How to See Saved Wi-Fi Network Passwords on iPhone and Macbook

The information of any Wi-Fi network you join is automatically synced between your iPhone and other devices connected to your Apple ID. Your Mac or other Apple devices will automatically join that network thanks to this practical feature. Additionally, iOS makes it simple to give Wi-Fi passwords to other users of iPhones or iPads. Even your home’s Wi-Fi password can be converted into a QR code for simple sharing.

The need to retrieve a Wi-Fi password for sharing with friends who don’t have an iPhone will arise in some circumstances, though. If that’s the case, use the instructions below to find the Wi-Fi network password on your iPhone or Mac.

How to view saved Wi-Fi passwords on iPhone and Macbook

Prior to iOS 16 and macOS Ventura, Apple made it somewhat difficult to view saved Wi-Fi passwords on your iPhone or Mac. Thankfully, a change was brought about by the most recent operating system updates.

Because Apple makes it so simple to share Wi-Fi passwords without ever typing them in, it can be easy to forget the actual password if it’s lengthy and complex. For each of these factors, it is unquestionably advantageous to be able to view a saved Wi-Fi network’s password on your iPhone or MacBook.

Show Wi-Fi passwords on iPhone and iPad

You can view the passwords of saved Wi-Fi networks in iOS 16. — iOS 16 lets you view the password of connected or saved Wi-Fi networks.
Screenshot: Rajesh

To find and share the password of a Wi-Fi network your iPhone is currently connected to, follow these steps. (Note: This also works for iPads.)

Open Settings > Wi-Fi on your iPhone.
Tap the i button next to the Wi-Fi network name your iPhone is currently connected to.
Tap on the password row. You must confirm your identity using Face ID/Touch ID or by entering your iPhone’s passcode.
Use the Copy button that appears to copy the password and share it with the intended person. (Your actual password also will be revealed on your iPhone screen.)

The process of retrieving the password of a Wi-Fi network that your iPhone previously connected to is slightly different. (This works for iPad, too.)

Open Settings > Wi-Fi on your iPhone. Tap the Edit option in the top-right corner.
Use Face ID/Touch ID or your iPhone’s passcode to confirm your identity.
Your iPhone will display a list of all the Wi-Fi networks it previously connected to.
Find the Wi-Fi network whose password you want to retrieve from the list. Tap the i icon beside its name to open its settings page.
Tap on Password to reveal the Wi-Fi network’s password. Select the Copy button that appears if you want to copy the password. (You can see the password here as well.)

View saved Wi-Fi network passwords on your Mac

You can perform the same sort of operation on your Mac if it’s running macOS Ventura.

Click on the Wi-Fi icon in your Mac’s menu bar in the top-right corner, followed by Wi-Fi settings.
You need to tap the 3-dot menu beside the Wi-Fi network name your Mac is currently connected to.
From the menu that appears, select the Copy password option.
Proceed to paste the password in a chat or messaging window to share it with somebody else.

Wi-Fi Settings menu in macOS Ventura — Viewing a Wi-Fi network’s password is easy in macOS Ventura.
Screenshot: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac

If your Mac is not connected to the Wi-Fi network whose password you want to retrieve, the steps will differ slightly.

Open the Wi-Fi settings page from System Settings on your Mac.
Click the Advanced button at the bottom of the Wi-Fi settings page.
Tap the 3-dot menu beside the Wi-Fi network name whose password you want to retrieve.
From the menu that appears, select the Copy password option.
Paste the password in a chat or messaging window to share it with somebody else.

Always keep your Wi-Fi network secure

Never leave your Wi-Fi network unprotected or use a simple password just to get rid of password sharing hassles. You might end up in trouble because of this. Consider making your Mac into a Wi-Fi hotspot for other devices if you ever find yourself in a situation where you don’t want to disclose the Wi-Fi network password for your Mac.