You can find it on your device if you forget a Wi-Fi password or need to share it. Here’s how to do it on a Chromebook.

Unfortunately, Chrome OS does not make this easy. Most devices show saved Wi-Fi passwords, but Chromebooks do not—at least not by default. You must enable “Developer Mode.”

Developer Mode gives more features, but it has risks. You must fully reset your Chromebook to turn it on.

Google does not support this mode, so you will not get official help if problems happen. It is not for everyday users.

If you want to enable Developer Mode, we have a step-by-step guide. Once it is on, follow these steps to see Wi-Fi passwords.

Press Ctrl + Alt + T to open the Crosh command prompt.

Welcome to Crosh, the Chrome OS developer shell.

If you got here by mistake, don’t panic! Just close this tab and carry on.

Type ‘help’ for a list of commands.

If you want to customize the look/behavior, you can use the options page.

Load it by using the Ctrl-Shift-P keyboard shortcut.

crosh>

Then, enter these commands and press Enter after each one:

shell

sudo su

cd home/root

ls

crosh> shell  

chronos@localhost / $ sudo su  

localhost # cd home/root  

localhost /home/root # ls  

A code string will appear. Copy it, then enter

cd

Paste the code and hit Enter.

localhost /home/root # ls

localhost /home/root # cd

Now, enter this command:

more shill/shill.profile

Type it, then hit Enter.

It will show details about your network. Find the line with “Passphrase=rot47:”. Copy the random text after it. That is the encrypted password.

Type the following command:

echo randomtexthere | tr ‘!-~’ ‘P-~!-O’

Press Enter. Change “randomtexthere” to the copied text.

You will now see the Wi-Fi password without encryption. This process is complicated for something as basic as a Wi-Fi password.

Other devices, like Android phones, have more straightforward ways to find Wi-Fi passwords.