Ever stared at a Wi-Fi password prompt and drawn a complete blank? On iOS 16 and later, your iPhone can show you any saved Wi-Fi password directly in the Settings app. On iOS 15 and earlier, you can still retrieve passwords through iCloud Keychain on a Mac. And when you just want to get another Apple device online without digging up the password at all, the built-in Wi-Fi sharing feature handles it in one tap. This guide covers every scenario: viewing passwords by iOS version, sharing with other Apple devices, getting non-Apple devices connected, looking up passwords on a Mac, and finding the password printed on your router.
Table of Contents
- Three ways to find a Wi-Fi password on iPhone
- iOS 16 and later: how to see your Wi-Fi password in Settings
- iOS 15 and earlier: workarounds when the password field is hidden
- How to share your Wi-Fi password with another Apple device
- How to share your Wi-Fi password with Android or Windows
- How to find a Wi-Fi password on a Mac using iCloud Keychain
- Finding passwords for previously connected Wi-Fi networks
- Troubleshooting when you can't view the password
- How to find your Wi-Fi password on your router
- Security tips: handling your Wi-Fi password safely
- Frequently asked questions
- Summary: the fastest method for each situation
Three ways to find a Wi-Fi password on iPhone
There are three main approaches to retrieving a saved Wi-Fi password on an iPhone. Which one is available to you depends on your iOS version and whether iCloud Keychain is enabled.
iOS 16 and later: view it directly in Settings
Starting with iOS 16, Apple added a native password-reveal feature to the Settings app. You can view the password for any network you have joined — including ones you're not currently connected to. Authentication with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode is required before the password is revealed.
Via iCloud Keychain on a Mac
If iCloud Keychain is enabled on your iPhone, any Mac signed in with the same Apple ID can access those saved passwords through Keychain Access. This method works even on iOS 15 and earlier devices.
Wi-Fi sharing to other Apple devices
You don't need to know the password at all to get another Apple device online. When a nearby iPhone, iPad, or Mac tries to join the same network, a notification appears on your device asking whether you want to share the password — one tap is all it takes. No typing required.
Quick-reference table by iOS version
| Method | iOS 16+ | iOS 15 and earlier | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| View directly in Settings | Yes | No | Requires Face ID / Touch ID / passcode |
| iCloud Keychain via Mac | Yes | Yes | iCloud Keychain must be on; same Apple ID on Mac required |
| Share to another Apple device | Yes | Yes | Recipient must share the same Apple ID or be in Contacts |
| Share via QR code to non-Apple device | Yes | Third-party app required | iOS 16+ allows QR generation after viewing the password |
iOS 16 and later: how to see your Wi-Fi password in Settings
iOS 16 overhauled the Wi-Fi settings UI so you can retrieve a password entirely on-device. Follow these steps.
Step-by-step (Face ID / Touch ID authentication)
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Wi-Fi.
- Tap the (i) information button to the right of the network name.
- On the network detail screen, the Password field shows a row of dots. Tap that field.
- Face ID (or a passcode prompt) will appear. Complete the authentication and the password is revealed in plain text.
- Long-press the password to copy it to the clipboard.
The same steps work for saved networks you're not currently connected to. Scroll down the Wi-Fi screen to find the network under "Other Networks" or just tap its (i) button from the list.
Things to keep in mind
If tapping the password field does nothing, go to Settings → Face ID & Passcode and confirm that Face ID is enabled for "Other Apps." If Face ID fails three times in a row, iOS automatically offers a passcode fallback — your passcode works just as well for authentication.
iOS 15 and earlier: workarounds when the password field is hidden
Why iOS 15 and earlier don't show passwords
The Settings app on iOS 15 and below simply has no UI for revealing Wi-Fi passwords. Passwords are stored encrypted inside iCloud Keychain, but earlier versions of iOS never exposed a way to read them back from the settings screen.
If you're on iOS 15 or earlier and need the password, use one of the following approaches.
Check via iCloud Keychain on a Mac
If iCloud Keychain is enabled on your iPhone and you have a Mac signed in with the same Apple ID, you can look up the password in Keychain Access on the Mac. Full instructions are in the section below on using iCloud Keychain on a Mac.
Use Wi-Fi sharing to another Apple device
If you just need to get another Apple device online and don't need to know the actual password string, the Wi-Fi sharing feature works on iOS 11 and later — including iOS 15 and earlier.
How to share your Wi-Fi password with another Apple device
Apple devices have a built-in Wi-Fi password sharing feature that lets you connect a nearby iPhone, iPad, or Mac to a network with a single tap — no need to read out or type the password.
Steps for iPhone, iPad, and Mac
- Make sure the device that knows the password (the sender) is already connected to that Wi-Fi network.
- On the device that wants to connect (the recipient), turn on Wi-Fi, tap the network name, and leave it on the password-entry screen.
- Bring the recipient device close to the sender (within a few inches). Both devices need Bluetooth and Wi-Fi turned on.
- A prompt appears on the sender's iPhone: "Share Wi-Fi password for [network name]?"
- The sender taps Share Password, and the recipient connects automatically.
Sharing to a Mac works the same way: select the network in the Mac's Wi-Fi menu to trigger the password prompt on the nearby iPhone.
Requirements for sharing to work
All of the following must be true for the prompt to appear:
- Both devices have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled
- The recipient's Apple ID is the same as the sender's, or is saved in the sender's Contacts
- The sender's device is currently connected to that network
- The recipient device is waiting on the password entry screen (network already selected)
If the prompt doesn't appear, toggle Bluetooth off and back on on both devices, or restart them and try again.
How to share your Wi-Fi password with Android or Windows
Android and Windows devices are not compatible with Apple's Wi-Fi sharing feature, so you'll need a different approach.
Generate a QR code for them to scan
On iOS 16 and later, after revealing your Wi-Fi password, you may be able to generate a QR code the other device can scan to join automatically.
- Follow the steps above to reveal the password.
- A QR code icon may appear at the top of the detail screen or near the password field (available on some devices running iOS 17 and later). Tap it to display the QR code.
- If no QR code icon appears, use a third-party app — search "Wi-Fi QR code generator" in the App Store, enter the password, and the app will generate one for you.
- Have the other person scan the QR code with their camera. Android will connect directly; the Windows Camera app also supports joining a network from a Wi-Fi QR code.
Look up the password and share it directly
The simplest option is to reveal the password using the iOS 16 method and tell or text it to the other person. A few important precautions: never post the password in a public chat, forum, or social media. If you send it via a messaging app, delete the message from the conversation history afterward.
How to find a Wi-Fi password on a Mac using iCloud Keychain
If iCloud Keychain is enabled on your iPhone, a Mac signed in with the same Apple ID can retrieve those passwords. This is particularly useful when you're on iOS 15 or earlier, or when you need to copy a long, complex password without retyping it.
Using Keychain Access (macOS Monterey and earlier)
- Open Keychain Access on your Mac (find it with Spotlight).
- In the left sidebar, select System.
- Type the network name (SSID) into the search bar to filter results.
- Double-click the matching entry to open its details.
- Check the Show password checkbox.
- Enter your Mac administrator password when prompted.
- The password appears in plain text.
macOS Ventura and later: check in System Settings
Starting with macOS Ventura (13), you can view Wi-Fi passwords directly in System Settings without opening Keychain Access.
- Open System Settings.
- Click Wi-Fi.
- Click the Details button next to the network name.
- Click the eye icon next to the Password field.
- Authenticate with Touch ID or your administrator password to reveal the password.
Keep in mind that the Mac can only show passwords that have synced from your iPhone via iCloud Keychain. It may take a few minutes for a newly joined network to appear on the Mac.
Finding passwords for previously connected Wi-Fi networks
Sometimes you need the password for a network you connected to some time ago but aren't currently near.
Browse your list of known networks
The Settings → Wi-Fi screen on your iPhone lists all networks you've connected to before, including those currently out of range. On iOS 16 and later, tap the (i) button next to any saved network and follow the same Face ID steps to see its password.
Use Settings → Wi-Fi → Edit to manage saved networks
On iOS 16 and later, tapping Edit in the top-right corner of the Wi-Fi screen opens a full list of saved networks. Tap (i) next to any entry and authenticate with Face ID to view the password — even for networks that are currently out of range.
Troubleshooting when you can't view the password
Face ID fails or the password field doesn't appear
If tapping the Password field produces no response, try these steps in order:
- Go to Settings → Face ID & Passcode and verify that Face ID is turned on for "Other Apps"
- After Face ID fails, tap Use Passcode — your passcode authenticates just as effectively
- Restart your iPhone and try again
- Update to the latest iOS — early builds of iOS 16.0 had a known bug affecting the Wi-Fi password display feature
iCloud Keychain is not syncing
If the password doesn't show up in Keychain Access on your Mac, iCloud Keychain may be disabled on your iPhone. Go to Settings → [your name] → iCloud → Passwords and Keychain and confirm that "Sync this iPhone" is turned on. After enabling it, wait a few minutes for the data to propagate to iCloud.
iOS is too old to update
If your device can't run iOS 16, fall back on iCloud Keychain via Mac or the Wi-Fi sharing feature for other Apple devices. If neither option is available, check the router label or admin panel — that's the most reliable fallback regardless of your iOS version.
How to find your Wi-Fi password on your router
If the password has never been changed, or you've forgotten what you set it to, the router itself is your best source of truth.
Check the label on the router
Most routers have a sticker on the bottom or back that shows the factory-default SSID and password. Look for labels like Password, Wi-Fi Key, WPA2 Key, or Network Key. If you've never changed the password, this is still the active one.
Log in to the router's admin panel
If the default password has been changed and you can't remember the new one, log in to the router's admin interface.
- In Safari on your iPhone, go to 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 (the most common default gateway addresses).
- Enter the admin username and password (often admin / admin or admin / password by default — check the label if unsure).
- Navigate to the Wireless or Wi-Fi settings section and look for the SSID and security key (password).
Look up your ISP's default credentials
If your router is provided by your ISP and you can't find the default credentials, check your ISP's support website for a list of default passwords by model. Alternatively, call the ISP's support line with your model number and they can tell you how to retrieve it.
Security tips: handling your Wi-Fi password safely
Your Wi-Fi password protects everything on your home network. Keep these points in mind whenever you look it up or share it.
- Never post the password in a public chat or on social media. Once it's out there, it's out there — anyone who sees it can connect to your network indefinitely.
- Only share with people you trust. The Wi-Fi sharing feature on Apple devices lets you get someone connected without ever revealing the actual password string, which is the safest approach.
- Change the password periodically. If you've shared it widely in the past — with guests, contractors, or previous roommates — rotating it cuts off anyone you no longer want on the network. You can do this in the router's admin panel.
- Use a strong password. A password of at least 12 characters mixing uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols is recommended. When you update it, iCloud Keychain will automatically save the new one to your iPhone.
Frequently asked questions
Can I find the Wi-Fi password on iOS 15 using only my iPhone?
Unfortunately, no. iOS 15 and earlier don't provide any way to display a saved Wi-Fi password directly on the device. If you have a Mac signed in with the same Apple ID and iCloud Keychain enabled, you can retrieve it there. If you have no Mac handy, check the router label or admin panel instead.
How do I change my Wi-Fi password?
Wi-Fi passwords are managed on the router, not on the iPhone. Log in to your router's admin panel (typically at 192.168.1.1) and update the password in the Wireless settings. After changing it, every device that was connected will need to re-enter the new password.
Can I still see a password after tapping "Forget This Network"?
No — forgetting a network removes it from iCloud Keychain on your iPhone, and it will no longer appear in Settings. However, if that network had already synced to your Mac, it may linger in Keychain Access for several hours to days before being purged. Check there quickly if you need to recover it.
Does this work for hidden (stealth) networks?
Yes. If a hidden SSID is saved on your iPhone, iOS 16 can still show its password using the same steps. If it doesn't appear in the Wi-Fi list, go to Settings → Wi-Fi → Edit to find it in your saved networks.
Summary: the fastest method for each situation
Here's a quick-reference guide to the right approach depending on your situation.
| Situation | Fastest method | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Find password on your own iPhone (iOS 16+) | Settings → Wi-Fi → (i) → Password → Face ID | iOS 16 or later; Face ID or passcode |
| Find password on your own iPhone (iOS 15 and earlier) | Keychain Access or System Settings on Mac | Same Apple ID on Mac; iCloud Keychain enabled |
| Connect a nearby iPhone or iPad | Wi-Fi sharing (tap Share Password when prompted) | Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on; recipient in Contacts |
| Share the password with Android or Windows | View password on iOS 16 → generate QR code or read it out | iOS 16 or later |
| Password changed and nobody knows it | Router label or admin panel (192.168.1.1) | Physical access to router or LAN connection |
If you're on iOS 16 or later, the quickest route is Settings → Wi-Fi → (i) → tap the Password field → authenticate with Face ID. On iOS 15 and earlier, reach for iCloud Keychain on a Mac. For getting another Apple device connected without reading out a password, the one-tap sharing feature is the safest and most convenient option. Whatever your situation, there's a reliable path — pick the one that fits and you'll be online in minutes.
