How to view the Wi-Fi password your PC is connected to: all working methods

Forgot your home Wi-Fi password and there's no sticker with the connection details on your router? Or need to connect a new device but haven't saved the password on your phone? This situation is familiar to many, especially if someone else set up the network or the connection was made a long time ago. Luckily, Wi-Fi passwordYou can easily find out which router your PC is already connected to without resetting the router or calling your provider.

In this article you will find 5 proven methods — from standard tools Windows 10/11 to universal utilities that work even on older versions of the system. We'll look at how to operate through graphical interface, command line, PowerShell and specialized programs. We'll also explain why some methods may not work and how to bypass restrictions.

⚠️ Important: All methods in this article are intended only to restore access to your networkUsing them to hack other people's Wi-Fi networks is illegal and punishable under Article 272 of the Russian Criminal Code ("Unauthorized access to computer information").

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

If your PC is connected to Wi-Fi right now, the fastest way to find out the password is through network settings V Windows 10/11This method does not require administrator rights (a standard user is sufficient) and works even on laptops with limited rights.

Open the menu Start and go to Settings → Network and Internet → Wi-Fi. In the block "Related Parameters"** click on Additional network settings.

Next, select Additional adapter options - a window will open Network Connections. Find your active wireless connection in the list (usually it's called Wireless network or Wi-Fi), right-click on it and select Status → Wireless Properties.

In the new window, go to the tab "Safety"** and check the box next to it Show entered characters. The password will be displayed in the field. Network security key. Ready!

• ✅ Powered by Windows 7/8/10/11 without additional programs
• ✅ Does not require administrator rights
• ⚠️ The password will not be displayed if the PC is connected via cable (Ethernet)
• ❌ Doesn't work if the network is saved but not active (for example, you turned off Wi-Fi)

2. How to find out the password via the command line (CMD)

If the graphical interface is unavailable for some reason (for example, it is glitchy or you prefer the console), the password can be retrieved through command lineThis method is universal and works even on server versions of Windows.

Open Command line as administrator (click Win + X and select the appropriate item). Enter the command:

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

Replace NETWORK_NAME the name of your Wi-Fi network (you can find it in the system tray next to the clock). For example, if the network is called «TP-Link_1234», the command will be:

netsh wlan show profile name="TP-Link_1234" key=clear

In the execution results, find the block Security Settings** - there will be a line Key contentThis is your password.

⚠️ Attention: If you are connected to the network via Ethernet (cable), but the Wi-Fi password is saved in the system, the command will still work. However, if the network has never been connected over the air, the data will be missing from the system.

3. Use PowerShell to extract the password

PowerShell — a more powerful tool than the standard command line. It not only lets you find the password but also export all saved networks to a file. This is useful if you need to transfer settings to another PC.

Open PowerShell as administrator (enter in the search powershell, then right click and select Run as administrator). Enter the command:

(Get-NetAdapter -Name "Wi-Fi" | Get-NetConnectionProfile).Name

This command will display the name of the current Wi-Fi network. Copy it and paste it into the following command:

(Get-NetConnectionProfile -Name "NETWORK_NAME" | Select-Object -ExpandProperty NetworkSecurityKey)

If you need to see all saved passwords, use this script:

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

• ✅ Shows passwords for all saved networks, and not just active
• ✅ You can export data to .txt or .csv
• ⚠️ Requires administrator rights
• ❌ It may not work on some Windows builds due to security policy

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

If standard methods fail (for example, due to corporate policy restrictions), specialized utilities can help. They can extract passwords even from hidden profiles and work on all versions of Windows.

The most popular programs:

• 🔹 WirelessKeyView (from NirSoft) is free, portable (no installation required), and displays all saved passwords in a table. Download from the official website.
• 🔹 WiFi Password Revealer - simple interface, export passwords to .txt. Supports Windows 7-11.
• 🔹 Magical Jelly Bean WiFi Password Revealer - shows besides passwords SSID, encryption type and signal strength.
• 🔹 PassFab Wifi Key — the paid version can recover passwords even after reinstalling Windows (if there is a system backup).

⚠️ Warning: Download programs only from official websitesMany "cracked" versions of password viewing utilities contain viruses or mining software.

Example of working with WirelessKeyView:

1. Download the archive and unzip it.
2. Run the file WirelessKeyView.exe (admin rights are not required).
3. Find the required network in the table - the password will be in the column Key (Ascii).
4. Export data via if necessary File → Save All Items.

⚠️ Attention: Some antiviruses (for example, Avast or Kaspersky) may block such utilities from running, considering them "potentially dangerous." This is a false positive—add the program to the exceptions list.

What should I do if the program doesn't show the password?

If the utility returns a blank password field, it means the network data is not saved in the system. Possible causes:

- The connection was only via cable (Ethernet).

- The network profile was deleted (for example, after resetting Windows).

- The password is stored in the cloud (Microsoft account on some corporate PCs).

5. How to find out the password if the PC is connected via cable (Ethernet)

If your computer is connected to the router via network cable, but you want to know the password from Wi-Fi, which is distributed by the same router, standard Windows methods won't help. In this case, there are two options:

Method 1: Go to your router settings

1. Find out Router IP address (usually it is 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1). It can be found in the connection properties (Settings → Network → Ethernet → Click on the connection name → Scroll to "Properties").
2. Enter this IP into the address bar of your browser.
3. Log in (default logins/passwords are usually admin/admin or indicated on the router sticker).
4. Go to the section Wi-Fi (or Wireless) and find the field Password/Key.

Method 2: Reset the router to factory settings

If you don't know the login details for your router, you can reset it to factory settings using the button Reset (It's usually recessed and requires a paperclip.) After reset:

• The network name and password will become default (indicated on the router sticker).
• ⚠️ All provider settings will be reset! You will have to reconfigure your internet connection (this may require calling support).

⚠️ Attention: If the router was issued by the provider (for example, Rostelecom or Beeline), the factory login and password may have been changed. In this case, resetting will result in loss of internet connection—you'll have to call support to reset it.

6. Alternative methods: QR code, phone, system backup

If none of the above methods work, try these less obvious options:

📱 Use a phone or tablet

If you have Android- a device that has ever connected to this Wi-Fi, you can extract the password from it:

1. Install a file manager with access to root folders (for example, Root Explorer).
2. Go to /data/misc/wifi/ and open the file WifiConfigStore.xml.
3. Find the line with SSID your network - there will be a field nearby PreSharedKey with a password.

⚠️ On iPhone This method does not work without jailbreak.

🖥️ Recover password from Windows backup

If you made a system backup (for example, via File History or Acronis), passwords may be saved in configuration files. Look for them in the following path:

C:\Windows\System32\config\SOFTWARE

(requires administrator rights and special utilities like Registry Workshop).

📷 QR code from the router sticker

On many modern routers (for example, Huawei or Xiaomi) Wi-Fi password is encoded in QR code on the sticker. Scan it with your phone - some apps (for example, WiFi Key QR Scanner) automatically recognize and connect to the network.

7. Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Even following the instructions, you may encounter problems. Here are the most common errors and their solutions:

❌ Error: "Unable to find a profile for the specified network"

This means that:

• You entered Invalid network name (check the register!).
• Network profile deleted (for example, after resetting Windows).
• The PC is connected via cable, and not via Wi-Fi.

❌ Error: "Access Denied" when running commands

Solutions:

• Launch CMD or PowerShell as administrator.
• Check if the command is blocked antivirus or firewall.
• If you are on a corporate network, access may be limited. group policy.

❌ The password is displayed as dots or asterisks, but is not copied

In this case:

• Use clipboard: select the password with the mouse and press Ctrl + C.
• IN WirelessKeyView export data to .txt.
• Take a screenshot and recognize the text using Google Lens.

❌ After resetting the router, the Internet disappeared.

This means that:

• Settings PPPoE (login/password from the provider) have been reset.
• Was included MAC address binding.
• The provider uses dynamic IP, which does not update automatically.

Solution: Call your provider's support team and clarify your connection parameters.

FAQ: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Is it possible to find out the password for the Wi-Fi network my PC is connected to if I'm not an administrator?

Yes, through Windows Settings → Network → Wi-Fi → Advanced settings (cm. first method). Administrator rights are only required for the command line and PowerShell.

I'm connected via cable, but I want to know the Wi-Fi password for the same router. What should I do?

You need to go to the router settings through the browser (see. Section 5). If you don’t know your login/password, reset the router using the button Reset, but be prepared to set up your internet again.

The password in the router settings is displayed as asterisks. How can I see it?

Most routers have a check mark next to the password field. Show Password or Show symbolsIf it is not there, open the page source code (Ctrl + U) and find the line type="password" - replace password on text.

Do these methods work on Mac or Linux?

No, this article only describes methods for Windows. For macOS use Keychain Access, For Linux - command sudo cat /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/NETWORK_NAME.

Is it possible to find out my neighbor's Wi-Fi password?

No, it's illegal. All methods in the article are intended only for restoring access to his own networks. Unauthorized access to other people's networks is punishable by law.