Find WiFi password on Mac: Well, a host of reasons works behind such an issue. Especially, since Apple’s Mac comes with a different set of operational functions, it also requires to be tackled differently.
In this article, we’ve cited all the possible solutions to find your Find WiFi password on Mac, which you might have forgotten; and help you connect back to the respective WiFi. But first, learn about the functionalities & capabilities of the ‘Autofill Password’ feature that Mac comes with.
Ways to Find WiFi password on Mac
Majority of Mac devices are being set to autofill and most of the passwords to their frequently used connections & accounts get saved, automatically. This does prove to be quite a helpful and handy option, generally. But it does come with its own share of pros and cons.
- Speaking of the pros first, with the autofill feature, you don’t need to remember the passwords and type them out every single time for accessing the respective device/WiFi network/accounts.
- On one hand, Mac remembering the tough passwords for you makes your work easy. On the other hand, they’re also easy to be forgotten in daily routine. Because, when you don’t type your password for a long time, you certainly tend to forget it.
Retrieve Your Forgotten WiFi Passwords
You would not want to compromise with your security. Hene, you believe in keeping a long and complex word. But, at the same time, you also have a hard time keeping track of all the passwords. Plus, lengthy the password of your WiFi, the more security it has to offer. Here are some steps, shared below to help you to Find WiFi password on Mac
1. Follow the Basics, First
- Check passwords that might have been put into the WiFi network as default options.
- If you are using a network whose setting hasn’t been changed since it was installed then there are high chances of the network, using a typical default ID and password that you can use to regain access of your WiFi network.
- The default name and the password are normally located under the code SSID on the bottom or back of the routers.
- If you can’t find the password on the actual router, then you may need to follow the instructions given on your device manual.
- However, if this option also fails then you can move to a trial and error process where you can try common default passwords such as “admin” or “0000” or “1234”. It is one of the simplest version, used even by the network providers during the installation process.
- Look up online and find the default password on the network providers website or an online manual of the router which contains the default password.
2. Try the ‘Keychain’ Application
- It is a built-in application in the macOS that keeps detailed information about the WiFi networks including your wifi passwords.
- Launch the Keychain app from your ‘Applications’ tab > Go to the ‘Utility’ folder > Search for the name of the WiFi network for which you want to recover your password.
- Double click on the respective network’s button to access the network details.
- Follow the instructions shared by the dialogue boxes on the screen.
- Authenticate your macOS account, which has the administrative privileges in it.
- Last but not least, click on ‘Show Password’ tab that will allow you to view the saved Wi-Fi password on Mac.
3. Use the ‘Terminal’ Route
- You can find the saved passwords through the terminal of your macOS.
- Make sure you’ve admin privileges on the respective account or you’re using the terminal as a root user.
- Once you’ve checked on it, launch ‘Terminal’ > Run the following command:
security find-generic-password-ga Your-Wifi-Name | grep “Password:”
- Replace ‘Your WiFi Name’ with the exact name of the wifi whose password you want to recover.
- It will prompt you to enter your credentials if you are not using the terminal as a root user, which makes it important for the account to have the admin privileges that needs its password to be recovered.
- After authentication is complete, you will be able to see the stored passwords.
4. Third-Party Software at Rescue
- Use third-party software like ‘1Passwords’, ‘Secrets’ or ‘Lastpass’, which will save you the trouble of resetting your router.
5. The Ultimate Reset Button
- Press and hold the ‘Reset’ button for 10 seconds, which will reset the router back to its default password.
- But this method should only be used when you have no other way of getting the password and you do have access to the default password.
- Generally, the ‘Reset’ technique is universal. But if it is not so for your router, opt for an online guide available for the same.
- Make sure you’ve tried the ‘Terminal’ Route & ‘Keychain’ Application before you opt for resetting your router.
If none of the above options works for you, then there’s a chance you might have to switch to a new network. And if you have to do that, then make sure you do keep a track the new network’s password. Because as they say it, ‘Prevention is better than cure.’ And, one can’t afford to commit the same mistake twice!
The Final Words
It’s more of a common thing that one forgets the Wi-Fi password on Mac. This usually happens because after connecting it with our devices, one often sets it on auto-connect. And hence, we thought of coming to your rescue with this very guideline to Find WiFi password on Mac.
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