How to View Wi-Fi Settings on Your Computer: 5 Methods for Windows, macOS, and Linux

Viewing Wi-Fi settings on a computer is a task every user faces, whether it's finding a network password, checking connection speed, or troubleshooting internet issues. However, the interfaces of Windows, macOS, and Linux differ significantly, and the methods for accessing network settings depend on the operating system version and even the adapter model. In this article, we'll cover all the relevant methods—from standard OS tools to specialized utilities that can help retrieve hidden data like Wi-Fi channel, connection standard (802.11ac/ax) or Router MAC addresses.

We'll pay special attention to situations where the default settings don't display the information you need—for example, if you've forgotten your Wi-Fi password or want to check if any unauthorized devices are connected to your network. You'll also learn how to export your network configuration for backup or transfer to another PC. All instructions include screenshots and explanations for beginners, while also offering advanced tips for experienced users.

1. How to view basic Wi-Fi settings in Windows 10 and 11

In modern versions of Windows, most of the network settings are hidden behind a simple interface, but you can get to them through Parameters or Control PanelLet's consider both options.

The fastest way is to use Network Control Center:

• 🖱️ Click on the Wi-Fi icon in the lower right corner of the taskbar (next to the clock) and select Network properties.
• 📄 In the window that opens, scroll down to the block Properties — will be displayed here IP address, DNS servers, gateway (router address) and MAC address of the adapter.
• 🔍 To see the password, click View network properties → Security and check the box Show entered characters.

If you need more detailed information (eg. Wi-Fi channel or operating mode), take advantage Control Panel:

1. Open Control Panel (via search or combination Win + R → enter control).
2. Go to Network and Internet → Network and Sharing Center.
3. Click on the active connection (the name of your Wi-Fi network) and select Intelligence.

To diagnose problems it is useful to know connection speed And signal levelThis data is displayed in Task Manager:

1. Click Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Go to the tab Performance → Wi-Fi.
3. Here you will see the current speed (for example, 866 Mbps), as well as a network usage graph.

2. View Wi-Fi settings via the command line (CMD)

The command line is a universal tool that works in all versions of Windows and allows you to obtain data that is not accessible through the graphical interface. For example, it can be used to find out exact Wi-Fi channel and bandwidth, which is critical for network optimization in interference conditions.

Open CMD as administrator (enter through the search cmd, then right-click → Run as administrator) and run the following commands:

netsh wlan show interfaces

This command will output:

• 📡 Network name (SSID) and her BSSID (MAC address of the router).
• 📶 Signal level in percentages (for example, 95%).
• 🔄 Channel and bandwidth (For example, Channel: 6, Width: 20 MHz).
• 🔒 Security type (WPA3-Personal, WPA2-PSK, etc.).

To see Wi-Fi password, use:

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

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

For verification IP configurations (including DNS and gateway) run:

ipconfig /all

⚠️ Note: If you are connected to a public network (for example, in a cafe or airport), commands netsh They may not show you the password—it's simply not in your device's settings. In such cases, the password can only be obtained from the network administrator.

3. View Wi-Fi settings on macOS (Ventura, Monterey, Big Sur)

On computers Apple Accessing Wi-Fi settings is organized differently than in Windows. There's no command line with similar capabilities, but there are built-in utilities and hidden menus.

To see basic network information:

1. Hold down the key Option (⌥) and click on the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar.
2. The drop-down list will display extended information:
   • 📡 Network name (SSID) And BSSID.
   • 📶 Signal level in dBm (for example, -45 dBm - an excellent signal).
   • 🔄 Channel (For example, 149 for 5 GHz).
   • 🔒 Security type (WPA3, WPA2, etc.).
   • 🌐 IP address, router (gateway) and DNS.

For viewing Wi-Fi password:

1. Open Applications → Utilities → Keychain.
2. In the search bar, enter the name of your Wi-Fi network.
3. Double-click on the found element and check the box. Show password.
4. Enter your account password macOS.

If you need detailed technical data (for example, supported Wi-Fi standards or connection speed), use the built-in utility Wireless Diagnostics:

1. Hold Option (⌥) and click on the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar.
2. Select Open Wi-Fi diagnostics.
3. In the window that opens, go to the tab Info (or Intelligence (in Russian).
4. Here you will see PHY Mode (Wi-Fi mode, for example, 802.11ac), Channel (channel), RSSI (signal level) and other parameters.

⚠️ Attention: Starting from macOS MontereyApple has hidden some technical details in the interface. If you don't see the usual options, update the utility. Wireless Diagnostics through App Store or use the terminal (command networksetup -getinfo Wi-Fi).

4. View Wi-Fi settings in Linux (Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora)

In Linux distributions, the methods for viewing Wi-Fi settings depend on the one being used. network manager (NetworkManager, Wicd, systemd-networkd) and graphical shell (GNOME, KDE, XFCE). We will look at universal methods that work in most cases.

The easiest way is through the graphical interface:

• 🖱️ Click on the Wi-Fi icon in the taskbar (usually in the upper right corner).
• 📋 Choose Network settings or Edit Connections (depending on the distribution).
• 🔍 Find your network in the list and click Change or Edit.
• 🔑 On the tab Wi-Fi Security (Wi-Fi Security) the password will be displayed (if it is saved).

There are several useful commands available for the terminal:

iwconfig

Shows:

• 📡 Interface name (For example, wlp3s0).
• 📶 Signal level (For example, Signal level=-38 dBm).
• 🔄 Frequency and channel (For example, Frequency:5.18 GHz, Channel 36).

nmcli device show INTERFACE

Replace INTERFACE the name of your Wi-Fi adapter (for example, wlp3s0). The command will output:

• 🔒 Security type (For example, 802-11-wireless-security.psk: your_password).
• 🌐 IP address, gateway And DNS.

To see Wi-Fi password, use:

sudo grep psk= /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/NETWORKNAME.nmconnection

For verification connection speeds and other technical details, the following command is suitable:

iw wlp3s0 link

She will show:

• 📡 SSID (network name).
• 🔄 Channel and bandwidth (For example, channel 36, width: 80 MHz).
• 📈 Current speed (For example, tx bitrate: 866.7 MBit/s).

⚠️ Note: In some distributions (for example, Arch Linux) network settings can be controlled via netctl or dhcpcdIf the commands above don't work, check which network manager is used by default (systemctl status NetworkManager).

5. How to export Wi-Fi settings for backup

If you want to save your Wi-Fi configuration to transfer to another computer or for backup, there are several ways to do this depending on your operating system.

IN Windows You can export network profiles using the command line:

netsh wlan export profile name="NETWORK_NAME" folder="FOLDER_PATH"

For example:

netsh wlan export profile name="MyWiFi" folder="C:\WiFi_backup"

This will create a file MyWiFi.xml with all settings, including the password. To import it on another PC, use:

netsh wlan add profile filename="FILE_PATH\MyWiFi.xml"

IN macOS Wi-Fi settings are backed up automatically through A bunch of keys, but you can manually export passwords:

1. Open Bunch of keys (through Spotlight or Applications → Utilities).
2. Find your Wi-Fi network, right-click on it and select Export.
3. Save the file in the format .keychain.

IN Linux Wi-Fi profiles are stored in configuration files NetworkManager:

/etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/

Copy the files you need (for example, MyWiFi.nmconnection) to an external drive. To restore settings on another PC, place the files in the same folder and restart NetworkManager:

sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager

Make sure you have administrator rights

Check your network name (SSID) for typos.

Please specify the correct path for export.

Save the file to a safe place

Check file integrity after export-->

6. Diagnosing Wi-Fi problems through settings

If your internet connection is unstable, your Wi-Fi settings may reveal the cause of the problem. Here's what to look for:

For deep diagnostics in Windows, use the command:

ping 8.8.8.8 -t

If you can ping but can't access websites, there's a DNS issue. If you lose ping, check your router connection or your ISP's cable.

IN macOS And Linux The utility is suitable for network analysis nmap:

sudo nmap -sn 192.168.1.0/24

It will show all the devices on your local network, which will help identify unauthorized connections.

7. Specialized utilities for viewing Wi-Fi settings

If the OS's built-in tools aren't sufficient, you can use third-party programs. They provide advanced information that's difficult to obtain with standard tools.

For Windows:

• 📊 WiFi Analyzer — shows all nearby networks, their channels, signal strength, and load. Useful for choosing the optimal channel.
• 🔍 WirelessNetView (by NirSoft) - Displays detailed information about all detected networks, including MAC addresses, router manufacturer And security type.
• 📈 NetSpot — creates a heat map of Wi-Fi coverage, helps find dead zones.

For macOS:

• 📡 WiFi Explorer — an analogue of WiFi Analyzer with support macOS. Shows channels, signal levels, and even supported standards (802.11ac/ax).
• 🔧 iStumbler — a utility for scanning networks, including data on channel width And encryption type.

For Linux:

• 🐧 Wavemon — a console utility for monitoring Wi-Fi. Shows signal level, speed, channel and even neighboring networks.
• 📊 LinSSID — a graphical network analyzer with support for channel and standard filters.

⚠️ Note: Some utilities (for example, WirelessNetView) require administrator rights and may be blocked by antivirus software. Please add them to the exceptions list before using them.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about Wi-Fi settings on your computer

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

sudo cat /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/NETWORKNAME.nmconnection | grep psk

speedtest-cli

arp -a

ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /flushdns