How to view your Wi-Fi password on Windows 10: all methods with pictures

Have you forgotten your home Wi-Fi password, and is it hidden under a sticker on your router that's long since worn off? Or do you need to connect a new device but can't remember the password? Windows 10 There are several built-in ways to extract a saved wireless network password—without installing third-party programs or hacking the router. This article will cover all the current methods in detail: from simply viewing it through Control Panel to advanced commands in PowerShell.

Important: these methods only work for networks that your computer or laptop is connected to. I've already connected beforeIf the device has never been connected to this network, you will have to find the password on the router or from the network administrator. Also, keep in mind that some methods will require administrator rights — without them, the system will not show saved data.

We have tested all instructions on the latest builds. Windows 10 (versions 22H2 and later), but they remain relevant for earlier releases as well. If you have Windows 11, most methods will work too - the differences are minimal.

1. View your password through Windows Settings (the easiest way)

This method doesn't require any command knowledge or additional software installation. It's suitable for users who prefer a graphical interface. Here's how:

1. Open Settings - click Win + I or click on the gear icon in the menu Start.
2. Go to the section Network and Internet → Wi-Fi.
3. Click Managing known networks.
4. Select the desired network from the list and click Properties.
5. Scroll down to the block Properties and press Show symbols next to the field Network security key.

The system will ask you to confirm administrator rights. Enter your account password, if one is set. The saved password will then be displayed in plain text.

⚠️ Attention: If the button Show symbols If the account is inactive, it means your account doesn't have sufficient rights. Try logging in as an administrator or use the alternative methods in this article.

Make sure your computer is connected to the correct Wi-Fi network (or has been connected previously)

Check the administrator rights on the account

Close your VPN or proxy—they may be blocking access to network settings.

Disable your antivirus if it is blocking changes to your system.

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2. Using the Network and Sharing Center

The classic method that has been working since the times Windows 7, but remains relevant. The interface here is more detailed, which may be useful for advanced users:

1. Right click on the icon Wi-Fi in the tray (bottom right on the taskbar) and select Open Network & Internet Settings.
2. In the window that opens, scroll down and click Network and Sharing Center.
3. Select on the left Changing adapter settings.
4. Find the connection you need (usually it is marked as Wireless network), right-click on it and select State.
5. In the new window, click Wireless network properties → go to the tab Security.
6. Check the box Show entered characters — the password will become visible.

This method is convenient because here you can not only view the password, but also change security type (for example, with WPA2-PSK on WPA3), if your router supports new standards.

What to do if the Security tab is missing?

If tabs Security is not in the connection properties, this means that:

1) You are connected to an open network without a password (for example, in a cafe or airport).

2) The connection is configured via Windows Domain (corporate network) where passwords are managed by the server.

3) The network profile is damaged - try deleting the network and connecting again.

3. View all saved passwords via the command line

If graphical methods don't work or you need to export passwords for backup, this will help command lineThis method will show all Wi-Fi passwords ever saved, even from networks that you haven't connected to for a long time.

Open Command line as administrator (click Win + X → Command Prompt (Administrator)) and execute two commands in turn:

netsh wlan show profiles

This command will list all saved networks. Find the one you need and copy its name (for example, TP-Link_5G).

netsh wlan show profile name="NETWORK_NAME" key=clear

Replace NETWORK_NAME the name of your network. In the results, find the line Key content - this is the password.

Example output:

Profile name: TP-Link_5G
...
Security parameters
Authentication type: WPA2-PSK
Encryption type: AES
Key contents: 12345678
...

⚠️ Note: Commands are case-sensitive! If the network name contains spaces or special characters, enclose it in quotation marks: name="My Wi-Fi".

netsh wlan export profile folder="C:\WiFi_Passwords\" key=clear

Files with extension .xml will appear in the specified folder. Open them with Notepad—the passwords will be in the tag <keyMaterial>.-->

4. Alternative: PowerShell for Advanced Users

PowerShell — a more powerful tool than the standard command line. With it, you can not only view the password, but also export data in a convenient format or automate the process for multiple networks.

Launch PowerShell as administrator and run:

(netsh wlan show profiles) | Select-String "\:(.+)$" | %{$name=$_.Matches.Groups[1].Value.Trim(); $_} | %{(netsh wlan show profile name="$name" key=clear)} | Select-String "Key contents\W+\:(.+)$" | %{$pass=$_.Matches.Groups[1].Value.Trim(); [PSCustomObject]@{PROFILE=$name;PASSWORD=$pass}} | Format-Table -AutoSize

This command:

• 🔍 Retrieves a list of all Wi-Fi profiles.
• 🔑 Gets a password for each profile.
• 📊 Formats the output as a two-column table: Network name And Password.

The result will look like this:

If you need to save the results to a file, add the following to the end of the command:

| Out-File -FilePath "C:\WiFi_Passwords.txt"

5. Viewing a password through the Windows registry (for experienced users)

All Wi-Fi settings, including passwords, are stored in Windows registryThis method is suitable if other methods have failed, but requires caution—incorrect changes to the registry can disrupt the system.

Follow the instructions:

1. Click Win + R, enter regedit and press Enter.
2. Follow the path:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Wlansvc\Interfaces\{GUID}\Profiles

   Instead of {GUID} There will be long identifiers - go through them until you find the required network.

3. In each profile, look for the parameter ProfileName - it contains the network name.
4. There will be a parameter next to it MSMSecurity with binary data. Double-click on it.
5. In the field Meaning find the line psk="..." — the password will be encrypted inside the quotation marks.
6. Copy the encrypted password and decrypt it using WirelessKeyView (free utility).

⚠️ Warning: Editing the registry may cause OS malfunctions. We recommend creating a system restore point beforehand (Win + R → rstrui).

6. Third-party programs for viewing Wi-Fi passwords

If built-in tools Windows If they are not suitable, you can use specialized utilities. They are convenient because they show all saved passwords in one window and often offer additional functions (export, search, copy).

Popular programs:

• 🔓 WirelessKeyView (from NirSoft) is a portable utility that doesn't require installation. It displays passwords in clear text and allows you to export them to .txt or .html.
• 🛡️ WiFi Password Revealer — a simple interface with one-click password copying. Works on all versions of Windows.
• 📊 Magical Jelly Bean WiFi Password Revealer — in addition to passwords, it shows the signal strength, security type, and MAC address of the router.

How to use (using example) WirelessKeyView):

1. Download the program from official website (Get the x64 version if you have 64-bit Windows).
2. Unzip and run WirelessKeyView.exe (administrator rights are not required).
3. Find the required network in the table - the password will be in the column Key (Ascii).
4. To copy all passwords, click File → Save All Items.

⚠️ Attention: Some antivirus programs may block utilities from NirSoft, mistaking them for malware. This is a false positive—the programs are completely safe. If necessary, add them to your antivirus exclusions.

Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

To make your decision easier, we've compiled the main pros and cons of each method in one table:

For most users the optimal solution would be first or second method — they don't require any special knowledge and take less than a minute. If you need to get passwords for all networks at once, it's better to use command line or WirelessKeyView.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about viewing Wi-Fi passwords in Windows 10

Is it possible to find out the password for a Wi-Fi network I've never connected to?

No, Windows Stores passwords only for networks the device has connected to at least once. If you've never logged into a network, you can find the password:

• On the router sticker (if it hasn’t been changed).
• Through the router's web interface (usually at 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1).
• At the network administrator's (for example, in an office or public place).

Why when entering a command netsh wlan show profile It says "No profiles found"?

This means that:

• Your computer never connected to Wi-Fi (for example, only a wired connection is used).
• Network profiles were removed manually or after resetting Windows.
• You run the command not as administrator.
• Service WLAN AutoConfig disabled (check in services.msc).

Try connecting to the network at least once - the profile will be created automatically.

How do I view my Wi-Fi password on Windows 10 if I forgot my account password?

Without administrator rights, it's impossible to view passwords. Solutions:

1. Reset your account password through Microsoft website (if you use a Microsoft account).
2. Log in with another account that has administrator rights (for example, Administrator, which is created when Windows is installed).
3. Boot from LiveCD (For example, Hiren’s BootCD) and use built-in utilities to reset passwords.
4. Connect the hard drive to another computer and view the passwords through the registry or configuration files.

⚠️ Warning: Resetting your account password may result in loss of data (such as encrypted files) EFS).

Is it possible to find out the Wi-Fi password from an Android or iPhone phone?

Yes, but the methods are different from Windows:

• Android (rooted): Use apps like WiFi Password Viewer or view the file /data/misc/wifi/WifiConfigStore.xml.
• Android without root: On some firmware (for example, MIUI on Xiaomi) The password can be viewed in the router settings via the app Wi-Fi.
• iPhone: Impossible without jailbreak. With jailbreak, use a tweak. WiFi Passwords from Cydia.

A more secure way is to connect to the router through a browser and view the password in its settings.

How can I protect my Wi-Fi passwords from being seen by other computer users?

If other people have access to your PC, protect your passwords as follows:

• 🔒 Create a separate account without administrator rights for other users.
• 🛡️ Encrypt the disk by using BitLocker (available in Windows 10 Pro and above).
• 🔑 Remove unnecessary Wi-Fi profiles through netsh wlan delete profile name="NETWORK_NAME".
• 🚫 Disable the service WLAN AutoConfig (but then Wi-Fi will stop working).
• 🔄 Change your password regularly on the router (especially if other devices were connected to the network).