Sharing your Wi-Fi password might be a bit of a pain, but having a strong password is crucial for protecting your home network. Fortunately, Apple has made it simple for iPhone and iPad users to exchange network credentials with no hassle. New iOS 18 features have also made it easier to share passwords with anyone.
Prior to iOS 18, you could share the password with someone by simply tapping on the notice that appeared when another iPhone or iPad tried to log in to a Wi-Fi network you were connected to and they were in your contact list. The manual method was the sole choice, however, if someone was attempting to join to your network with a device running an operating system other than Apple. This was exclusive to iOS and iPadOS users.
Regardless of the operating system that another mobile device is running (Android), iOS 18 offers a new method for sharing a password with ease. The passwords for networks you have previously joined to, how to see the password of the network you are now using, and how to share them are all covered here.
For further information, check out the 8 iOS 18.2 settings you should adjust immediately and the 10 secret features you should be aware of.
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You may use the first way to see the password for the Wi-Fi network you are presently connected to or have previously connected to, provided that you are close enough to the router for the network to show up in your settings.
If these conditions are met, choose Settings > Wi-Fi, locate the network for which you want to get the password, and then press the details button. The Wi-Fi network password may then be seen by tapping Password and entering your passcode, Face ID, or Touch ID. To save the password to your clipboard, click Copy at the end.
iOS 16 Wi-Fi network settings
As long as you are presently connected to the network or close enough to it to show up under My Networks, you may examine the passwords for any Wi-Fi networks you have ever connected to.
This only applies to Wi-Fi networks that you are now connected to or that are close by, but you can figure out the passwords for any other Wi-Fi network you have ever linked to.
How to retrieve Wi-Fi passwords that are saved
To see all of your iPhone’s saved Wi-Fi passwords, go to Settings > Wi-Fi and choose the Edit option located in the upper right corner. You’ll see a list of all the Wi-Fi networks you’ve ever connected to, arranged both alphabetically and numerically.
Tap the information symbol and choose Password to see a password.
Wi-Fi passwords stored in the iOS settings
The password may either be spoken out to you or copied to your clipboard.
Nelson Aguilar/CNET screenshots
Use a QR code to share your Wi-Fi password.
The ability to communicate Wi-Fi passwords via a QR code, which has been built into Android since version 10, was ultimately made possible by Apple. However, it just takes a few taps to complete, and it’s better late than never.
Open the Passwords app (available only on iOS 18).
Press Wi-Fi.
To share the password, tap the network you want to share. Then, tap Show Network QR Code.
This is helpful if you want to share a password with many individuals, someone who uses an Android phone, or someone who isn’t on your contact list.
Regular passwords are not affected; only Wi-Fi passwords are.
Although having this feature in the Passwords app makes sense in theory, we can’t help but ask why the QR code sharing feature isn’t also available in the Wi-Fi settings, where the passwords have always been.