How to Find Your Saved Wi-Fi Password on a Mac

Once you connect your Mac to a Wi-Fi network, macOS securely saves the password so you never have to type it again. While this is incredibly convenient, it often means that months or years later, you will completely forget the actual password. If you need to connect your new smartphone to the network, or if a guest comes over and asks for the Wi-Fi details, finding that hidden password can be remarkably frustrating.

Apple completely overhauled how saved passwords work in recent versions of macOS (macOS Ventura and Sonoma). Older operating systems require you to dig through a complex developer tool called Keychain Access. Here is how to find your saved Wi-Fi password using both the modern method and the legacy method.

Method 1: For macOS Ventura, Sonoma, and Newer

If your Mac is running macOS Ventura (macOS 13) or a newer version, Apple has moved network passwords into a dedicated, user-friendly settings menu.

1. Click the Apple Logo in the top-left corner of your screen and select System Settings.
2. In the left-hand sidebar, scroll down and click on Wi-Fi.
3. Scroll down to the bottom of the Wi-Fi menu and click the Advanced… button.
4. You will see a list of “Known Networks”. Find the specific Wi-Fi network you need the password for.
5. Click the circular button with three dots next to the network name.
6. Select Copy Password from the drop-down menu.
7. Your Mac will ask you to verify your identity. Either scan your fingerprint using Touch ID, or type in your Mac’s administrator password (the one you use to unlock your computer from the lock screen).

The password is now copied to your clipboard. You can paste it into a Notes document or an iMessage to see exactly what it is.

Method 2: For macOS Monterey and Older (Using Keychain Access)

If you are using an older Mac that cannot be updated to the latest software, you must use the Keychain Access utility to retrieve your network passwords.

1. Press Command + Spacebar to open Spotlight Search.
2. Type Keychain Access and press Enter to launch the application.
3. In the left-hand sidebar of Keychain Access, click on System (under the System Keychains section).
4. At the top of the window, click on the Passwords tab.
5. You will see a long list of saved passwords. Use the search bar in the top-right corner to type in the name of your Wi-Fi network.
6. Double-click your Wi-Fi network in the list to open its properties window.
7. Check the small box at the bottom of the window labelled Show password.
8. A security prompt will appear. Type your Mac administrator username and password (the credentials you use to log into your computer).
9. Click Allow. The network password will now appear in plain text inside the “Show password” box.

Pro Tip: If you own an iPhone that is signed into the same Apple ID account as your Mac, you do not need to look up the password to share it. Simply hold your unlocked iPhone close to your guest’s iPhone while they select your Wi-Fi network, and a prompt will automatically appear asking if you want to share the password wirelessly.