Need to connect a new laptop, tablet, or visitor’s phone to your home Wi-Fi? If your own phone has connected to that network before, you may be able to look up its saved password or share access without guessing.
The steps depend on your phone and software version. This guide covers iPhone and Android options, plus a few sensible places to check if the network password is not saved on your phone.
Before you start
Make sure you are looking for the Wi-Fi password—the one used to join the wireless network. It is different from the router’s administrator password, which is used to manage router settings. Also check that your phone is connected to, or has previously joined, the correct home network. A phone cannot reveal a password it has never saved.
Find or share a password on an iPhone or iPad
Apple lets you view passwords for Wi-Fi networks saved on devices running iOS 16, iPadOS 16.1, or later. The exact route depends on your software version.
- For the network you are using: Open Settings, then tap Wi-Fi.
- Tap the information button next to the network name.
- Tap Password, then use Face ID, Touch ID, or your device passcode when asked.
- Read the password on screen. Tap it if you want to copy it, then paste it into the other device’s Wi-Fi password field.
To check a network you joined previously, open Settings > Wi-Fi and tap Edit. Authenticate if prompted, select the saved network, then tap its password field. Menu names can differ slightly by iOS version.
On iOS 18 or later, you can also open Apple’s Passwords app, tap Wi-Fi, and select a saved network to view its details. If the network is not listed, your iPhone may not have saved its password.
Share Wi-Fi from an Android phone
Many Android phones can share a saved Wi-Fi connection using a QR code. The code lets another device join without you reading the password aloud or typing it in. Menu labels vary among manufacturers and Android versions.
- Open Settings and go to Network & internet or Connections.
- Open Internet or Wi-Fi, then select the network you want to share. If it is not currently connected, look under Saved networks.
- Tap Share or the QR-code option. Your phone may ask you to confirm your identity with a screen lock.
- Let the other person scan the displayed code using their phone’s camera or Wi-Fi settings. Keep the code visible only while they are connecting.
Some Android phones also display the password below the QR code; others provide the code without showing the text. If you do not see a sharing option, search Settings for “Wi-Fi” or “Share,” or check the phone maker’s instructions for your model.
If your phone does not have the password
Check the router or internet provider’s app first. Depending on the equipment, it may show the current Wi-Fi name and password or let an account holder manage them. The app’s available options vary by provider and router.
You can also look for a label on the router. It may list the original network name and password, but the information will not be current if someone changed the Wi-Fi settings. Some internet providers put the same details on a setup card or in an account’s equipment information.
If you have permission to manage the router, its settings page may show or let you change the wireless password. The sign-in details for that page are not necessarily the Wi-Fi password. If you do not know the router’s administrator login, ask the person who manages the home network or contact your internet provider before changing settings.
Things to know before sharing or changing it
- Share selectively. Anyone who receives the password or scans a Wi-Fi sharing code may be able to join the network. Share it only with people you trust.
- Do not confuse saved and current. Your phone may have an old password saved if the router’s settings were changed. If it fails, confirm the current details with the person who manages the network.
- A reset is not the first fix. Restoring a router to factory settings can erase custom settings and disconnect devices. If you are considering it because you cannot sign in, check the router or provider’s instructions first.
Start with the phone that already connects to your home Wi-Fi; it is often the quickest way to retrieve or share the saved details. If that does not work, check the router label or provider app, and ask the network’s administrator before making changes.
