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

Forgot your home Wi-Fi password and there's no sticker with the password on your router? Or do you need to connect a new device but can't be bothered to look for the piece of paper with the code? In fact, if your computer is already connected to the network, you can easily retrieve the password from the system settings—without resetting the router or losing the connection. In this article, we'll cover all the current methods for Windows 10/11 And macOS, including command line methods, graphical interface, and even third-party utilities.

Important: These instructions only work for networks that the computer is connected to. already connectedIf you're trying to hack someone else's network, it's illegal and technically impossible without specialized equipment. We consider only legal scenarios: restoring access to your own network or helping relatives with their router (with their consent!).

Also keep in mind that on corporate networks (in offices, universities) passwords are often encrypted using the protocol 802.1X — they cannot be extracted using standard methods. In such cases, contact your network administrator.

1. How to view your Wi-Fi password using Windows Settings (the easiest way)

This method does not require administrator rights and works on all versions. Windows 10/11Suitable if you want to quickly copy a password for another device.

• 📋 Open the menu Start → Parameters (gear icon).
• 🌐 Go to the section Network and Internet → Wi-Fi.
• 🔍 Scroll down and click Managing known networks.
• 📡 Select your Wi-Fi network and click Properties.
• 🔑 In the section Network properties find the field Network password and press the button Show (you will be asked to enter your Windows account password).

If the button Show If the password is inactive, your account doesn't have administrator rights. In this case, use the command prompt method (section 3) or ask the PC owner to enter their Windows password.

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

Make sure you have administrator rights (if required)

Prepare a notepad to write down your password.

Close unnecessary programs to avoid distractions-->

⚠️ Note: On some laptops (e.g. Dell Latitude or HP EliteBook) Corporate security policies may block password visibility even for administrators. In this case, resetting the router is the only solution.

2. Where is the Wi-Fi password stored on macOS (for Mac users)

On computers Apple Network passwords are stored in the system storage "Bunch of keys"To extract them:

• 🔍 Open Spotlight (combination Cmd + Space) and enter Bunch of keys.
• 📡 In the left menu, select System → Passwords.
• 🔑 Find the name of your Wi-Fi network and double-click on it.
• 👁️ Check the box Show password and enter your account password macOS.

If you don't remember your Mac account password, you can reset it through Recovery mode (hold Cmd + R (When loading). But keep in mind that this will result in some data loss if you don't have a backup.

On macOS Ventura and newer, the Keychain interface has changed slightly: Wi-Fi passwords are now located in the category Passwords and keysIf you don't see your network, try using the search in the upper right corner.

3. How to find out the Wi-Fi password via the command line (CMD)

This method is universal for all versions Windows and doesn't require any additional software installation. Suitable if a graphical interface isn't available or you prefer to work with the console.

Open Command line as administrator (find it through the search, right-click → Run as administrator) and perform in order:

netsh wlan show profiles

This command will list all saved networks. Find the name of your network (for example, TP-Link_1234) and run:

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

Find the line in the results Key content — this is your password. If the password is empty, it means the network is using WPS or another authentication method (for example, via SIM card).

⚠️ Attention: In Windows 11 When executing the command, you may be prompted Windows Defender Network access. Allow it, otherwise the password won't be displayed.

4. Using PowerShell to extract the password

PowerShell — a more powerful tool than CMD, and also allows you to extract the Wi-Fi password. This method is useful if you need to automate the process (for example, for a backup script).

Launch PowerShell as administrator and run:

(Get-NetAdapter | Where-Object {$_.MediaType -eq "Native 802.11"}).InterfaceAlias | ForEach-Object {
$profile = $_
netsh wlan show profile name="$profile" key=clear | Select-String "Key Contents"
}

The script will automatically detect all wireless adapters and display passwords for connected networks. If you have multiple Wi-Fi adapters (for example, a built-in one + a USB one), the script will process them all.

For Windows 11 You may need to first enable script execution with the command:

Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser

After this, re-run the main script. Don't forget to revert the policy back (Set-ExecutionPolicy Restricted) after completion of work.

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

If standard methods fail (for example, due to corporate policy restrictions), you can use specialized utilities. These are useful when you need to quickly retrieve passwords from all networks a computer has ever connected to.

The most popular programs:

• 🛡️ WirelessKeyView (from NirSoft) is a portable utility that displays all saved passwords without installation. It even works on Windows 7.
• 🔍 WiFi Password Revealer - simple interface, export passwords to .txt.
• 📡 Magical Jelly Bean WiFi Password Revealer - supports WPA3 and networks with WPS.
• 🖥️ NetPass — shows passwords not only for Wi-Fi, but also for VPN, RDP, and other connections.

Warning: Download programs only from official websites of developersMany "cracked" versions of password viewing utilities contain viruses or spyware. Check the file for viruses or spyware before using it. VirusTotal.

⚠️ Attention: Antiviruses (for example, Kaspersky or ESET) may block the launch WirelessKeyView, considering it "potentially unsafe software." This is a false positive—please add the program to your exceptions.

6. Alternative methods: router, sticker, reset

If none of the above methods worked, there are still “manual” options:

• 📄 Look at the sticker on the router - on most models (TP-Link, ASUS, Keenetic) the password is indicated on the bottom panel next to SSID (name of the network).
• 🔧 Log into your router settings - usually at the address 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 (default logins/passwords: admin/admin or admin/empty). Look for the Wi-Fi password in the section Wireless or Wireless network.
• 🔄 Reset your router to factory settings - To do this, press and hold the button Reset (It's usually recessed into the case and requires a paperclip) for 10-15 seconds. After the reset, the network name will be as on the sticker, and the password will be the default.

If you reset your router but don't know the factory password, you can find it in the device model database on the website RouterPasswords.com (enter the model name in the search).

On some routers (for example, MikroTik or Ubiquiti) The Wi-Fi password may be stored encrypted even in the web interface. In this case, only a reset will help.

7. Common mistakes and how to avoid them

When trying to extract a Wi-Fi password, users often encounter common problems. Here are the most common ones and their solutions:

If you use Windows 10/11 Pro or EnterpriseThe domain administrator may have disabled the ability to view passwords through group policies. In this case, the only solution is to contact the IT department or reset the router.

FAQ: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

netsh wlan export profile key=clear folder="C:\WiFi_Backup\"

netsh wlan add profile filename="C:\WiFi_Backup\file_name.xml"