TL;DR: On iOS 16 or later, open Settings > Wi-Fi, tap the ⓘ next to your network, then tap Password and unlock with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. On iOS 18 and later, the Passwords app also lists every saved Wi-Fi network under Wi-Fi, with Copy Password and Show Network QR Code buttons. To give the password to a friend’s iPhone, iPad or Mac, keep your iPhone unlocked nearby and tap Share Password when the prompt appears.
Last updated: November 14, 2026. Steps checked against Apple Support, Microsoft Support and Android Help pages on that date.
Someone asks for the Wi-Fi password, and you have no idea what it is because your iPhone typed it once and never showed it again. Your iPhone kept it, though. This guide covers how to find a Wi-Fi password on iPhone, how to share it without reading out a 20-character string, and where to look when your phone was never connected in the first place.
How to find the Wi-Fi password on iPhone for the network you’re on
Open the Settings app, tap Wi-Fi, tap the ⓘ (Info) button next to the network you’re connected to, then tap the Password field. Your iPhone asks for Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode and then shows the password, which you can copy.
This works on iOS 16 and later, and on iPadOS 16.1 and later for iPad, according to Apple Support’s saved Wi-Fi passwords page (published May 27, 2026, checked November 14, 2026). The steps:
- Open Settings and tap Wi-Fi.
- Find the network you’re currently using.
- Tap the ⓘ button on the right.
- Tap the Password field.
- Authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. The password appears, and you can copy it.
One tip from Apple’s Wi-Fi password help page: Wi-Fi passwords are case-sensitive, so if you’re typing it on another device, watch the capital letters.
How to see passwords for Wi-Fi networks you joined before
In Settings, go to Wi-Fi, tap Edit in the top-right corner and authenticate. Your iPhone then lists every network it has saved. Tap the ⓘ next to any network with a lock icon and tap Password to see it.
Use this for your office, a friend’s house or last month’s hotel. Apple lists the steps on the same support page:
- Open Settings > Wi-Fi.
- Tap Edit in the upper-right corner.
- Unlock with your passcode, Face ID or Touch ID to reveal previously joined networks.
- Tap the ⓘ next to a network with a lock icon.
- Tap the Password field.
If a network isn’t listed, your iPhone never saved it or you tapped Forget This Network. Skip to the router section below.
How to find Wi-Fi passwords in the Passwords app (iOS 18 and later)
Open the Passwords app, authenticate, and tap Wi-Fi. The network you’re connected to sits at the top, followed by every network you’ve saved. Tap one, then tap the Password field to reveal it or Copy Password to put it on the clipboard.
Apple introduced the Passwords app with iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia and visionOS 2, per Apple Support’s Passwords app overview (published June 5, 2026). It’s still the method Apple puts first in the current iPhone User Guide for iOS 27.
- Open Passwords (if it isn’t on your Home Screen, swipe to the App Library or search for it).
- Unlock with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode.
- Tap Wi-Fi. Apple notes you may have to tap a sidebar button first to see your categories.
- Tap the network you want.
- Tap Password to reveal it, or Copy Password.
With iCloud Keychain on, Apple says Wi-Fi information syncs across your approved Apple devices, so a network your Mac joined can show up on your iPhone too.
Which method should you use?
Use Settings for a quick look at the network you’re on, and the Passwords app when you want a list of everything, a copy button or a QR code. Both need Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode, so nobody can read your passwords just by picking up your unlocked phone.
| Method | iOS version | Shows | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Settings > Wi-Fi > ⓘ > Password | iOS 16+ | Current network | Quick check while connected |
| Settings > Wi-Fi > Edit | iOS 16+ | All saved networks | Old networks you joined before |
| Passwords app > Wi-Fi | iOS 18+ | All saved networks, synced via iCloud Keychain | Copying or showing a QR code |
| Share Password prompt | Current iOS, iPadOS, macOS | Nothing (sends it securely) | Friends with an iPhone, iPad or Mac |
| Router label or admin page | Any | The router’s password | When no device has it saved |
How to share a Wi-Fi password from your iPhone
Keep your iPhone unlocked and connected to the network, and have your friend pick the same network on their iPhone, iPad or Mac. A Wi-Fi Password prompt pops up on your phone. Tap Share Password, then Done, and their device joins without anyone typing anything.
Apple’s Wi-Fi sharing page (published March 17, 2026) lists the conditions:
- Both devices are on recent software, with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on.
- Each person is signed in to their own Apple Account.
- Personal Hotspot is off on both.
- Each person has the other’s Apple Account email address or phone number saved in Contacts.
- The devices are close together.
The contacts rule trips people up most. Apple’s Platform Security guide explains why: sharing uses a Bluetooth mechanism similar to AirDrop, and the sharing device needs the requester’s contact details to confirm who they are. If the prompt doesn’t show, Apple suggests restarting both devices, or just typing the password in.
Can you share Wi-Fi from iPhone with a QR code?
Yes, on iOS 18 and later. Open the Passwords app, tap Wi-Fi, choose the network and tap Show Network QR Code. Anyone can scan it to join, including Android users and people who aren’t in your contacts.
Apple describes the button in its iOS 27 iPhone User Guide. On another iPhone, the guest opens Camera in Photo mode, points it at the code and taps the link that appears, as covered in Apple’s QR code scanning guide. Most Android phones can scan it from the Camera app or the QR icon in their Wi-Fi settings.
How to find a Wi-Fi password on a Mac
On a Mac running macOS Sequoia or later, open the Passwords app, click Wi-Fi in the sidebar, select the network and hold the pointer over the dots next to Password. Click the dots to copy it. On macOS 13 or later, you can also copy it from System Settings.
The Passwords User Guide for Mac covers the app, including Show Network QR Code and the same Share Password prompt as iPhone. For System Settings, Apple’s Wi-Fi password help page gives these steps:
- Choose Apple menu > System Settings.
- Click Network in the sidebar, then Wi-Fi.
- Scroll down and click Advanced to open the list of known networks.
- Click the More (…) button next to the network and choose Copy Password.
- Paste it somewhere to read it. If both devices are yours, Universal Clipboard can paste it straight onto your iPhone.
What if your iPhone never joined the network?
Then there’s nothing saved to reveal, and you need the password from its source. Check the label on the router, the setup sheet from your internet provider, or the router’s admin page or app. On public Wi-Fi, ask the staff.
Apple’s help page notes that the label on the router or its paperwork often shows the default network name (SSID) and password, sometimes called the “network key,” which may still be in use if nobody changed it. If you manage the router, its admin page or app lets you view or change the password. Otherwise, whoever set it up, or the router’s maker, can help you reset it.
If you’re thinking about a new router while you’re at it, our Wi-Fi 7 vs Wi-Fi 6E guide explains whether the upgrade is worth it.
How to find a Wi-Fi password on Android and Windows 11
On Android 12 and later, go to Settings > Network & internet > Internet, tap your network (or the gear next to it) and tap Share to get a QR code. On Windows 11, go to Settings > Network & internet > Properties and select Show next to Wi-Fi network password.
Google’s Android Help and Pixel Phone Help pages document the Share button. On Pixel and many other phones, the password is also printed as text under the QR code, as How-To Geek shows. For Samsung Galaxy steps and saved networks, see our guide on how to find a Wi-Fi password on Android.
For Windows, Microsoft Support says you can also open Manage known networks, pick any saved network and select Show. Windows displays a QR code alongside it, which your iPhone camera can scan. For every Windows method, including the netsh command, see our guide on how to find a Wi-Fi password on Windows 11.
Our verdict
On iOS 18 and later, the Passwords app is the best place to look: one list, a copy button and a QR code that saves spelling things out loud. On iOS 16 and 17, Settings > Wi-Fi > Edit does the job. For friends with Apple devices, the Share Password prompt is quickest, as long as you’re in each other’s contacts.
Anyone with your Wi-Fi password can get onto your home network, so a guest network is worth setting up if you have frequent visitors. For more on locking down accounts, see whether SMS two-factor codes are safe and whether a VPN is worth it. Moving from Android? Our guide to transferring data from Android to iPhone covers the switch.
FAQ
How do I see my Wi-Fi password on iPhone without a computer?
Open Settings, tap Wi-Fi, tap the Info button next to your network and tap Password, then unlock with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. On iOS 18 and later, you can also open the Passwords app and tap Wi-Fi.
Why can’t I see the Password option in my iPhone’s Wi-Fi settings?
Viewing Wi-Fi passwords needs iOS 16 or later, so update your iPhone if it’s older. The option also won’t appear for open networks without a password or for networks your iPhone never saved.
Can I find the password for a Wi-Fi network I’m not connected to?
Yes, if your iPhone joined it before. Go to Settings, tap Wi-Fi, tap Edit and authenticate, or open the Passwords app and tap Wi-Fi to see every saved network.
Why isn’t Share Password popping up on my iPhone?
Both people need Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on, Personal Hotspot off, their own Apple Account signed in and each other’s Apple Account email or phone number saved in Contacts. Keep the devices close and restart both if the prompt still doesn’t appear.
Can I share my iPhone’s Wi-Fi password with an Android phone?
Yes. On iOS 18 and later, open the Passwords app, tap Wi-Fi, choose the network and tap Show Network QR Code, then let the Android phone scan it. On older iOS versions, reveal the password in Settings and type it in.
Where do I find my Wi-Fi password if no device has it saved?
Check the label on your router or the setup sheet from your internet provider, which often show the default network name and password. If you manage the router, you can also view or change the password on its admin page or app.
Sources
Apple Support: saved Wi-Fi passwords, sharing Wi-Fi passwords, Wi-Fi password help, Passwords app, iPhone User Guide, Passwords User Guide for Mac, Wi-Fi password sharing security. Microsoft Support: Wi-Fi in Windows. Google: Android Help, Pixel Phone Help. All checked November 14, 2026.
