Check a device that has already joined the network first. You may be able to reveal a saved password or share access without changing anything on the router. Only view or share credentials for networks you own or have permission to use.
A device does not always need to be connected right now: some systems can show previously saved networks. A saved password may be outdated if the network owner has changed it.
iPhone or iPad
For iOS 16 / iPadOS 16.1 or later:
- Open Settings → Wi-Fi.
- Select the information button next to the current network.
- Tap Password and authenticate with your device passcode, Face ID, or Touch ID.
- Copy the revealed value if needed.
For a previously joined network, use Wi-Fi → Edit, authenticate, and select its information button.
On devices with the Passwords app, open it, authenticate, select Wi-Fi, then the network and its password field. This is a separate route, not a step inside Wi-Fi Settings. See Apple’s saved Wi-Fi password instructions.
Android
On Google Pixel, open Settings → Network & internet → Internet, select the settings icon beside the connected network, then Share. Authenticate if prompted and let the other device scan the QR code. These steps follow Google’s Pixel Wi-Fi sharing instructions.
Android menus vary by manufacturer and version. Other devices may use Connections → Wi-Fi or a QR code button. Some show the text password; others show only a QR code. Neither option is guaranteed on every Android device or managed network.
Treat the QR code as a credential: it can expose network access. Do not upload it to an unknown online decoder or post it publicly.
Windows
Windows 11 Settings
Open Settings → Network & internet → Properties, then select Show beside Wi-Fi network password. For a saved network, open Wi-Fi → Manage known networks, select its name, and look for the password’s Show control.
Labels may differ on older Windows 11 builds. Microsoft’s Wi-Fi instructions cover current and older interfaces.
Windows 10 connection properties
Open Settings → Network & Internet → Status → Network and Sharing Center. Select the active Wi-Fi connection, then Wireless Properties → Security → Show characters.
These controls can be unavailable under an organization’s device policy. Do not try to bypass an administrator restriction.
Mac
On macOS 13 or later:
- Open System Settings → Network → Wi-Fi.
- Open Advanced to see known networks.
- Use the more-options button beside the network and choose Copy Password.
Follow any authentication prompt. Prefer pasting directly into the receiving device’s password field; avoid leaving the credential in a shared document. On supported devices, Universal Clipboard can help transfer it between your own devices.
See Apple’s Wi-Fi password help. The copy option may be unavailable for some network types.
Router label or app
Look for Wi-Fi password, Wireless key, or similar wording next to the network name on the router label. SSID is the network name, not the password. An administrator login or device PIN is also not necessarily the Wi-Fi key.
The label normally describes the original setup. If the network name or password changed, the printed information may no longer work.
If you administer the router, its official app or management page may let you view or change wireless settings. Find the actual gateway address in your device’s network settings or the model’s manual; do not assume every router uses the same address. An Ethernet cable provides connectivity, not permission to bypass the administrator password.
If the password is missing or does not work
- Wrong network: check the exact SSID, including whether this is the guest network.
- Old saved key: the owner may have changed it since this device last connected.
- No Show / Copy / Share control: menus, software versions, and management policies differ.
- Work or school network: it may use individual accounts or certificates rather than one shared password.
- No saved device and no router access: ask the owner or provider before considering a reset.
A password generator creates a new password; it cannot discover an existing network’s password.
Change or share the password after recovery
If the existing credential is still appropriate, use your device’s built-in sharing feature or follow how to share a Wi-Fi password.
If it needs replacing, create a unique key with our Wi-Fi password generator and follow how to change the router’s Wi-Fi password. Apply the new key to the router before using its generated QR code.
Lost the administrator login too? Read router password recovery and reset options before pressing Reset. A factory reset can disconnect every device and remove ISP settings.