How to view Wi-Fi settings on your computer: from SSID to connection speed

Are you connected to Wi-Fi but don't remember the network name or password? Or do you need to know what frequency your router is using to optimize speed? Your computer's wireless network settings are stored in the system and can be viewed without any special software—you just need to know where to look. In this article, we'll cover all the methods for Windows 10/11 And macOS, including hidden settings that are not shown in the standard menus.

It is important to understand that not all options are available equally on different operating systems. For example, in Windows It's easier to find out the current connection speed, and in macOS — detailed channel and bandwidth information. We'll also explain how to retrieve saved passwords for all networks your PC has ever connected to, and what to do if the data you need isn't displayed.

1. Basic Wi-Fi settings in Windows: SSID, speed, protocol

The fastest way to view the main parameters of the current connection is through Wi-Fi icon in tray. Right-click on it and select Network and Internet settingsA window with connection information will open, where you will see:

• 📶 Network name (SSID) - What is the name of your Wi-Fi?
• 🔗 Security type - usually WPA2-Personal or WPA3-Personal;
• 📊 Connection speed — current and maximum (for example, 72 Mbps out of 866 Mbps).

However, they don't show it here password, channel or frequency (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz). To find out, you need to dig deeper—more on that in the following sections. Incidentally, if the speed is significantly lower than the maximum (for example, 50 Mbps out of 300 Mbps), this may indicate interference on the channel or a weak signal.

To see Router IP address (needed to enter its settings), in the same window click Properties next to the network name. Scroll down to the block DNS servers - there will be a line Default Gateway (usually 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1).

⚠️ Attention: If in the network properties instead of the IP address is displayed AP (IPv6) or -fe80::, then your router is operating in IPv6 mode. To get a regular IPv4 address, temporarily disable IPv6 in the adapter settings (more on this in the command line section).

2. How to find the Wi-Fi password in Windows (all saved networks)

Windows stores passwords for every network your computer has ever connected to. To view them:

1. Open Control Panel → Network and Sharing Center.
2. Click on the active connection (link next to Connections).
3. In the new window, click Wireless Network Properties → Security.
4. Check the box Show entered characters — in the field Network security key a password will appear.

If you need information about other networks (not current), use command line:

netsh wlan show profiles

This command will list all saved networks. Then enter:

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

Find the line in the results Key content - this is the password.

Make sure you have administrator rights

Open Command Prompt as Administrator

Enter the command to list networks

Copy the name of the desired network

Get the password with the second command-->

⚠️ Attention: If the password is displayed as dots or asterisks, and the check mark Show entered characters is inactive, meaning your Windows account doesn't have administrator rights. Solution: Log in with an administrator account or request permission from the PC owner.

3. View frequency, channel, and bandwidth in Windows

The default Windows settings do not show which frequency (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz) and channel your Wi-Fi is working. For this you will need command line or PowerShell:

netsh wlan show interfaces

In the results, find the following lines:

• 📡 Radio type — will show 802.11n (2.4 GHz), 802.11ac (5 GHz) or 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6);
• 🔢 Channel — channel number (for example, 6 for 2.4 GHz or 36 for 5 GHz);
• 📶 Channel width — 20 MHz, 40 MHz etc.

If there is no channel information in the output, try an alternative command:

netsh wlan show networks mode=bssid

It will show all available networks nearby, along with their channels. Find your network in the list by SSID.

What do the radio types (802.11) mean?

802.11n — works on 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, maximum speed up to 600 Mbps. 802.11ac — only 5 GHz, speed up to 1.3 Gbps (Wi-Fi 5). 802.11ax — modern Wi-Fi 6 standard, supports both frequencies, speed up to 9.6 Gbps.

4. Detailed Wi-Fi diagnostics in macOS

On MacBook or iMac Viewing your Wi-Fi settings is even easier. Hold down the key Option (⌥) and click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar. An expanded window with the following data will appear:

• 📡 PHY Mode — Wi-Fi standard (for example, 802.11ax);
• 🔢 Channel — channel number;
• 📶 RSSI — signal level in dBm (the closer to 0, the better);
• 🔄 TX Rate — current transfer rate.

For viewing password from the current network:

1. Open Programs → Utilities → Keychain.
2. Find your network name in the list.
3. Check the box Show password and enter your Mac account password.

If you need to see all saved networks, use Terminal:

security find-generic-password -wa "NETWORK_NAME"

5. Third-party programs for advanced analysis

If the built-in tools of Windows or macOS are not enough, use free utilities:

• 🖥️ WiFi Analyzer (Windows) - shows channel load, signal level and recommended settings;
• 🍎 NetSpot (macOS/Windows) — creates a heat map of Wi-Fi coverage;
• 📊 inSSIDer — detailed analysis of networks, including channel width and security standards.

For example, in WiFi Analyzer You'll see a channel load chart and be able to select the clearest channel for your router. This is especially useful in apartment buildings where neighboring routers' networks can interfere.

⚠️ Attention: Some programs (for example, inSSIDer) require administrator rights to scan networks. Without them, they will only show basic information.

For Linux the utility will do iwconfig (shows the current adapter settings) or nmcli (for network management via NetworkManager). For example:

iwconfig wlan0

Displays connection details, including Frequency (frequency) and Bit Rate (speed).

6. Why may Wi-Fi settings not be displayed?

Sometimes network data is not available due to the following reasons:

• 🔌 The Wi-Fi adapter driver is out of date. - update it through device Manager;
• 🛡️ Antivirus is blocking access - temporarily disable protection;
• 🔄 The network is connected via VPN - some parameters may be hidden;
• 🖥️ The adapter is disabled in BIOS. - Check the settings when booting your PC.

If in netsh wlan show interfaces you see a message No wireless LAN connections, Means:

1. The Wi-Fi adapter is not detected by the system (check device Manager);
2. The adapter driver is not working properly (reinstall it);
3. The Wi-Fi switch on the laptop is physically disabled (on some models Lenovo or HP).

7. How to use Wi-Fi settings to optimize your network

Knowing your connection parameters helps improve network speed and stability:

• 📶 Weak signal (RSSI below -70 dBm) → Move the router closer or use a repeater;
• 🔢 Congested channel → Change the channel in the router settings (select a less busy one);
• 🔄 Slow speed on 2.4 GHz → Switch to 5 GHz (if your router supports it);
• 🔒 Legacy security protocol (WEP or WPA) → Upgrade to WPA2-PSK or WPA3.

For example, if the command output is netsh wlan show interfaces you see Channel width: 20 MHz, and the router supports 40 MHz or 80 MHz, it's worth going into your router settings and increasing the channel width. This can significantly improve speed (but keep in mind that wide channels are more susceptible to interference).

If your router operates in 802.11n (Wi-Fi 4) mode, but connected devices support 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) or 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6), enable these standards in the router settings - this will increase the maximum speed for compatible devices.

Frequently asked questions

Is it possible to find out a Wi-Fi password if the computer is not connected to the network?

No, if the computer has never connected to this network. However, if it has been connected before, the password can be retrieved from saved profiles (see the section about netsh wlan show profiles).

Why is the connection speed lower than the maximum?

This is normal—the maximum speed represents the theoretical limit of the Wi-Fi standard, while the actual speed depends on the distance to the router, interference, the number of connected devices, and the channel width. For example, with a channel width of 20 MHz the speed will be lower than at 80 MHz.

How can I determine what frequency (2.4 or 5 GHz) my computer is connected to?

In Windows, use the command netsh wlan show interfaces and look at the line Radio type. If there 802.11n, it can be any frequency, but is usually 2.4 GHz. To be precise, check the channel: 1–13 is 2.4 GHz, 36 and above is 5 GHz. On macOS, hold Option When you click on the Wi-Fi icon, the frequency will be clearly indicated.

Is it possible to change Wi-Fi settings (channel, bandwidth) from a computer?

No, these settings can only be changed in router web interfaceThe computer only displays the current settings. To change them, log in to the router's control panel (usually at 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1) and find the section Wireless Settings (or Wireless network).

Why isn't my Wi-Fi network listed even though I'm connected to it?

This may be due to:

1. Hidden SSID (network name broadcasting is disabled in the router settings);
2. Problems with the Wi-Fi adapter driver;
3. Group Policy Restrictions (in corporate networks).

Solution: Update your adapter driver or temporarily connect via cable to check your router settings.