How to Share a Wi-Fi Password: A Step-by-Step Guide

Sharing passwords with someone else can be a pain, especially when it comes to helping your friends log into your Wi-Fi network. Every device has a slightly different process for sharing a Wi-Fi password with someone else, so I've done the legwork for you and combined the instructions into this handy guide. Use the headings to go to instructions on how to share a Wi-Fi password on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android, and Windows computers.

If you're concerned about security, I recommend using a password manager like 1Password or NordPass to store and share your Wi-Fi password. Password managers securely store all your passwords and passcodes in a centralized, encrypted database, and most include features for sharing passwords with others.

How to share your Wi-Fi password on an iPhone and iPad

Apple makes it incredibly easy to share Wi-Fi passwords between Apple mobile devices. Here's how to do it on an iPhone or iPad:

1. Go to Settings and make sure your device has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on. Do the same with your friend's device.
2. Make sure both devices have their personal hotspot turned off (if applicable).
3. Confirm that you're signed in to Apple with your Apple ID and that the email address associated with your Apple ID is saved in your friend's contacts. Your Apple ID email should also be saved to your contacts.
4. Place the other person's device within Bluetooth and Wi-Fi range, if you haven't already.
5. Unlock your iPhone or iPad and verify that it is connected to the correct Wi-Fi network.
6. Have your friend try to join the same network from the Wi-Fi option in their settings.
7. Once your friend tries to join, a pop-up notification should appear on your device asking if you want to share the Wi-Fi password with the intended recipient. Press the “Share Password” button to share the password, then the “Done” button to close the pop-up window.

How to show a Wi-Fi password on an iPhone or iPad

If you're simply trying to view your Wi-Fi password on your iOS device, rather than sharing it with someone else, follow the steps below to show the Wi-Fi password on your iPhone or iPad:

1. Navigate to Settings > Wi-Fi. Tap the name of the Wi-Fi network whose password you need to view.
2. On the next screen showing network details, look for the “Password” field (it should be the third field from the top of the screen).
3. By default, your Wi-Fi password will appear as a series of small dots in a row. Tap the password field and confirm your Face ID to view the Wi-Fi password.

How to show your Wi-Fi password on a Mac

You can also view your Wi-Fi password on your Apple laptop, even if you don't use an open source password manager for Mac. However, it involves a number of different steps compared to iOS devices. Here are the steps to follow to show your Wi-Fi on a laptop or Mac computer:

1. Access Wi-Fi settings by selecting System Settings > Wi-Fi.
2. Connect to the Wi-Fi network whose password you want to see, if you haven't already.
3. Click the far right button next to Wi-Fi network, which should look like three dots inside a circular outline.
4. After the pop-up menu appears, select “Copy Password” which should be the second option.
5. Paste the password somewhere you or someone else can see it, such as the Notes app.

How to share your Wi-Fi password on Android devices

Most Android devices allow you to share your Wi-Fi password with other mobile devices and tablets using a QR code. Follow these steps to share your Wi-Fi password from Android devices:

1. Navigate to Settings > Wi-Fi & network > Wi-Fi. Sometimes the “Wi-Fi & Network” page is called “Connections.”
2. Locate the Wi-Fi network you want to share and tap the settings/info icon next to it.
3. Select the “Share” button, which should open a new screen with a QR code. This screen should also show the password.
4. Have your friend scan the QR code using their mobile device's camera. Your device should automatically join the Wi-Fi network.
5. If your friend has an Android device with a camera that can't process QR codes, there is a solution. Have them go to Settings > Wi-Fi & network > Wi-Fi and scroll down until they see the “Add network” option.
6. There should be a button that looks like a QR code next to “Add Network.” Ask your friend to tap the button to bring up a QR code reader that you can use to scan the code on your phone.
7. If you can't get the QR code to work, then your friend can read your device's password and type it into theirs manually.

How to Share Your Wi-Fi Password on Windows Computers

Unfortunately, Microsoft no longer allows Windows computers to automatically share Wi-Fi login information for security reasons. Instead, you will have to find the Wi-Fi password and then share it with your friend manually. Each version of Windows has slightly different steps and some screens may be named differently, but here's a basic rundown of how to view your Wi-Fi password on Windows computers:

1. Click the Windows icon, then select Settings > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center.
2. Select the name of the Wi-Fi network you are using, then select “Wireless Properties.”
3. A Wireless Network Properties window should appear. Select “Security” and locate the Network Security Key field (this is your Wi-Fi password).
4. By default, your Wi-Fi password will appear as a series of small dots in a row. To reveal the password, click the “Show characters” box. From there, you can copy and paste the password to share it with your friend.

Frequently asked questions

How do you share your Wi-Fi password?

Each device has a slightly different process for sharing a Wi-Fi password, depending on both the device and the operating system it is running. Below is a summary of the general steps for sharing a Wi-Fi password on any device, but you should scroll up for more specific instructions for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android phones, and Windows computers.

SEE: How to perform a cybersecurity risk assessment in 5 steps (TechRepublic Premium)

How to share your Wi-Fi password on almost any device:

1. Navigate to Settings > Wi-Fi & Internet, then select the network you are currently connected to.
2. Click to reveal the Wi-Fi network password. Show it to your friend so they can enter the password manually on their device.

Remember that you can always use a password manager to share your Wi-Fi password with other people. Check out our recommendations for the best Mac and iOS password managers and the best Android password managers.

How do I turn on Wi-Fi sharing on my phone?

Most iPhone and Android phones don't require you to turn on a specific feature to enable Wi-Fi sharing. On iPhones, simply have your friend's device connect to the same network as you and a pop-up window will ask if you want to share the password with them. On Android, navigate to the Wi-Fi network page to get a QR code that your friend can scan on their phone.

How do I share my Wi-Fi with another phone?

Fortunately, modern smartphones make it very easy to share your Wi-Fi with another phone. Follow the steps below to share your Wi-Fi password between almost any smartphone:

• How to share a Wi-Fi password from iPhone to iPhone: Have your friend sign in to the same Wi-Fi network you're connected to. You should receive a pop-up on your phone asking if you want to allow them to connect. Select the “Share Password” button to automatically log in to your device on Wi-Fi.
• How to share a Wi-Fi password from iPhone to Android: Navigate to Settings > Wi-Fi and select the network you are connected to. Tap the network name and then tap the “Password” field on the next screen to reveal the Wi-Fi password. Show it to your friend so they can manually enter the password on their Android device.
• How to share a Wi-Fi password from Android to Android: Navigate to Settings > Wi-Fi & network > Wi-Fi and select the network you are connected to. Click the “Share” button, which should display a QR code with the password below it. Ask your friend to scan the QR code using their mobile device's camera, or they can enter the password manually.
• How to share Wi-Fi password from Android to iPhone: Follow the same steps for Android to Android devices as all iPhone cameras can scan QR codes.