How to find the Wi-Fi password on a Windows 10 computer: all the working methods

Forgot your home Wi-Fi password, and the sticker on your router has worn off? Or need to connect a new device but haven't written down the password? Windows 10 offers several ways to retrieve your saved wireless network password—without resetting the router or losing settings. In this article, we'll cover all the relevant methods, from standard system tools to advanced utilities.

It is important to understand that these methods work. only for networks to which the computer has already connectedIf you've never logged into this network from this PC, you'll have to find the password on another device or reset the router. Also, keep in mind that some methods require administrator rights — without them, access to passwords will be limited.

We'll cover options for different skill levels, from simple clicks in a graphical interface to the command line for experienced users. At the end of the article, we'll answer frequently asked questions and warn you of potential risks.

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

This method doesn't require any additional software and is suitable even for beginners. All actions are performed through the standard menu. Windows 10.

Instructions:

• 🖱️ Open Start → Settings (gear icon) → Network and Internet.
• 📶 Go to the tab Wi-Fi and press Managing known networks.
• 🔍 Select the desired network from the list and click Properties.
• 🔑 Scroll down to the section Network properties and press Show symbols next to the field Network security key.

Done! The password will be displayed in the text field. Please note that for this method administrator rights are required — If you are using a guest account, the system will ask for the admin password.

⚠️ 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 using the alternative methods in this article.

Your PC is connected to the desired Wi-Fi network|You have administrator rights|There are no Group Policy restrictions (on corporate networks)|The network is saved in Windows profiles-->

2. Using the command line (for advanced users)

Command line (CMD) allows you to quickly extract a password without unnecessary clicks. This method is especially convenient if you need to obtain data on multiple networks or automate the process.

Follow these steps:

1. Run Command Prompt as Administrator (press Win + X and select Command Prompt (Administrator) or Windows PowerShell (Administrator)).
2. Enter the command to view all saved networks:

   netsh wlan show profiles

   Remember the exact name of the network you need (case is important!).

3. Display details of a specific network by replacing NETWORK_NAME to its real name:

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

4. Find the line Key content - this is the password.

Example of command output:

Profile name: HomeWiFi
...
Security parameters
Authentication type: WPA2-Personal
Encryption type: AES
Key contents: 12345678QwErTy

⚠️ Attention: In corporate networks with WPA-Enterprise This method will not reveal the password - it is stored in encrypted form and requires additional tools.

3. View passwords through the Network and Sharing Center

This method works in all versions. Windows 10 This method is similar to the first one, but uses the classic Control Panel. It's suitable if you have the new "Settings" feature disabled or not working correctly.

Step-by-step instructions:

• 🖱️ Right-click on the Wi-Fi icon in the tray (bottom right) and select Open Network and Internet settings.
• 🔗 Scroll down and click Network and Sharing Center.
• 📡 Next to the connected network, click on its name (blue link).
• 🔐 In the window that opens, click Wireless Network Properties → Security.
• 👁️ Check the box Show entered characters — the password will become visible.

If the Properties window does not open, check if the service is disabled. Automatic WLAN configurationTo do this:

1. Click Win + R, enter services.msc and press Enter.
2. Find a service Automatic WLAN configuration and make sure it is running (status Works).

4. Export all Wi-Fi passwords to a file (for backup)

If you need to save passwords for all networks (for example, before reinstalling Windows), you can export them to a text file. This is done with a single command in PowerShell.

Instructions:

1. Launch PowerShell as administrator (Win + X → Windows PowerShell (Administrator)).
2. Enter the command:

   (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(); $_} | %{[PSCustomObject]@{PROFILE_NAME=$name;PASSWORD=$pass}} | Format-Table -AutoSize

3. To save the result to a file, add the following to the end of the command:

   | Out-File -FilePath "$env:USERPROFILE\Desktop\WiFi_Passwords.txt"

   File WiFi_Passwords.txt will appear on the desktop.

The resulting file will list all networks and their passwords in the following format:

PROFILE_NAME    PASSWORD
-----------    --------
HomeWiFi        12345678QwErTy
Office          qWeRtY7890
CoffeeShop      freeinternet123

⚠️ Warning: Keep this file in a safe place! It contains cleartext passwords and can be used for unauthorized access to networks.

Once a month|A couple of times a year|Never forget|Store in a password manager-->

5. Third-party programs for viewing passwords

If standard methods don't work (for example, due to Group Policy restrictions), you can use specialized utilities. They often provide additional features, such as exporting to CSV, search the network or restore deleted profiles.

Popular programs:

Example of working with WirelessKeyView:

1. Download the program from the official website (archive) ZIP).
2. Unzip and run the file WirelessKeyView.exe (no installation required).
3. The program will automatically display all saved networks and their passwords in the column Key (Ascii).
4. To copy the password, right-click on the line and select Copy Key.

How to check a program for viruses?

Before using any utility, check it through VirusTotal or Hybrid AnalysisDownload programs only from official websites—many "cracked" versions contain malicious code.

6. Alternative methods (if nothing works)

If none of the above methods worked, try the following options:

A. Viewing the password on another device

• 📱 On Android: go to Settings → Wi-Fi → Network name → Share (device PIN required).
• 🍎 On iPhone/iPad: passwords are stored in Settings → Passwords (Face ID/Touch ID required).
• 💻 On MacOS: open Bunch of keys, find the network and check the box Show password.

B. Resetting the router (extreme case)

If you can't access the password on any device, the only option is to reset the router to factory settings. To do this:

1. Find the button on your router Reset (usually recessed into the body).
2. Press and hold it for 10-15 seconds (until the indicators flash).
3. Connect to the network with the router name (for example, TP-Link_1234) - the password will be standard (indicated on the sticker).

⚠️ Warning: Resetting your router will delete all settings, including the network name, password, linked devices, and provider settings. After the reset, you'll have to set up your internet connection again!

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About Wi-Fi Passwords on Windows 10

Is it possible to find out the password for a Wi-Fi network that the computer has never connected to?

No, Windows 10 only stores passwords for networks you've connected to before.If the computer has never been connected to this network, it's impossible to extract the password using standard tools. In this case, try:

• View password on another device (phone, tablet).
• Contact your network administrator (if it's a work or public network).
• Reset your router (if this is your home network).

Why is there no "Show Characters" button in Windows Settings?

This can happen for several reasons:

• Your account has no administrator rights.
• The network uses corporate authentication type (For example, WPA-Enterprise), where the password is stored in encrypted form.
• Organization security policy blocked access to passwords (relevant for work PCs).

Solution: Try the method with command line or run Settings as administrator (right-click on the Start icon → Run as administrator → enter ms-settings: in the address bar).

How to protect your passwords from theft?

To prevent unauthorized access to saved passwords:

• 🔒 Use Windows account password (without it, anyone can extract the data).
• 🛡️ Turn it off guest access in the router settings.
• 🔄 Regularly change your Wi-Fi password (once every 3-6 months).
• 🚫 Do not install suspicious programs to view passwords - they may contain spyware.

For additional security, configure it on your router. MAC address filtering - this will limit network access to only authorized devices.

Do these methods work on Windows 11?

Yes, All described methods are fully compatible with Windows 11The "Options" interface has changed slightly, but the path remains the same:

1. Start → Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi → Manage known networks.
2. The next steps are identical. Windows 10.

Teams netsh And PowerShell also work without changes.

Is it possible to recover a password if a network has been removed from profiles?

By standard means Windows - No. However, some third-party programs (for example, PassFab WiFi Key) claim to be able to restore deleted profiles. Effectiveness depends on how long ago the network was deleted and whether the hard drive sector was overwritten.

Alternative options:

• Check it out system backups (if they were created).
• Use specialized utilities to recover data (for example, Recuva, but the chances are slim).