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The wifi password is a power both desired and feared: Everyone wants to know it, but forget it, and you’re toast. Why Microsoft and Apple make it difficult to find wifi passwords on Windows and Mac isn’t clear (this is valuable information, after all). But, rest assured, those passwords are available to you if you’re prepared to click through some menus.
It isn’t only your computers that hide the wifi passwords: You can also see these passwords on your iPhone and Android devices as well. The next time someone asks for the wifi, as long as one of your device is connected to it, you can help.
How to see your wifi password on Windows
Microsoft hides your wifi passwords away behind various settings screens. How you get there, though, differs slightly depending on your platform. If you’re running Windows 11, hit Start, type control panel, then head to Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center. If you’re on Windows 10, hit Start, then head to Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Network and Sharing Center.
From here, on any platform, click on your particular wifi connection next to Connections, then, in Wi-Fi Status, click Wireless Properties. Now, open the Security tab, then make sure the Show characters box is checked. Once that’s done, you’ll see your network’s password. You can no share it with a friend or write it down and put it on the fridge.
How to see your wifi password on Mac
Apple does things a bit differently than Windows. You don’t necessarily view the password for the network you’re currently connected to; instead, the OS saves each wifi password you connect to in your device’s keychain, available to access whenever and wherever. You could share the wifi password from your old apartment to a subletter, or spill on the code for that coffee shop that really doesn’t like handing out the wifi.
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To find it, open Keychain Access on your Mac (the quickest way is to search for it with Command + Space). Type your wifi network name into the search bar, then click the network when it appears in your list. With the network highlighted, click the (i) at the top of the window, or right-click on the network and choose Get Info, then click the checkbox next to Show password. Enter your Mac’s login password, and Keychain Access will reveal the wifi password in turn.
