How To See The Password For Wifi On Mac

“Hey, can I have your Wifi password?”
“Yea sure, it’s… umm…”
Sound familiar?

Well, if you are like me and often invite your friends over, you know that the very first thing they’ll ask isn’t where the bathroom is, but for the Wifi password. Sometimes, you just have so many passwords to remember that there is simply no more space in your mind for your Wifi password. Usually, the password can be found on your Wifi router, but that often requires digging into that dusty hidden corner to find the device.

If you want to see the saved WiFi passwords directly without having to do anything, then using a password recovery app might be the ideal choice. There are a lot of password recovery apps available for free on Google Play Store and most of them work as expected. Here’s how to see WiFi password on your Mac. Open Keychain Access. Go to Spotlight (Press Command-Space bar), type “Keychain” and press enter. Look for your WiFi network name and open it.

Well, guess what? Today, I am going to show you two ways to find the Wifi password on your Mac without crawling under your desk to look for the router.

Note: this guide is for Mac users. If you are on a PC, see how to view saved Wi-Fi password on Windows 10. Some screenshots below are blurred for the purpose of privacy.

Method 1: Keychain Access on Mac

Keychain Access is a macOS app that stores all your passwords so that you don’t have to remember them. If you know your Mac’s administrator password, then you can view your Wifi password, which is automatically stored in Keychain.

Step 1: Launch Keychain.

First, open the Keychain app. You can launch it through SpotlightSearch.

Step 2: Go to Passwords.

Click on System, and then click on Passwords under Categories.

Locate the name of the network you want to access and open it.

Step 3: Click Show Password.

Step 4: Authenticate.

You’ll be prompted for authentication. Simply fill in your Username and Password.

If you’re not sure what your Username is, you can locate it by clicking on the Apple icon on the top-left of your screen.

Step 5: View and Show Password.

Your password can be viewed in the box beside the “Show Password” button.

Method 2: Terminal on Mac

Terminal is a built-in app on your Mac that allows you to control your Mac using command prompts. This method is for those of you who prefer a direct solution and know the exact name of the Wifi network in question.

Step 1: Launch Terminal.

First, launch Terminal using Spotlight Search.

Step 2: Type Command.

Key in the following command:

security find-generic-password -ga WIFI NAME | grep “password:”

Replace the WIFI NAME section with the exact name of the network you want the password for.

Step 3: Authenticate.

Once you have entered the command correctly, you will be prompted to key in your Username and Password.

As mentioned before, if you are not sure what your Username is, simply click on the Apple icon on the top-left corner of your screen.

Step 4: Password is shown.

After you have authenticated, your password will be shown just below the command you have previously entered.

Now, you no longer have to take that long walk to the router.

Hint: Use a Password Manager

If you find yourself forgetting your Wifi password all the time, and even the above two methods are a hassle, here’s a recommendation:

Use a third-party Mac password manager!

Third-party password management apps remember your passwords for you so that you don’t have to. It’s like Keychain, but some password applications offer additional features you won’t find in Keychain. One such app is 1Password (review).

With 1Password, you literally just need one master password. All other passwords are stored within it.

1Password has multiple features that are very useful including Sidebar, 1Password mini, Vaults, and more. Descriptions for each of these features are shown in the images below.

That’s all! I hope you’ve found this article helpful.

Now you no longer have to crawl to that dusty corner where your Internet router is located every time your friends come over. Simply locate the password manually on your Mac computer or outsource it and get third-party software to do it for you.

The easiest way to see a Wi-Fi password on a Mac computer is through the Keychain Access app.
Alternatively, saved Wi-Fi passwords can be viewed through the Terminal on Mac.
Seeing saved Wi-Fi passwords only work when you've connected to the network in the past.
Visit Business Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories.

Maybe you just got a new Apple device, or maybe you have that one house guest who routinely asks for your Wi-Fi password before saying hello. Whatever the situation, Apple makes it easy to find saved Wi-Fi passwords.

Being able to look up Wi-Fi passwords is useful if you're connected to a specific Wi-Fi network, but need the password to log into another device. On the other hand, it can help you log into previously connected networks a lot quicker. That coffee shop down the street? You won't have to ask the barista for the Wi-Fi password again.

There are two ways you can find your Wi-Fi password on Mac. The first - through the Keychain Access app - is the easier route. The second way - by opening up the Terminal on Mac - is a little more advanced.

Either way, if you previously connected to Wi-Fi - your home network included - the process is simple and straightforward. Here's how to get it done.

How to find a Wi-Fi password with Keychain Access

Keychain Access is a macOS app that stores your passwords, and it's the easiest way to see a Wi-Fi password on Mac:

1. Press Command + Spacebar to open the Spotlight search bar, where you can type in 'Keychain Access.'

2. Click to open Keychain Access. Here, you'll be able to find saved passwords to applications as well as internet forms.

3. In the left toolbar, toggle down to the 'Passwords' section.

4. In the search bar (located in the upper right corner of the window), type in your home Wi-Fi network name, or whatever Wi-Fi network you're looking for.

5. Double-click on your network when it appears in the main section of the window - this will prompt another window to open.

6. Tick the box next to 'Show Password' and, if necessary, enter your administrator password when prompted.

7. Your Wi-Fi password will then appear in the box next to 'Show Password.'

Show Password Of Wifi I'm Connected To

How to find a Wi-Fi password with Terminal on Mac

The Mac Terminal is a command line system that gives you greater control of the operating system. It's also the more advanced way to find a saved Wi-Fi password:

1. There are several ways to open the Terminal on Mac, but the easiest is through the Spotlight search bar. Press Command + Spacebar and type in 'Terminal.' Click through to enter your Mac's Terminal.

2. Once you enter the Terminal, type the command as outlined below, replacing 'Wi-Fi name' with the exact name of your network:

security find-generic-password -ga 'Wi-Fi name' | grep 'password:'

Find Password To Connected Wifi

4. Your password should appear below the command you previously entered.

How To See The Password Of Connected Wifi On Mac

We should also note that beyond Keychain Access and your Mac's Terminal, Apple also makes it easy to share a Wi-Fi password with other Apple devices - as long as both devices are in range with each other.

Hunterpurchase401