Cómo encontrar tu contraseña de Wi-Fi
Si un dispositivo ya está conectado a tu Wi-Fi, tiene la contraseña guardada en algún lugar, no necesitas restablecer nada. Aquí te mostramos dónde buscar en cada plataforma, además de cómo obtenerla directamente del router si aún no hay nada conectado.

Before you start troubleshooting, run the actual test so you know what's broken.
Run the Prueba de redAntes de empezar
- Necesitas al menos un dispositivo ya conectado a la red, o acceso físico al router.
- En la mayoría de las plataformas necesitarás una contraseña de administrador o un PIN de dispositivo para revelar una contraseña Wi-Fi guardada; esto es una medida de seguridad, no un error.
- Una vez que te hayas reconectado, ejecuta nuestro Prueba de red para confirmar que la conexión realmente funciona correctamente, no solo que está conectada.
Encuéntrala en Windows 11
- Right-click the Wi-Fi icon in the taskbar and choose "Network & internet settings".
- Click "Advanced network settings" > "More network adapter options", or go to Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings.
- Alternatively, open Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > click your Wi-Fi network name > Wireless Properties > Security tab.
- Marca la casilla "Mostrar caracteres" para revelar la contraseña en texto sin formato.
If Control Panel feels dated, you can also open Command Prompt as administrator and run netsh wlan show profile "NETWORK-NAME" key=clear, luego busca "Key Content" (Contenido de la clave) en la salida.
Encuéntrala en macOS
- Abre Spotlight (Cmd+Espacio) y busca "Acceso a Llaveros".
- En la barra de búsqueda de Acceso a Llaveros, escribe el nombre de tu red Wi-Fi.
- Haz doble clic en la entrada correspondiente y luego marca "Mostrar contraseña".
- Ingresa la contraseña de inicio de sesión de tu Mac cuando se te solicite, esto confirma que eres tú.
Encuéntrala en Android
- Open Settings > Network & internet > Internet (or Wi-Fi).
- Toca el icono de engranaje junto a la red a la que estás conectado.
- Toca "Compartir", lo que genera un código QR y, en muchas versiones de Android, muestra la contraseña como texto debajo de él.
- Algunos fabricantes ocultan la contraseña en texto sin formato detrás de una solicitud de huella dactilar o PIN primero; esto es lo esperado.
Encuéntrala en iPhone
El iPhone no muestra las contraseñas Wi-Fi guardadas directamente en Ajustes, pero hay dos formas fiables de obtener una:
Compartir desde un iPhone o Mac cercano ya conectado
- En el dispositivo conectado, asegúrate de que Wi-Fi y Bluetooth estén activados y de que hayas iniciado sesión en iCloud.
- On the new device, go to Settings > Wi-Fi and tap the network name to attempt to join.
- Debería aparecer una solicitud para compartir contraseña en el dispositivo ya conectado; toca "Compartir Contraseña".
A través de Llaveros si tienes un Mac
Si tu iPhone y Mac comparten un Llavero de iCloud, la contraseña de Wi-Fi guardada en el iPhone a menudo se puede ver a través de la aplicación Acceso a Llaveros de Mac siguiendo los mismos pasos que en la sección de macOS anterior.
Obtenerla directamente del router
Si no hay ningún dispositivo conectado, ve a la fuente.
- Revisa la pegatina en el propio router; la mayoría tienen un nombre de red y una contraseña predeterminados impresos en la parte inferior o trasera.
- Si se ha cambiado del valor predeterminado, conecta una computadora al router con un cable Ethernet y abre su página de administración, generalmente en 192.168.0.1 o 192.168.1.1 en un navegador.
- Inicia sesión con las credenciales de administrador del router (a menudo también en la etiqueta, separadas de la contraseña de Wi-Fi) y busca en la configuración de Inalámbrico o Wi-Fi.
- Usa nuestra Public IP & Location herramienta si no estás seguro de en qué red te encuentras antes de revisar la configuración del router.
Si aún no puedes recuperarla
- Como último recurso, puedes restablecer el router a la configuración de fábrica usando el pequeño botón de reinicio, generalmente manteniéndolo presionado durante 10 segundos. Esto restaura la contraseña predeterminada impresa en la etiqueta, pero también borra cualquier configuración personalizada.
- Después de un restablecimiento de fábrica, cambia la contraseña por una nueva y actualízala en todos tus dispositivos a la vez.
- Si tu ISP administra el router, su aplicación o portal de cuenta a menudo muestra las credenciales de Wi-Fi actuales sin necesidad de acceso físico.
Why the password is easier to recover than to reset
People often reach for the router reset button first, and it is almost always the worst option. A factory reset wipes the network name, the password, port forwarding rules, guest network settings, parental controls and any custom DNS configuration, then forces you to reconnect every device in the house. Since any device already connected is storing the password locally, recovery is nearly always possible without touching the router at all.
Operating systems protect stored passwords behind an administrator prompt rather than hiding them entirely, because the intention is to stop a passing stranger reading credentials off an unlocked screen, not to stop the owner. If you can authenticate as the machine's owner, you can see the password. That is the principle behind every method in this guide.
Choosing the right method for your situation
Pick the approach that matches what you have access to, rather than working through every option.
- A connected Windows PC and administrator rights: use the network properties dialog or the command line, this is the fastest route and shows plain text immediately.
- A connected Mac: Keychain Access, which also covers passwords synced from an iPhone through iCloud Keychain.
- A connected Android phone: the share option, which produces a QR code and often the password beneath it.
- Only an iPhone connected: use the password sharing prompt to bring a new device online, or read it through a Mac sharing the same iCloud Keychain.
- Nothing connected at all: the router sticker first, then the router admin page over an Ethernet cable.
If a QR code is all you can get, that is usually enough. Point the new device's camera at it and most modern phones will offer to join the network directly, no typing required.
Understanding what you find
Router admin pages present several credentials that people routinely confuse. The Wi-Fi password, sometimes labelled the network key, pre-shared key or WPA key, is what devices use to join. The admin password protects the router settings page itself. On many routers both are printed on the sticker but they are different strings, and typing one where the other belongs produces a confusing failure.
- SSID is simply the network name you see in the list of available networks.
- WPA2 or WPA3 is the security standard, newer is better, and mixed mode keeps older devices working.
- Some routers run separate 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks with different names but usually the same password.
- A guest network has its own password entirely and often blocks access to printers and shared drives.
Setting a password worth keeping
If you do end up changing the password, choose something you will not have to recover again. Length beats complexity for Wi-Fi keys, since they are typed rarely and stored permanently. Three or four unrelated words joined together is both stronger and far easier to read aloud to a guest than a random string of symbols.
- Use at least sixteen characters, and avoid the street address or family names that a neighbour could guess.
- Store it in a password manager under the network name, so future recovery takes seconds.
- Write it on a card kept near the router for guests rather than sharing your main credentials verbally.
- Enable WPA3 if every device supports it, and keep WPA2 as a fallback if older equipment needs it.
- Change the router admin password too, the default is published online for every common model.
After changing anything, reconnect one device and confirm the connection genuinely works rather than just showing connected. A speed and latency check catches the case where the network joined successfully but the internet connection behind it is down for an unrelated reason.
Common questions about recovering a Wi-Fi password
Is it safe to view a saved Wi-Fi password?
Yes, on a device you own and control. The administrator prompt exists to prevent someone with brief physical access reading credentials off an unlocked machine, not to prevent the owner from managing their own network. Just avoid doing it on a shared or public computer, where the revealed password can remain visible on screen or in a command history.
Why does the password work on some devices but not others?
Older devices often support only the 2.4GHz band or older security standards. If your router runs WPA3 only, or a 5GHz network with a different name, an older printer or smart plug will fail with the correct password. Enabling mixed WPA2 and WPA3 mode, or a dedicated 2.4GHz network, usually resolves it.
Can I share Wi-Fi without revealing the password?
Yes. Android and iPhone both generate a QR code that joins the network without displaying the characters, and many routers offer a guest network with a separate password you can change freely without disrupting your own devices. For visitors, the guest network is the better answer every time.
What if the router sticker password no longer works?
Someone changed it, which is good practice. Log into the router admin page from a wired connection and read or reset the wireless key there. Only use the physical reset button as a genuine last resort, since it erases every custom setting alongside the password.
Keep a record so you never search again
The reason this problem repeats is that nobody writes the password down anywhere durable. Five minutes of record keeping now removes the whole task permanently, and it also makes the network easier to hand over if someone else ever needs to manage it.
- Store the network name, wireless key, router admin address and admin password together in a password manager entry.
- Photograph the router sticker and keep the image in the same entry, defaults are useful after any reset.
- Note the router model and firmware version, which speeds up any future support conversation considerably.
- Keep a printed card near the router with the guest network details only, so visitors never need your main key.
- Repeat the record after any password change, an out of date note is worse than none at all.
Once the record exists, verify it. Join a device that was not previously connected using only the written details, then confirm the connection genuinely reaches the internet rather than simply showing connected. A quick speed and latency check settles that in seconds and proves the note is accurate.