# Finding the password on a PowerBook G4

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-the-password-on-a-powerbook-g4/563501>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 9, 2010, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-the-password-on-a-powerbook-g4/563501 "2010-12-09T03:46:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-the-password-on-a-powerbook-g4/563501/1 "2010-12-09T03:46:59Z")

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A few years ago someone told me how to find the password on my PowerBook G4, in case I forgot it. I can’t find the thread. ISTR that I go into System Preferences and choose something there, and then there’s a box I can check that says ‘Show password’ or something. I think I remember the password, but I’d like to see it. There’s going to be a new user in the house, who has her own (PC) laptop. I think all she needs is the AirPort password. If she needs the Comcast password, I don’t remember what that is!

A little direction?

Thanks.

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**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\
**Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-the-password-on-a-powerbook-g4/563501/2 "2010-12-09T03:58:20Z")

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If you want to find the password to a network, go to Applications-\>Utilities-\>Keychain Access, and find the key for the network you are looking for,then click “show password.” Note that you still need to know the login password to unlock the keychain.

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**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\
**Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-the-password-on-a-powerbook-g4/563501/3 "2010-12-09T04:00:32Z")

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Click on the background of the computer so that it says ‘Finder’ next to the Apple. The go to the **Go** menu just to the right of that.

Utilities. Keychain Access. Login Keychains. Find the one you want, double click to open it. There will be a password field and a checkbox to “show password”. You will need to enter the user’s computer password to authenticate.

Just had to do this today to find one of my email account passwords.

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-the-password-on-a-powerbook-g4/563501/4 "2010-12-09T04:02:49Z")

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Perfect.

Thanks, guys.

(And I didn’t remember the password correctly! 😛 )