On a Mac, you can see a WiFi password by opening Keychain Access, searching the network name, then selecting Show Password with your Mac login.
Why You May Need To See WiFi Password On Mac
If you stay on one network for weeks, it is easy to forget the exact WiFi password you typed in on day one. Then you buy a new phone, a guest wants to join, or you reset the router, and you suddenly need that same WiFi password again. Your Mac already knows it, so the real task is learning how to ask your Mac to reveal it.
Most methods for viewing a WiFi password on Mac are built into macOS. They depend on your user account permissions and the version of macOS you run. Once you understand where macOS stores WiFi passwords, you can pick the quickest method that fits your setup and comfort level.
- Share with new devices — Copy a WiFi password from your Mac so you can sign in on a phone, tablet, or smart TV.
- Help friends or family — Look up the WiFi password on your Mac when guests ask for the network details.
- Update router settings — Check the current WiFi password before changing security mode, WiFi name, or band on your router.
- Troubleshoot network issues — Confirm that all devices are using the same WiFi password while you track down connection drops.
Each option you will see below requires that you already have access to the Mac user account that knows the WiFi password. You will be asked to enter either your Mac login password or use Touch ID before macOS shows any stored WiFi password in plain text.
Quick Ways To View WiFi Password On Your Mac
macOS stores WiFi passwords in the system keychain and, on recent releases, in the Passwords section of System Settings. That gives you a few different routes to the same goal. Picking the right one saves time and reduces the chance of editing the wrong setting.
Here is how the main options to see a WiFi password on Mac compare at a glance:
| Method | Best For | What You Do |
|---|---|---|
| System Settings WiFi | Recent macOS versions when you just need the current network password | Open System Settings, go to Network > Wi-Fi, use Advanced and Copy Password. |
| Keychain Access | Any network saved on the Mac, including older or hidden networks | Open Keychain Access, search the network name, then show the password. |
| Terminal | Users comfortable with command line who want a quick text copy | Run a security command that prints the WiFi password after you authenticate. |
You can also get the WiFi password from the router itself or from another Apple device that already knows the same network. Those fall back options help when you are on a work Mac or a managed computer where Keychain Access is locked down.
View Saved WiFi Password In System Settings
On macOS Ventura, macOS Sonoma, and newer releases, Apple moved many network options into the main System Settings app. That includes a convenient way to copy the WiFi password for the network you use right now, along with a list of other known networks.
Check Your macOS Version First
Before you start, make sure you know which macOS release you run. The steps for older versions are slightly different and live in another section below.
- Open About This Mac — Click the Apple menu in the top left of the screen, then choose About This Mac.
- Read the macOS name — Look for names such as Ventura, Sonoma, or Sequoia along with the version number.
- Match the steps — If you see Ventura, Sonoma, Sequoia, or anything newer, you can use the System Settings method. If you see Monterey or an earlier name, head to the Keychain Access method later.
Copy The WiFi Password For Your Current Network
When your Mac already sits on the network whose password you want, copying the WiFi password on Mac from System Settings takes only a few clicks.
- Open System Settings — Click the Apple menu, then choose System Settings.
- Go to Network — In the left sidebar, click Network, then select Wi-Fi on the right side of the window.
- Open Advanced networks — Scroll down and click the Advanced button to open the list of Known Networks.
- Find your WiFi network — In the list, look for the WiFi network name that matches the one in your menu bar.
- Copy the password — Click the More button with three dots next to that network, then choose Copy Password. Authenticate with Touch ID or your Mac login password when asked.
- Paste where needed — Paste the WiFi password into a note, message, or directly into another device while the clipboard still holds it.
This method follows the same pattern Apple describes for copying WiFi passwords in System Settings on recent macOS versions, and it works for any network in your Known Networks list, not only the active one.
Use The Passwords App On macOS Sequoia
On macOS Sequoia, Apple adds a dedicated Passwords app that gathers WiFi network entries, website logins, and passkeys in one place. You can open that Passwords app, choose the Wi-Fi category, then select a network entry to see its stored WiFi password after you authenticate with Touch ID or your Mac password. Apple outlines the Passwords app steps in its article about finding saved passwords and passkeys on Mac, which you can reach from the official saved passwords guide.
Find WiFi Password With Keychain Access
Keychain Access is the long standing tool that keeps WiFi passwords, website logins, and other secrets on all Macs. Even on the latest macOS versions, WiFi passwords still sit inside keychains, so this method works on a wide range of machines, including older ones that lack the newer System Settings layout.
Open The WiFi Password Entry In Keychain
Keychain Access looks technical at first, yet the steps to show a WiFi password on Mac inside it are straightforward once you know where to click.
- Launch Keychain Access — Open Spotlight with Command+Space, type Keychain Access, then press Return to start the app.
- Choose the right keychain — In the left sidebar, select either login or System, then click the Passwords category at the top of the main pane.
- Search for the WiFi network name — Use the search field in the top right and type the WiFi network name, such as your home router name or office SSID.
- Open the network item — Double click the item whose kind reads AirPort network password, or whose name clearly matches the WiFi network you want.
Reveal The WiFi Password In Keychain Access
Once the WiFi network item window is open, the actual WiFi password is behind one more protection step.
- Enable Show Password — In the item window, check the box labeled Show Password near the bottom.
- Approve with your Mac login — When macOS asks for a name and password, enter your Mac user name if it is not already filled in, then type the login password for that account and click Allow.
- Read or copy the WiFi password — The WiFi password now appears as plain text in the Show Password field, ready for you to read or copy.
This method is still the most flexible way to see WiFi passwords on Mac. It lets you get passwords for old networks that do not appear in your current WiFi menu, and works even when you are offline, as long as the keychain entry remains on the Mac.
See WiFi Password Using Terminal Commands
Some Mac owners prefer a quick Terminal command over clicking through several screens. macOS includes a command line tool named security that can read the same keychain entries used by Keychain Access. If you like typing commands, this option gives you a fast way to see a WiFi password on Mac without leaving the keyboard.
Run A Command To Show A WiFi Password
You should only run commands you understand, and you should never paste commands from random websites into Terminal without checking them first. The one below is an Apple supplied tool that just reads your own keychain entry after you approve access.
- Open Terminal — Go to Applications > Utilities in Finder, then double click Terminal, or search for Terminal with Spotlight.
- Type the security command — At the prompt, enter the following line, replacing NETWORK_NAME with the exact WiFi network name in quotes:
security find-generic-password -D "AirPort network password" -ga "NETWORK_NAME"- Approve keychain access — A dialog appears asking if Terminal should be allowed to access that keychain item. Enter your Mac login password and click Allow.
- Read the password in Terminal — Terminal prints a line that includes password: followed by the WiFi password in plain text, which you can select and copy.
If you do not see a matching item, check the WiFi network name for spelling or stray spaces. You can go back into Keychain Access, copy the exact network name from there, and paste it into the Terminal command to avoid typing mistakes.
Check The Router Or Another Device
Sometimes the easiest path does not run through the Mac at all. When you cannot open Keychain Access because of work rules, or you sit at a borrowed Mac that already knows the WiFi network, you might have better luck with the router or another device on the same network.
Use The Label Or Admin Page On The Router
Most home routers carry a printed label on the bottom or back that lists the default WiFi network name and WiFi password. If you never changed those details, that label gives you the answer immediately. WiFi passwords are case sensitive, so match uppercase and lowercase letters exactly when you type them on a new device.
- Look for a network label — Check the router case for a sticker that lists SSID, Network Name, or Wireless Password along with a password.
- Try the default password — Type the default WiFi password from the label into your device, watching out for similar characters such as 0 and O.
- Sign in to the router admin page — If the label does not match, open a browser on a device that is already online, enter the router gateway in the browser, then sign in with the router admin credentials to review the wireless settings page for the current WiFi password.
See Or Share The WiFi Password From Another Apple Device
If you also use an iPhone or iPad on the same WiFi network, you can often copy the WiFi password from that device and then enter it on your Mac. Apple describes several options on its WiFi password help page, including a copy password feature for newer system versions and a simple WiFi password sharing feature between nearby Apple devices.
- Copy the password on iPhone or iPad — On modern iOS and iPadOS releases, you can open Settings, go to Wi-Fi, tap the current network, then tap Password to reveal and copy it after you authenticate.
- Use Apple device password sharing — When a nearby iPhone, iPad, or Mac is already on the WiFi network and in your contacts, that device can show a Share Password prompt when your Mac or another device tries to join the network.
- Paste or accept the password — Either paste the password from the other device into your Mac, or accept the automatic share prompt when it appears.
These features do not remove the need to know how to see a WiFi password on Mac, yet they give you a backup route when your own Mac refuses to reveal the saved WiFi password or is locked by work managed settings.
Keep Your WiFi Password Safe On Mac
Once you learn how to see WiFi passwords on Mac, it becomes tempting to copy and share them in many places. That convenience can weaken your home or office network security if the WiFi password ends up in screenshots, old chats, or shared documents that linger in places you forget about later.
- Avoid sending passwords in plain text — Instead of leaving WiFi passwords in chat history or email, offer to type the password directly on the other person’s device.
- Use a strong passphrase — Short, simple WiFi passwords are easy to guess. A longer passphrase with random words, numbers, and symbols resists guessing and makes it harder for strangers to join your network.
- Store passwords in a manager — You can save your WiFi password in a password manager or in the built in Passwords section of macOS so you do not rely on sticky notes or screenshots.
- Clean up old networks — From System Settings or Keychain Access, remove saved WiFi networks that you no longer use, especially ones from public places.
- Follow workplace rules — If your Mac belongs to a company or school, check any written rules before copying or sharing WiFi passwords from that device.
Knowing how to see WiFi passwords on Mac gives you control when you add devices, help visitors, or tidy up network settings. Used thoughtfully, these built in tools keep you in charge of who can reach your WiFi network while still letting you get the password whenever you need it.