How to Recover a Lost Wi-Fi Password

Losing your Wi-Fi password is a common headache, especially when a new device needs to connect. The good news is that if you already have a device connected to the network, the password is almost certainly recoverable, since your devices store it. This guide covers every way to find it: from the router label, from a connected computer or phone, and from the router settings, plus what to do if none of those work.

First, a quick clarification: this guide is about the Wi-Fi password, the one devices use to join your network. That is different from the router’s admin password, which is what you use to log in to the router’s settings. If it is the admin login you have lost, that has its own recovery process.

Method 1: Check the Router Label

Start here, because it is the fastest fix. If you never changed your Wi-Fi password, the default one is printed on a sticker on the bottom or back of your router, usually labeled Wi-Fi Password, Wireless Key, Password, or WPA Key, alongside the network name (SSID). If you are still using that default, the label is all you need.

Method 2: Find It on a Connected Windows PC

If a Windows computer is connected to Wi-Fi, it has the password stored.

1. Open Settings, then Network and Internet, then Wi-Fi.
2. Click your network name, then open its properties, or go through the Control Panel to Network and Sharing Center.
3. Open Wireless Properties, then the Security tab.
4. Tick Show characters to reveal the saved Wi-Fi password.

There is also a quick command-line method: open Command Prompt and type netsh wlan show profile name="YourNetworkName" key=clear, then read the Key Content line, which shows the password.

Method 3: Find It on a Connected Mac

On a Mac connected to the network, the password is stored in Keychain.

1. Open Keychain Access from Applications, then Utilities.
2. Search for your network name.
3. Double-click it, tick Show password, and enter your Mac’s administrator login when prompted.

On recent macOS versions, you can also go to System Settings, then Wi-Fi, click Details next to your network, and reveal the password there.

Method 4: Find It on an iPhone

If an iPhone is connected, recent versions of iOS let you view the password directly.

1. Open Settings, then Wi-Fi.
2. Tap the network name you are connected to.
3. Tap the Password field and confirm with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode.

The password is revealed, and you can copy it.

Method 5: Find It on an Android Phone

Most modern Android phones let you share the Wi-Fi password, often as a QR code that also displays it.

1. Open Settings, then Network and Internet, then Wi-Fi.
2. Tap your connected network, or the gear icon next to it.
3. Tap Share, and confirm with your PIN or fingerprint.

A QR code appears, and the password is usually shown below it. Another phone can scan the code to join without typing anything.

Method 6: Get It From the Router Settings

If no device is connected but you can still log in to your router, the Wi-Fi password is in there.

1. Log in to your router by typing its address, usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1, into a browser.
2. Open the Wireless or Wi-Fi settings section.
3. Find the password field, sometimes labeled Pre-Shared Key or Network Key. You may need to click a show or reveal option.

This requires your router’s admin login. If you have lost that too, recovering the admin password is a separate process worth following first.

Method 7: Reset the Router as a Last Resort

If you cannot recover the password any other way, resetting the router restores the default Wi-Fi password printed on its label. Be aware this erases all your settings, including any custom network name and password, so it is a genuine last resort.

1. With the router powered on, press and hold the recessed Reset button for about 10 to 30 seconds until the lights blink.
2. Wait for the router to restart.
3. Connect using the default Wi-Fi name and password on the label.

For provider-supplied routers, contact your internet provider before resetting, since it can disconnect the router from their network.

A Faster Way to Connect a New Device: WPS

If your goal is simply to connect a new device without typing the password, many routers support WPS. Press the WPS button on the router, then select the WPS or push-button option on the device within a couple of minutes, and they pair automatically, no password needed. Note that some routers have WPS disabled for security, so this will not always be available.

Conclusion

Recovering a lost Wi-Fi password is usually easy when a device is already connected, since Windows, Mac, iPhone, and Android all store it and let you reveal it in a few taps. If no device is connected, the router label often still holds the default, and logging in to the router settings shows the current password. Keep a factory reset as the last resort, since it wipes your settings, and remember that WPS is a quick way to connect a new device without needing the password at all. And once you have it back, if you want to set a new one, our guide on how to change your Wi-Fi password walks through it on any router.