Introduction
Welcome to the digital age, where sharing WiFi passwords has become a common practice. Gone are the days of manually typing in a lengthy string of characters to connect to a WiFi network. With the advancements in technology, you can now easily share your WiFi password with other devices, including Mac computers.
If you’re a Mac user and want to share your WiFi password with another Mac device, you’re in luck. macOS Catalina or later versions introduced a convenient feature that allows you to share your WiFi password seamlessly. This eliminates the need for trying to relay a complex password verbally or jotting it down on a piece of paper.
In this article, we will walk you through the steps on how to share your WiFi password with a Mac. Whether you’re setting up a new Mac or simply helping a friend connect to your network, you’ll find this process straightforward and hassle-free.
Note: The ability to share WiFi passwords between Mac devices is exclusive to macOS Catalina and newer versions. If you’re using an older version of macOS, you’ll need to update your operating system to take advantage of this feature.
Now, let’s dive into the step-by-step guide for sharing your WiFi password with a Mac!
Steps to Share WiFi Password with Mac
Sharing your WiFi password with a Mac device is a simple process that can be accomplished in just a few easy steps. Let’s take a look at the process below:
- Make sure both Mac devices are using macOS Catalina or later:
- Connect both devices to the same WiFi network:
- Enable the “Share Wi-Fi password” feature:
- Authenticate with the admin username and password:
- The password will be automatically shared between the devices:
The first step is to ensure that both the Mac devices have macOS Catalina or a newer version installed. This feature is not available on older versions of macOS. If necessary, update your operating system before proceeding.
Both the device you want to share the WiFi password from and the device you want to connect to the network must be connected to the same WiFi network. Make sure both devices are within range of the WiFi signal and connected.
On the device that has the WiFi network already configured, open the “Network” preferences in the “System Preferences” menu. Navigate to the WiFi connection, and you will see the option “Share Wi-Fi password.” Make sure this option is checked.
In order to share the WiFi password, you will need to authenticate using the admin username and password associated with the device that has the WiFi network configured. Enter the admin username and password when prompted.
Once the correct admin username and password are entered, the devices will automatically authenticate and share the WiFi password. You may see a notification on the connecting device, indicating that the password has been successfully shared. The connecting device will then join the WiFi network without the need to manually enter the password.
That’s it! You have successfully shared your WiFi password with a Mac device. With this functionality, connecting to WiFi networks with other Mac devices becomes a breeze.
Step 1: Make sure both Mac devices are using macOS Catalina or later
The first step in sharing your WiFi password with a Mac device is to ensure that both devices are using macOS Catalina or a newer version. This feature is not available on older versions of macOS, so it’s important to update your operating system if needed.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Check your macOS version:
- Update your macOS:
- Restart your Mac:
On the Mac device that you want to share the WiFi password from, click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner of the screen. From the dropdown menu, select “About This Mac”. A window will appear displaying the macOS version. If the version is not macOS Catalina or a newer release, you will need to update your operating system before proceeding.
If you have determined that your Mac device is not running on macOS Catalina or a newer version, you’ll need to update your operating system. To do this, go back to the Apple menu, select “System Preferences”, and choose “Software Update”. If an update is available, click on “Update Now” to start the installation process. Follow the on-screen prompts and allow your Mac to complete the update.
After the update has been successfully installed, it is recommended to restart your Mac to ensure that all the changes take effect. To restart your device, go to the Apple menu, select “Restart”, and confirm your choice when prompted.
Once both Mac devices are running on macOS Catalina or a newer version, you can proceed to the next step of connecting the devices to the same WiFi network. Ensuring that both devices are on compatible operating systems is crucial for seamless WiFi password sharing.
Step 2: Connect both devices to the same WiFi network
In order to share your WiFi password between two Mac devices, it is important that both devices are connected to the same WiFi network. This ensures a smooth and successful sharing process.
Follow these steps to connect both devices to the same WiFi network:
- Open the Network preferences:
- Select the WiFi network:
- Connect to the desired WiFi network:
- Authenticate if necessary:
- Confirm the WiFi connection:
On the Mac device that you want to share the WiFi password from, click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner of the screen. From the dropdown menu, select “System Preferences”. In the System Preferences window, click on the “Network” icon.
In the Network preferences window, on the left-hand side, you will see a list of available network connections. Click on the “Wi-Fi” option to select it.
In the Network preferences window, you will now see a list of available WiFi networks. Locate and select the WiFi network that you want to connect both devices to. Click on the “Connect” button next to the network name.
If the WiFi network is password-protected, you may be prompted to enter the password. Type in the correct WiFi password and click on the “Join” button to connect to the network.
Once the connection is established, you will see a checkmark next to the WiFi network name in the Network preferences window. This indicates that your device is successfully connected to the WiFi network.
Repeat these steps on the Mac device that you want to connect to the WiFi network. Ensure that both devices are connected to the same WiFi network before proceeding to the next step of enabling the “Share Wi-Fi password” feature.
Step 3: Enable the “Share Wi-Fi password” feature
Before you can proceed with sharing the WiFi password between your Mac devices, you need to enable the “Share Wi-Fi password” feature. This feature allows your Mac to automatically share the password with another Mac device, making the connection process quick and convenient.
Follow these steps to enable the “Share Wi-Fi password” feature:
- Open the Network preferences:
- Select the WiFi network:
- Click on the “Advanced” button:
- Check the “Share Wi-Fi password” option:
- Close the Network preferences window:
On the Mac device that has the WiFi network already configured, click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner of the screen. From the dropdown menu, select “System Preferences”. In the System Preferences window, click on the “Network” icon.
In the Network preferences window, on the left-hand side, you will see a list of available network connections. Click on the “Wi-Fi” option to select it.
In the Network preferences window, click on the “Advanced” button located at the bottom right corner of the window. This will open the advanced settings for your WiFi network connection.
In the advanced settings window, go to the “Wi-Fi” tab. Here, you will find the option “Share Wi-Fi password”. Make sure the checkbox next to this option is selected.
After enabling the “Share Wi-Fi password” feature, click on the “OK” button to save the changes. You can then close the Network preferences window.
By enabling this feature, you’re allowing your Mac to share the WiFi password with other Mac devices without the need for manual entry. This simplifies the process and ensures a seamless connection experience.
Step 4: Authenticate with the admin username and password
In order to share the WiFi password between your Mac devices, you will need to authenticate with the admin username and password of the device that has the WiFi network configured. This ensures the security of your network and allows for a secure sharing process.
Follow these steps to authenticate with the admin username and password:
- On the Mac device that you want to share the password from, open the Network preferences as mentioned in the previous steps.
- Select the WiFi network connection that you want to share the password for.
- Click on the lock icon at the bottom left corner of the Network preferences window. This will prompt you to enter the admin username and password.
- Enter the admin username and password associated with the device that has the WiFi network configured.
- Click on the “OK” button to authenticate.
It is important to enter the correct admin username and password to successfully authenticate. If you are unsure about the admin credentials, you can contact the network administrator or refer to the device’s documentation.
Once you have successfully authenticated, your Mac device will be authorized to share the WiFi password with other Mac devices on the network.
Step 5: The password will be automatically shared between the devices
After authenticating with the admin username and password, the WiFi password will be automatically shared between the Mac devices. This seamless process eliminates the need to manually enter the password and allows for a quick and secure connection.
Here’s what happens when the password is automatically shared:
- On the Mac device that you want to connect to the WiFi network, ensure that both devices are within range of each other.
- With the WiFi network selected, your Mac device will show a notification indicating that the password is being shared.
- The connecting device will receive the shared password and automatically join the WiFi network without the need for manual entry.
- You will see the connected device listed in the Network preferences window on the sharing Mac device, confirming a successful connection.
It’s important to note that both devices must remain within range and connected to the same WiFi network during the sharing process. If the devices are disconnected or out of range, the password sharing may not occur successfully.
This feature promotes convenience and makes it easier to connect multiple Mac devices to the same WiFi network without the hassle of manually sharing lengthy and complex passwords.
With the password automatically shared, you can now enjoy a seamless and secure connection, ensuring that your Mac devices are quickly and effortlessly connected to the WiFi network.
Conclusion
Sharing your WiFi password with a Mac device has never been easier, thanks to the “Share Wi-Fi password” feature introduced in macOS Catalina and newer versions. With just a few simple steps, you can seamlessly connect your Mac devices to the same network without the hassle of manually entering the password.
In this article, we walked through the step-by-step process of sharing the WiFi password with a Mac device. We started by ensuring that both Mac devices are running on macOS Catalina or later versions. Then, we connected both devices to the same WiFi network to establish a common connection.
Next, we enabled the “Share Wi-Fi password” feature, which allowed for the automatic sharing of the password between the devices. We also discussed the importance of authenticating with the admin username and password for security purposes.
Finally, we highlighted how the password is automatically shared between the devices, making the connection process seamless and convenient. The connected device receives the shared password and joins the network without manual intervention.
By following these steps, you can easily share your WiFi password with Mac devices and enjoy hassle-free connections. This feature promotes convenience, saves time, and maintains the security of your WiFi network.
So, the next time you need to connect another Mac device to your WiFi network, remember to utilize the “Share Wi-Fi password” feature and enjoy effortless connectivity.