How to Find WiFi Password on MacBook

As a MacBook user, you may need to find Wi-Fi passwords you connected to but can’t remember.

Whether you want to connect another device to your home network or help a friend get into your Wi-Fi hotspot, knowing how to get saved Wi-Fi passwords on your Mac is super useful.

In this post, we’ll go through all the ways to find and view Wi-Fi passwords on your MacBook.

Using Keychain Access to get Wi-Fi Passwords

The easiest way to get your WiFi password on your MacBook is by using the built-in Keychain Access app. This password manager stores all your saved passwords including Wi-Fi passwords.

How to get Wi-Fi Passwords in Keychain Access

1. Open Keychain Access on your Mac. You can do this by using Spotlight Search (Command + Space) and typing “Keychain Access” or by going to Applications > Utilities > Keychain Access.
2. In Keychain Access, look for the search bar in the top-right corner.
3. Type the name of the Wi-Fi network you want to get the password for. This could be your home network, a default network name or any saved Wi-Fi network.
4. Double-click on the Wi-Fi network name in the search results.
5. Check the box next to “Show password”.
6. You’ll be asked to enter your Mac’s admin password. This is usually the password you use to log into your MacBook.
7. Once you enter your admin password, the Wi-Fi network password will be shown in the “Show password” field.
8. You can now view the Wi-Fi password, copy it or write it down for future use.

Using System Settings to get Wi-Fi Passwords

You can also get Wi-Fi passwords for your WiFi network on your MacBook through System Settings. This is useful for Ventura or later users.

How to get Wi-Fi Passwords in System Settings

1. Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select “System Settings”.
2. In System Settings, click on “Wi-Fi” in the sidebar.
3. Look for the Wi-Fi section and click on the “i” icon next to the network name you want to get the password for.
4. Click on the “Password” field.
5. Enter your Mac’s admin password.
6. The Wi-Fi password will be shown.
7. You can select “Copy Password” to copy it to your clipboard.

Using Terminal to get Wi-Fi Passwords

For power users or those who prefer command line, Terminal app is another way to get Wi-Fi passwords on your MacBook.

How to get Wi-Fi Passwords in Terminal

1. Open Terminal. You can do this by using Spotlight Search (Command + Space) and typing “Terminal” or by going to Applications > Utilities > Terminal.
2. When the Terminal window opens, type:

security find-generic-password -ga "WIFI_NAME" | grep "password:"

Replace “WIFI_NAME” with the exact name of the Wi-Fi network you want to get the password for.

3. Press Return.
4. You’ll be asked to enter your Mac’s admin password. Type it in and press Return.
5. The password will be shown.

Using iCloud Keychain to get Wi-Fi Passwords

If you use iCloud Keychain to sync your passwords across your Apple devices, you can get your saved Wi-Fi passwords on any device connected to your iCloud account.

How to get Wi-Fi Passwords via iCloud Keychain

1. On your MacBook, open System Settings.
2. Click on your Apple ID at the top of the sidebar.
3. Select “iCloud” from the list.
4. Make sure “Keychain” is turned on.
5. You can now get your saved Wi-Fi passwords on any of your Apple devices that are signed in to the same iCloud account.

Wi-Fi Password for a Connected Network

If you’re already connected to a WiFi network and need to get the password, here’s a shortcut.

How to get Password for a Connected Wi-Fi Network

1. Click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar at the top of your screen.
2. While holding the Option key, click the Wi-Fi icon again.
3. You’ll see the details of your current Wi-Fi connection, including the network name and security type.
4. To get the password, follow the Keychain Access method above.

Wi-Fi Passwords on your MacBook

• Update your Wi-Fi passwords to keep your network secure.
• Use a password manager app to store all your passwords, including Wi-Fi passwords.
• If you can’t connect to a known network, try forgetting the network and reconnect with the password.
• For networks you don’t use anymore, it’s a good idea to remove them from your saved Wi-Fi networks list.

Wi-Fi Password Troubleshooting

If you can’t get or use Wi-Fi password on your MacBook, try:

• Make sure you’re running the latest macOS for the latest features and security.
• If Keychain Access isn’t showing a password, try restarting your MacBook and try again.
• For persistent issues, you may need to reset your Keychain. Be careful with this, as it will delete all your saved passwords.

Wrap up

Getting Wi-Fi passwords on your MacBook doesn’t have to be scary. Whether you prefer the graphical interface of Keychain Access and System Settings or you’re comfortable with Terminal commands, there are many ways to get your saved Wi-Fi network passwords.

Follow the steps above and you’ll be able to get and share Wi-Fi passwords whenever you need to, so you can connect all your devices and let others join your network.

Be safe with your passwords. Don’t share them randomly and change your Wi-Fi password every now and then to secure your home or office network. Now you have the tools and tips to manage your Wi-Fi passwords on your MacBook and stay connected anywhere.