How to See Your Saved Wi-Fi Password on an iPhone

Connecting a new device to your home or office Wi-Fi network should be simple, but it is incredibly easy to forget a complex router password months after you initially set it up. If you have guests asking for your network credentials, or if you need to connect a secondary device like a smart TV, finding that password can become a highly frustrating task.

Historically, Apple required users to navigate complex macOS settings or use third-party workarounds to retrieve saved Wi-Fi credentials. Fortunately, starting with iOS 16, Apple introduced a native, secure, and incredibly simple method to view, copy, and share your saved Wi-Fi passwords directly from your iPhone.

Why You Might Need to Find Your Saved Wi-Fi Password

While iPhones and iPads seamlessly connect to familiar networks automatically, retrieving the actual password string is necessary in several scenarios:

• Connecting non-Apple devices: If a friend has an Android phone or a Windows laptop, you cannot rely on Apple’s automatic password-sharing feature.
• Setting up smart home hardware: Devices like smart plugs, security cameras, and robotic vacuum cleaners often require you to manually type your Wi-Fi password during their initial setup process.
• Recovering forgotten credentials: It is common practice to set a strong, complex router password and immediately forget it. Your iPhone acts as a secure digital vault for these credentials.

Requirements for Viewing Wi-Fi Passwords on iPhone

Before you begin, ensure your device meets the following requirements:

• iOS Version: Your iPhone must be running iOS 16 or later. To check your version, navigate to Settings > General > About.
• Authentication: You must have Face ID, Touch ID, or a device passcode configured. Apple requires biometric authentication to reveal the password to ensure unauthorised users cannot access your network credentials.

How to View the Password for Your Current Wi-Fi Network

If your iPhone is currently connected to the network you want the password for, follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Tap on Wi-Fi.
3. Locate the network you are currently connected to (it will have a blue checkmark next to it).
4. Tap the blue “i” (Information) icon next to the network name.
5. In the network details screen, locate the Password field. It will display a row of hidden dots.
6. Tap directly on the hidden password.
7. Your iPhone will prompt you to authenticate using Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode.
8. Once authenticated, the hidden dots will transform into plain text, revealing your Wi-Fi password.
9. A Copy button will appear above the password. Tap it to copy the credentials to your clipboard, allowing you to paste it into a text message or email.

How to View Passwords for Previously Saved Networks

Your iPhone remembers the passwords for almost every network you have ever joined. You can retrieve credentials for networks you are not currently connected to, which is incredibly useful if you need to share your home Wi-Fi password while you are at the office.

1. Open the Settings app and tap on Wi-Fi.
2. In the top-right corner of the screen, tap the Edit button.
3. Authenticate using Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode.
4. A list of all your Known Networks will appear in alphabetical order.
5. Scroll through the list or use the search bar to find the specific network.
6. Tap the blue “i” (Information) icon next to the network.
7. Tap the hidden Password field to reveal it, just as you would for an active network.

Alternative Method: Using Apple’s Automatic Password Sharing

If you need to share your Wi-Fi password with another Apple user (someone with an iPhone, iPad, or Mac), you do not actually need to view the password. Apple provides an automatic sharing feature that transmits the credentials securely over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

To use this feature:

1. Ensure both devices have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on, and that Personal Hotspot is disabled.
2. Ensure you have the other person’s Apple ID email address saved in your Contacts app, and they have yours saved in theirs.
3. Unlock your iPhone and connect it to the Wi-Fi network.
4. Ask the other person to navigate to Settings > Wi-Fi on their device and select the network.
5. A pop-up will appear on your iPhone asking, “Do you want to share the Wi-Fi password for [Network Name]?”
6. Tap Share Password, and the other device will instantly connect.

While this automatic sharing feature is highly convenient, it relies heavily on both users being in each other’s contacts. If the automatic prompt fails to appear, manually revealing and copying the password using the steps outlined above is the most reliable fallback method.