How-To
How to find saved WiFi passwords on Mac
If you need to know a forgotten saved password, you’re in luck.
When you attempt to join a new WiFi network, your Mac prompts you to enter a security key. You only need to enter this password the first time you connect. But what happens when you eventually need to find your saved WiFi passwords on Mac?
Typically, macOS automatically joins known wireless networks using previously-stored keys. But occasionally, you might need to find that password.
If you need to know a forgotten saved password, you’re in luck. macOS stores security credentials in the keychain, which you can access at any time to extract the information you need.
Let’s discuss how to find and view saved WiFi passwords in macOS using Keychain Access and Terminal.
How to find saved WiFi passwords on Mac using Keychain Access
Here’s how to view saved WiFi passwords in the macOS keychain:
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Launch Keychain Access via Applications > Utilities
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Select System under System Keychains in the side menu
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Click the Passwords tab to filter results
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Locate and Double-click the appropriate wireless network name
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Tick the Show password box and enter your admin username and password to reveal the security key
How to find saved WiFi passwords in Terminal
If you simply can’t stand intuitive user interfaces, you can instead use Terminal to locate saved WiFi passwords.
READ MORE: How to add a printer to Mac
To use this method, you’ll need to know the exact name of the wireless network whose security key you want to see.
Here’s how to view saved WiFi passwords in Terminal:
- Launch Terminal via Applications > Utilities
2. Enter the following command, replacing “SSID” with your wireless network name, and press Return:
security find-generic-password -ga “SSID” | grep “password:”
3. Enter your admin username and password when prompted to show the security key in Terminal
Use Keychain Access to find forgotten passwords
While Keychain Access is great for finding WiFi passwords on Mac, it can also reveal your other saved application passwords. You’ll find most of the relevant entries in your login keychain.
Having a repository of saved passwords is handy when you inevitably forget all of those rarely-used app logins you’ll undoubtedly need to use again.
READ MORE: How to find saved WiFi passwords in Windows 11
Who needs a functioning memory when our gadgets can remember things for us? Soon, our brains will be obsolete. In truth, some of ours already are.
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