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How to Find a Wi-Fi Password on Your PC or Mac

These passwords are easy to expose—if you know where to look

By Michael Archambault Michael Archambault Writer New York Institute of Technology Michael Archambault is a technology writer and digital media specialist. His work has appeared in Mobile Nations, Amazon’s Digital Photography Review, PetaPixel, and other outlets. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on January 18, 2020 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Home Networking The Wireless Connection Routers & Firewalls Network Hubs ISP Broadband Ethernet Installing & Upgrading Wi-Fi & Wireless

What to Know

In Windows 10, go to Network and Sharing Center > Connections > network > Wireless Properties > Security > Show Characters.On a Mac, open Spotlight and go to Keychains > System > Passwords, double-click the network > Show password. This article explains how to retrieve a forgotten Wi-Fi password on Windows 10, 8, or 7 and a Mac. Instructions slightly vary when changing the password on Windows 10 vs. Windows 8 and 7. How to Find Wi-Fi Password in Windows 11

Find Your Wi-Fi Password With Windows 10

If you use a Windows PC, here's how to retrieve the password for your Wi-Fi network. Go to the Start menu. Select Settings. The Settings icon appears as a white gear above the Power icon. In the Windows Settings window, select Network & Internet. In the Change your network settings section, select Network and Sharing Center. In the Network and Sharing Center window, go to Connections and select the name of your Wi-Fi network. In the Wi-Fi Status dialog box, select Wireless Properties. In the Wireless Network Properties dialog box, go to the Security tab and select the Show characters check box. Copy the Wi-Fi password.

Find Your Wi-Fi Password With Windows 8 and Windows 7

It's just as easy to find your Wi-Fi password on a slightly older version of Windows. If you use Windows 8 or Windows 7, here's how to retrieve the password for your Wi-Fi network. Select the Start menu. In the Start Menu search bar, enter Network and Sharing Center and press the Enter key when the selection is highlighted. In the Network and Sharing Center window, select the name of your Wi-Fi network. Select Wireless Properties. Go to the Security tab and choose Show Characters to reveal the Wi-Fi password.

Find Your Wi-Fi Password on Mac

If use an Apple computer with macOS, access the Keychain Access app on your Mac. Open Spotlight. Hold on the keyboard and press the spacebar. Then, enter Keychain Access and choose Enter. Here's another way to open Spotlight. Click the magnifying glass icon located in the upper-right corner of the screen. In the Keychain Access window, go to the Keychains panel and select System. In the Category list, select Passwords. The right pane lists of all the System passwords stored by your Mac. Double-click the name of your Wi-Fi network to open its settings. In the settings window, click the Show password check box. When prompted, enter your Mac username and password, then select Allow. Only a system administrator can enter a username and password. If you're the only account on the Mac, you are the system administrator. Otherwise, enter the username and password of an administrator to see the password. The Mac displays the password to your Wi-Fi network. How to Share a Wi-Fi Password From Mac to iPhone Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Find a Wi-Fi Password on an iPhone What Is a Network Security Key and How Do You Find It? How to Find Wi-Fi Password in Windows 11 How to Change Your Wi-Fi Password How to Find Saved Passwords on Mac How to Change DNS Servers in Windows Connecting a PC to a Wireless Home Network How to Share Your Wi-Fi Password on Android How to Turn Your Windows Laptop Into a Wi-Fi Hotspot How to Connect Google Home to Wi-Fi How to Find the Printer on Your Network in Windows 10 How to Install the Client for Microsoft Networks How to Measure Your Wi-Fi Signal Strength How to Reset Network Settings on Mac How to Connect Chromecast to Hotel Wi-Fi How to Find Your Default Gateway IP Address Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies