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Guest needs the Wi-Fi? Your Mac remembers the password

How to see your Wi-Fi password on a Mac

Open the Passwords app (macOS Sequoia or later), unlock it with Touch ID or your login password, and click Wi-Fi in the sidebar. Pick the network and the password is there, with Show Network QR Code for a guest's phone.

How to do it

  1. Open the Passwords app. Press Command + Space, type Passwords and press Return.

  2. Unlock it with Touch ID or your Mac login password.

  3. Click Wi-Fi in the sidebar.

  4. Click the network you want. Hover over the password field or click it to see the password.

  5. Click Show Network QR Code if a guest wants to scan it instead of typing.

Friends came round and the password on the router sticker had been changed years ago. The MacBook on the shelf had been on that network the whole time. Passwords, Wi-Fi, done in under a minute.

The QR code is the bit worth remembering. Long router passwords are a pain to type on a TV remote or a phone, and the code skips all of that.

If your Mac is on an older macOS, the Copy Password route in the FAQ does the same job, it just doesn't show you a code.

Other ways to do it

  • System Settings > Wi-Fi > Advanced Built in

    Pick it if you're on macOS Sonoma or Ventura, or you just want to copy the password into a message.

    Stick with this tip if you want to see it, or show a QR code to someone in the room.

  • Keychain Access Built in

    Pick it if you're on an older macOS and the Advanced menu has no Copy Password option.

    Stick with this tip if you're on Sequoia or later. Passwords is quicker and shows a QR code.

Questions people ask

There's no Passwords app on my Mac.

You're on macOS Sonoma or older. Open System Settings > Wi-Fi, click Advanced, click the ... button next to the network and choose Copy Password. Or open Keychain Access, search for the network name and tick Show password.

Why does it ask for my password first?

Saved passwords are locked until you prove it's you. Use Touch ID or the password you log in to the Mac with.

Can I see networks I'm not connected to right now?

Yes. The Wi-Fi section lists every network the Mac has joined and still remembers, not just the current one.

Can a guest join without me reading it out?

Click Show Network QR Code and let them point their phone camera at the screen. iPhones and most Android phones join straight from the code.

Why is there no password for my work network?

Work and school networks usually sign you in with your own account, so there's no shared password to show.

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