credentials for a connected Wi-Fi network.
On Google’s standard Android interface, go to:
Settings > Network & internet > Internet
Then:
- Select your connected Wi-Fi network.
- Tap Share.
- Verify your identity if requested.
Android will display a QR code containing the information another device needs to join the network.
Scan the QR code with the other device instead of typing the password manually.
Some Android phones also display the Wi-Fi password alongside or below the QR code. The exact screen can vary because manufacturers such as Samsung, Google, Xiaomi, and others customize Android’s Settings app.
If your phone only shows the QR code, you can still use it to connect another device without knowing the password.
Find Your Wi-Fi Password on a Mac
On current versions of macOS, Apple’s Passwords app stores saved Wi-Fi passwords.
- Open the Passwords app.
- Authenticate with Touch ID or your Mac login password if requested.
- Select Wi-Fi in the sidebar.
- Choose the network you want.
- Reveal or copy the password from the Password field.
You can find both the network you are currently using and Wi-Fi networks the Mac previously saved.
On supported versions of macOS, you may also be able to display a Wi-Fi QR code that another device can scan.
Check the Router if None of Your Devices Has the Password
If you cannot retrieve the password from a connected device, check your router.
Many routers have a label containing the original Wi-Fi network name and password. Look for terms such as:
- Wi-Fi Password
- Wireless Password
- Network Key
- WPA Key
However, the password printed on the router will only work if nobody has changed the Wi-Fi password since the router was set up.
If you manage the router, you may also be able to sign in to its administration page or official router app to view or change the Wi-Fi password.
The exact steps depend on the router manufacturer and model.
What If You Still Cannot Find It?
If no connected device has the password and the router’s original password no longer works, the network manager may need to check or change the password through the router’s settings.
For a home network, that may be you, another household member, or your internet service provider.
For Wi-Fi at a hotel, office, café, school, or other shared location, ask the network administrator or staff instead of changing the network yourself.
The Simplest Place to Start
Before resetting anything, check a device that has already connected to the Wi-Fi network.
Windows and Apple devices can reveal saved passwords directly, while Android can provide a QR code for quickly connecting another device.
In most cases, that is enough to get another phone, laptop, or tablet online without changing your router settings.
