Forgot WiFi Password? 7 Ways to Find It on Any Device (2026)

You need to connect a new device to your home WiFi but you cannot remember the password. It has been auto-saved on your phone and laptop for years, and now you are staring at the password field with no idea what to type. This is one of the most common tech questions in the world, and the good news is that your password is almost certainly stored somewhere—you just need to know where to look.

This guide shows you how to recover your WiFi password from Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android, and your router itself. No technical background required.

Method 1: Find WiFi Password on Windows 10/11 (Command Line)

This is the fastest method if you have a Windows PC already connected to the WiFi network. Open Command Prompt or PowerShell as Administrator and run:

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

Replace YOUR_NETWORK_NAME with your WiFi network name (SSID). Scroll down to the Security settings section and look for Key Content—that is your WiFi password.

See All Saved WiFi Passwords at Once

To list passwords for every network your PC has ever connected to:

for /f "skip=9 tokens=1,2 delims=:" %i in ('netsh wlan show profiles') do @if "%j" NEQ "" (echo WiFi: %j & netsh wlan show profile name="%j" key=clear | findstr "Key Content") & echo.

Method 2: Find WiFi Password on Windows via Settings (GUI)

1. Open Settings → Network & Internet → WiFi.
2. Click your connected network name.
3. Scroll down and click View WiFi security key (Windows 11 24H2+) or go to Control Panel → Network and Sharing Center → click your WiFi connection → Wireless Properties → Security tab → Show characters.

Method 3: Find WiFi Password on Mac

macOS Sonoma and Later (System Settings)

1. Open System Settings → WiFi.
2. Click the i button next to your connected network.
3. Click the password field and authenticate with Touch ID or your admin password.
4. The password will be revealed.

Using Terminal

security find-generic-password -wa "YOUR_NETWORK_NAME"

You will be prompted for your Mac admin password. The WiFi password will print to the terminal.

Method 4: Find WiFi Password on iPhone (iOS 16+)

1. Open Settings → WiFi.
2. Tap the i icon next to your connected network.
3. Tap the Password field.
4. Authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode.
5. The password is now visible. Tap Copy to copy it to your clipboard.

Method 5: Find WiFi Password on Android

Android 10 and Later

1. Go to Settings → Network & Internet → WiFi.
2. Tap your connected network.
3. Tap the Share button (QR code icon).
4. Authenticate with your fingerprint or PIN.
5. A QR code appears—the WiFi password is printed in plain text below the QR code on most Android versions. Other devices can scan the QR code to connect instantly.

Samsung Galaxy Devices

On Samsung phones, the path is Settings → Connections → WiFi → tap your network → QR code. The password text appears below the QR code on One UI 5 and later.

Method 6: Find WiFi Password from Your Router

Your router's admin panel always shows the current WiFi password. This method works regardless of what device you have, as long as you can access the router.

1. Open a browser and go to your router's IP address (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1).
2. Log in with the router admin credentials (often admin/admin or printed on the router label).
3. Navigate to Wireless Settings, WiFi Settings, or Security.
4. The WiFi password (sometimes called "passphrase," "pre-shared key," or "security key") will be displayed or hidden behind a "show" toggle.

Method 7: Check the Router Label (Default Password)

If you never changed the WiFi password from the factory default, it is printed on a sticker on the bottom or back of your router. Look for fields labeled:

• WiFi Password / Passphrase / Key
• Network Security Key
• WPA Key / WPA2 Key
• Default Wireless Password

Pro Tip: Take a photo of your router's label right now and save it to a secure note on your phone. This way, you will always have the default credentials handy if you need to factory reset the router in the future.

What If None of These Methods Work?

If you cannot recover the password from any device or the router admin panel, your options are:

1. Change your WiFi password through the router admin panel. You will need to reconnect all devices with the new password.
2. Factory reset the router to restore the default password printed on the label. Warning: this erases all custom settings.

How to Never Forget Your WiFi Password Again

• Save it in a password manager (1Password, Bitwarden, Apple Keychain).
• Write it on a card and tape it to the bottom of your router.
• Create a QR code that guests can scan (use an app like "WiFi QR Code Generator").
• Set a memorable passphrase instead of a random string (e.g., "coffee-sunset-mountain-2026" is strong and memorable).

Frequently Asked Questions