If you’ve been sent to find your Wi-Fi password and someone mentioned a “network security key”, you’re in the right place. It’s just another name for your Wi-Fi password, and finding your network security key on your phone depends on which phone you’ve got and whether you’re already connected to that network. If your phone has connected to the Wi-Fi before, the key is stored on it somewhere. You just need to know where to look.
What a Network Security Key Actually Is
Before digging through settings, it helps to know what you’re actually looking for. A network security key is simply the password that lets a device join a Wi-Fi network. It’s the same string of letters and numbers you type in the first time you connect a new device to your home or office Wi-Fi. Routers sometimes print it on a sticker on the underside or back, but if that sticker has worn off or you’ve changed the password since, your phone is often the easiest place to recover it. There’s a more detailed breakdown of network security keys covering what this key does and why it matters, worth a look if you want the fuller picture.
Finding It on an Android Phone
Most modern Android phones let you view a saved Wi-Fi password directly, though the exact steps vary a little by manufacturer. On most versions of Android, go to Settings, then Network and Internet, then Wi-Fi. Tap the network you’re connected to, then tap the gear or settings icon next to it. Look for an option called “Share” and you’ll usually see a QR code appear along with the password printed underneath it in plain text. If you don’t spot a password directly, tapping the QR code icon sometimes reveals it, since scanning that code is designed to let other devices join without typing anything.
Finding It on an iPhone
Apple made this easier from iOS 16 onwards. Go to Settings, then Wi-Fi, tap the blue “i” icon next to the network you want, and select “Password”. You’ll likely be asked to confirm with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode, since Apple treats this as sensitive information. Once confirmed, the password appears on screen and you can copy it straight away. On newer iPhones, it’s also worth checking the Passwords app, which stores Wi-Fi credentials from every network you’ve joined, not just the one you’re currently on. Apple’s own support guide on finding saved Wi-Fi passwords covers both routes in more detail if you get stuck. On older versions of iOS, this option doesn’t exist, so you’d need to check the router itself or ask whoever set up the network originally.
What to Do if Your Phone Won’t Show It
Sometimes a phone simply doesn’t offer a built-in way to view saved passwords, particularly on older Android versions or phones with heavy manufacturer customisation. In that case, your options are to check the router directly (most have the password printed on a label, or accessible by logging into the router’s admin page through a browser), or to ask your internet provider, who can usually look it up on their end. As a last resort, some routers let you reset the Wi-Fi password entirely and set a new one, though this means reconnecting every other device in the house too.
A Quick Note on Keeping It Safe
Once you’ve found your network security key, it’s worth thinking about who else has access to it. Sharing it with guests is normal, but a password that’s been handed out to dozens of people over the years, written on a whiteboard, or left in an old text message, isn’t doing much to keep your network private anymore. Changing it every so often, and choosing something that isn’t easily guessed, keeps your home network a bit more locked down without much effort.
If you want to understand what your network security key protects and why it’s worth taking seriously, read the full explainer on network security keys.
