How to view your Wi-Fi password on a Windows 11 computer: all the working methods

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 gadget but can't remember the password combination? Windows 11 There are several ways to retrieve a saved wireless network password—both through the graphical interface and the command line. The main requirement is that your computer must have been connected to this network at least once.

In this article we will look at 5 reliable methods, including hidden system features that work even without administrator rights (in some cases). You'll also learn how to protect your data if your password falls into the wrong hands, and what to do if none of the above methods work. Important: All instructions are relevant for Windows 11 any build, but the interface may differ slightly depending on the version.

Warning: Extracting passwords from other people's devices without the owner's permission breaks the law (Article 272 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation on unauthorized access to computer information). This article is intended only for restoring access to his own networks.

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

If your computer is already connected to Wi-Fi, the fastest way to find the password is through the standard system settings. This method does not require administrator rights and works on all versions. Windows 11.

Here are the step-by-step instructions:

1. Open the menu Start and select Parameters (gear icon) or click Win + I.
2. Go to the section Network and Internet → Wi-Fi.
3. Click on the line Managing known networks.
4. Find your network in the list and click on it.
5. On the page that opens, select View network properties (or Network information in some assemblies).
6. Scroll down to the block Security parameters and click on the button Show next to the field Network security key.

After this, the password will be displayed in text form. Please note: if the button Show If the account is inactive, it means your account doesn't have permission to view this information. In this case, try the following methods.

Make sure your computer is connected to the correct Wi-Fi network|

Please check that you have administrator rights (if the "Show" button is disabled)|

Update your network adapter drivers (if your network is not listed)|

Restart your computer if Settings doesn't open-->

2. Using Command Prompt (CMD) to extract the password

The command line is a versatile tool that allows you to retrieve a Wi-Fi password even if the graphical interface isn't working correctly. This method requires administrator privileges, but is more stable than using the settings via Parameters.

Follow the instructions:

1. Open Command line as administrator. To do this:
   • Click Win + S, enter cmd.
   • In the search results, right-click on Command line and select Run as administrator.

netsh wlan show profiles

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

If the command returns an error Failed to execute command, check:

• 🔹 The network name is correct (including spaces and case).
• 🔹 Administrator rights (run CMD again as administrator).
• 🔹 Connect to the network (the computer must be connected to it at least once).

3. Extracting the password via PowerShell (CMD alternative)

PowerShell — a more powerful tool than the standard command line. It allows you to not only view passwords but also export them to a file for convenience. This method is suitable for experienced users.

Instructions:

1. Launch PowerShell as administrator:
   • Click Win + X and select Windows Terminal (Administrator).
   • Or enter in the search PowerShell, right click and select Run as administrator.

(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

After running the command, you'll see a table with all networks and their passwords. If you need to save the data to a file, add the following to the end of the command:

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

File WiFi_Passwords.txt will appear on the disk C:.

4. Viewing passwords in Windows configuration files (for advanced users)

All passwords for Wi-Fi networks in Windows 11 are stored encrypted in system files. They can be extracted manually, but this requires access to the registry or specialized utilities. This method is suitable if the previous methods fail.

Here's how to do it:

1. Open Registry Editor:
   • Click Win + R, enter regedit and press Enter.
   • Confirm permission to make changes (if prompted by UAC).

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Wlansvc\Interfaces\

An alternative way is to use a free utility WirelessKeyView:

• 🔹 Download the program from NirSoft official website (check the file for viruses!).
• 🔹 Launch WirelessKeyView.exe (administrator rights are not required).
• 🔹 Find your network in the table - the password will be in the column Key (Ascii).

⚠️ Attention: Utilities like WirelessKeyView may be blocked by your antivirus as "potentially dangerous." This is a false positive—the program is simply reading system data. However, download it only from the official website!

5. How to find out your Wi-Fi password without administrator rights

If your account is in Windows 11

Instructions:

1. Click Win + R, enter lusrmgr.msc and press Enter.
2. In the window Local users and groups select a folder Users.
3. Right click → New user.
4. Fill in the fields:
   • Username: TempAdmin
   • Full name: Temporary Administrator
   • Password: Create a strong password (remember it!)
   • Uncheck the box Password change required at next login.

⚠️ Attention: After extracting the password Be sure to remove the temporary administrator using the same utility. lusrmgr.mscLeaving an account with admin rights is a security hole!