Methods to Disseminate Your Wi-Fi Password From Various Devices
Sharing your wireless network password can be a tedious task, especially if you frequently host guests. While you could write the password on a piece of paper and stick it on your fridge, it's more modern and convenient to utilize one of these methods to automatically share your wireless network with your visitors without the need for manual input. Unfortunately, not all devices support these features, in which case, you'll need to manually share the password.
Share your wireless network password from your iPhone or iPad
Apple makes it simple to share passwords between Apple devices. To share wireless network passwords, ensure the following requirements are met:
- All devices are updated to the latest available version of iOS, iPadOS, or macOS.
- Your iPhone or iPad is signed in to iCloud with your Apple ID.
- Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are enabled on all devices.
- Personal hotspot is turned off on all devices.
- Your iPhone or iPad and your guest's Apple device are in close proximity.
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Once all these prerequisites are met, ask your guest to connect to your wireless network. After they see the password prompt, you'll get a pop-up on your iPhone or iPad asking if you'd like to share the wireless network password with them. Simply tap "Share Password" to complete the process.
There are instances where the pop-up might not appear. If this happens or if your guests are using Windows or Android devices, you'll need to manually share the password. To do this, navigate to "Settings > Wi-Fi" and tap the "i" button next to your wireless network's name. Tap "Password" and use Face ID or Touch ID to reveal the wireless network password. You can then distribute the password to your guests.
If you're using iOS 18, which is still in beta, there's another option to share passwords easily with your friends. The iOS 18 Passwords app, which is a free password manager, stores wireless network credentials. To share saved wireless network passwords in iOS 18, follow these steps:
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- Open the Passwords app on your iOS 18 device.
- Tap the "Wi-Fi" button, which will open a page displaying all saved wireless networks.
- Use the search bar to locate any saved wireless networks on your device. If you're already connected to the wireless network, it will appear at the top of the list.
- Select a saved wireless network, and tap the "Show Network QR Code" button. This will display a QR code that others can scan using any device.
- Alternatively, open a saved wireless network in the iOS 18 Passwords app, tap the "Share" button in the top-right corner. This will open the share sheet, where you can send wireless network details using any app on your iPhone. Keep in mind that this method sends the wireless network name and password in plain text.
You can also print the QR code and give it to your guests, so you don't need to access it frequently.
Share wireless network password on a Mac
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As long as you're running macOS High Sierra or newer, and your guests have Apple devices running relatively recent versions of iOS, iPadOS, or macOS, you can easily share your wireless network password from your Mac. Navigate through the checklist mentioned earlier and ask your guests to connect to your wireless network. You'll get a pop-up on your Mac asking if you'd like to share your wireless network password. Simply tap "Share" to send it to your guests.
If this doesn't work, or if your guests don't have Apple devices, manually share the password by clicking the "Apple logo" in the top-left corner of your Mac's screen and navigating to "System Settings > Wi-Fi". Click the "three-dots" icon next to your wireless network and select "Copy Password". You can then paste this password in any app and send it to your guests.
Share wireless network passwords on Android
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Navigate to "Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi" and tap the "gear icon" next to your wireless network. Tap the "Share" button to reveal a QR code and the wireless network password. Some of your guests will be able to scan the QR code to connect to your wireless network if they are using certain devices. Others can use the wireless network password that's displayed in plain text below the QR code.
Share wireless network passwords on Windows
Unfortunately, Windows doesn't offer a straightforward method for sharing wireless network passwords with others. You'll have to manually locate and retrieve the password on your computer and distribute it to your guests. Thankfully, this process is relatively straightforward.
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On Windows 11, navigate to "Settings > Network & internet > Wifi > [YOUR WIFI NETWORK]". Scroll down to "View Wi-Fi security key" and click the "View" button next to it. You'll see the wireless network password in a pop-up.
On Windows 10, use the same steps found in the Windows 11 section. Simply navigate to "Settings > Network & Internet > Network and Sharing Center". Click "Connections: NETWORK NAME" and select "Wireless Properties". Go to the "Security" tab and check the "Show characters" box under "Network security key". You'll be able to see your wireless network password on your computer.
After exploring various methods to share wireless network passwords, it's evident that modern devices like iPhones and iPads provide a user-friendly solution for automated password sharing. However, this may not work for all devices, necessitating manual password sharing methods.
Even in the scenario where the automatic pop-up doesn't appear, you can still manually retrieve the password from your device's settings. For instance, on an iPhone or iPad, you can navigate to "Settings > Wi-Fi" and tap the "i" button next to your wireless network's name to reveal the password.
