Find Your Wi-Fi Password on Mac

If you’ve forgotten the Wi-Fi password for a network your Mac has connected to before, you can retrieve it from the Keychain Access app or System Settings. This guide shows you how to reveal saved Wi-Fi passwords on macOS, including steps for both older and newer versions.

What You’ll Need

• Your Mac must have previously connected to the Wi-Fi network you want the password for.
• You need to be logged in as an administrator (or know the administrator username and password) to view passwords in Keychain Access.
• For a Mac with Apple silicon (M1 or later) or macOS Ventura and later, you may need to authenticate with Touch ID or your Mac password.

Step-by-Step

1. Open Keychain Access. Go to Applications > Utilities and double-click Keychain Access. Alternatively, press Command + Space to open Spotlight, type “Keychain Access,” and press Return.
2. Find the Wi-Fi network. In the left sidebar, make sure System is selected under Keychains. Then, in the search box (top right), type the name (SSID) of the Wi-Fi network you need the password for. The network will appear in the list.
3. Open the network entry. Double-click the Wi-Fi network name. A small window will pop up.
4. Show the password. In the pop-up window, check the box next to Show password. You’ll be asked to enter your Mac’s administrator username and password (or use Touch ID if prompted). After authenticating, the password will appear in the text field next to “Show password.”
5. Copy or note the password. You can now copy the password to your clipboard or write it down. Click Copy password if available, or manually select the text and press Command + C.

Alternative for macOS Ventura or later (System Settings):

1. Go to System Settings > Wi-Fi.
2. Scroll down to the Known Networks section.
3. Click the i (info) button next to the network name.
4. Click the Password field (it shows dots). You’ll be prompted to enter your Mac password or use Touch ID. After that, the password is revealed.

Common Mistakes

• Looking in the wrong keychain. Make sure you select System in the left sidebar, not login. Wi-Fi passwords are stored in the System keychain.
• Typing the network name incorrectly. The search is case-sensitive and exact. If you don’t see the network, try a partial name or check for typos.
• Not being an administrator. Only administrators can view passwords in Keychain Access. If you’re not an admin, you’ll get an authentication error.
• Confusing the login keychain with System. Some users accidentally look in the login keychain, which contains app passwords, not Wi-Fi keys.

Tips

• If you have multiple Macs, you can use iCloud Keychain to sync Wi-Fi passwords across devices. Then you can view the password on any Mac that’s signed into the same Apple ID.
• To quickly find the password, use Spotlight (Command+Space) and type “Keychain Access” instead of navigating through Finder.
• If you’re using macOS Monterey or earlier, the System Preferences method works: go to System Preferences > Network > Wi-Fi > Advanced, then double-click the network and check “Show password.”
• You can also use the Terminal command security find-generic-password -wa "NetworkName" to reveal the password, but it requires the same admin authentication.

Troubleshooting

I don’t see the Wi-Fi network in Keychain Access.

Make sure you’re searching the System keychain. If the network still doesn’t appear, it may have been removed from the saved networks list. Try connecting to the network again (you’ll need the password from the router), then it will be saved again.

The “Show password” checkbox is greyed out.

This usually means you’re not an administrator. Log in as an admin user or ask the admin to run the steps. If you are an admin, try unlocking the System keychain first: in Keychain Access, right-click on System and select Unlock Keychain, then enter your admin password.

I get an error saying the password is incorrect when I try to authenticate.

Double-check that you’re entering your Mac login password (the one you use to log in to the Mac), not the Wi-Fi password. If you’ve forgotten your Mac password, you’ll need to reset it using Apple ID or recovery mode.

The password field shows dots but won’t reveal.

In System Settings (Ventura+), sometimes the reveal option is hidden. Try clicking the password field itself – it may toggle to show the password. If not, use Keychain Access instead.

I’m using a Mac with Apple silicon and Touch ID doesn’t work.

You can still enter your Mac password manually. If Touch ID is not set up, the password prompt will appear automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I find the Wi-Fi password for a network I’m not currently connected to?

Yes, as long as your Mac has connected to that network at some point, the password is stored in Keychain Access. You can view it even if you’re not connected right now.

Do I need to be connected to the Wi-Fi network to see its password?

No. You only need to have connected to it previously. The password is stored in the keychain regardless of current connection status.

What if the network is a 5GHz or 2.4GHz band – are they separate entries?

Usually, the same network name (SSID) is used for both bands, so there’s one entry. Some routers use different SSIDs for each band; then each will appear as a separate entry.

Can I see the password for a hidden network?

Yes, if your Mac has connected to it before, it will appear in Keychain Access. The name will be the hidden SSID.

Is there a way to see the password without admin access?

No. macOS requires administrator privileges to view saved Wi-Fi passwords for security reasons. You’ll need to ask the admin of the Mac.

Will this work on macOS Sequoia or the latest version?

Yes, the Keychain Access method works on all recent macOS versions. The System Settings method works on Ventura and later. Both are still present in current versions.

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