You are holding your iPhone next to a friend’s, waiting for the magic “Share Password” prompt to pop up — and nothing happens. It feels broken, but in almost every case the iPhone is behaving exactly as designed. Apple only offers to share a Wi-Fi password when five specific conditions are all met at the same time. Miss even one, and the prompt stays silent.
Run through this checklist before you assume anything is wrong. The same idea of two Apple devices talking to each other wirelessly powers other conveniences too, like automatic hotspot connection from iPhone to Mac — and those have their own conditions as well.
The 5 conditions for Wi-Fi password sharing
- Both devices run iOS 11 or newer. Wi-Fi password sharing was introduced with iOS 11. If either iPhone or iPad runs something older, the feature simply does not exist on it. Update both devices first.
- The two devices use different Apple IDs. This is the one that trips people up. If both devices are signed into the same Apple ID, the Wi-Fi password already syncs between them through iCloud Keychain, so there is nothing to share and no prompt appears. Sharing is meant for two different people with two different Apple IDs.
- Bluetooth is on for both devices. The devices find each other over Bluetooth before the prompt can appear. Open Control Center or Settings on both and make sure Bluetooth is enabled right now, not just paired from earlier.
- Both devices are unlocked and held close together. Wake both screens, unlock them, and hold the two devices within a few feet of each other. A locked or sleeping device will not participate.
- Trigger the prompt the right way. On the device that needs to join, open Settings → Wi-Fi and tap the network name so the password entry field opens. Only then — with all four conditions above also true — does the already-connected device display the “Share Password” prompt. Tapping it sends the password instantly, as Apple’s support page on sharing Wi-Fi passwords explains.
Multi-device setups with their own fiddly conditions are a recurring theme on Apple gear. If you are syncing more than Wi-Fi, our walkthrough of setting up message sync between iPhone and Mac covers another checklist worth keeping handy.
If it still doesn’t work
If every condition is met and the prompt still will not appear, restart both devices — Bluetooth discovery gets stuck more often than you would think. Also check that Wi-Fi is actually on (not just Bluetooth), move the devices closer, and try toggling Bluetooth off and on again on both. As a last resort, forget the network on the joining device and start the Settings → Wi-Fi → tap-network sequence fresh. MacRumors and 9to5Mac both note that a restart fixes the stubborn cases.
Frequently asked questions
Can I share a Wi-Fi password with an Android phone?
No. The Share Password prompt only works between Apple devices. For an Android guest, the simplest options are showing the password from your saved networks or generating a QR code for the Wi-Fi network that any phone camera can scan.
Why does the prompt appear for some contacts but not others?
Usually it comes down to the Apple ID condition. If the other person uses the same Apple ID as you (a shared family device, for example), iCloud Keychain already synced the password and no prompt is needed. Different Apple ID plus the other four conditions means the prompt shows up.
Conclusion
Wi-Fi password sharing is not broken — it is just picky. Check the iOS versions, use two different Apple IDs, switch on Bluetooth, unlock both devices, and open the network on the joining phone. Get all five right and the prompt appears every time.
