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

Forgot your home Wi-Fi password, and the sticker on your router has worn off? Or need to connect a new device but don't have the password written down anywhere? Don't rush to reset your router settings. — If your computer or laptop is already connected to this network, you can easily view the password directly in the system. In this article, we'll discuss 5 proven methodsHow to find a saved Wi-Fi password on Windows 10 and 11, and what to do if standard methods don't work.

The methods vary in complexity: from viewing through a graphical interface to the command line. Choose the one that is most convenient for you — all of them are secure and don't require administrator rights (if you're already connected to the network). And at the end of the article, we'll answer frequently asked questions: is it possible to find out a password from someone else's computer, why is a password sometimes displayed as asterisks, and how to protect your network from such leaks.

If you use macOS or Linux, the methods will be different - we'll cover that in a separate article. Here we'll focus exclusively on Windows, as it is the most common system for home PCs.

1. The easiest way: via Windows Settings (Windows 10/11)

This basic method, which works on all modern versions of Windows. This works if you're connected to the network right now and have administrator rights (or you're the only user on the PC).

Instructions:

1. Open the menu Start and select Parameters (gear icon).
2. Go to the section Network and Internet → Wi-Fi.
3. Click on the link Managing known networks.
4. Find your network in the list and click on it.
5. Click the button Properties (or Show password in Windows 11).
6. In the field Network security key The password will be displayed. If it is hidden, check the box. Show entered characters.

✅ Advantages of the method: does not require a command line, works without additional programs.

❌ Cons: If you are not an administrator, the system may block access.

Wi-Fi is enabled on your computer|You are connected to the correct network|You have administrator rights|The password has not been changed since the last connection-->

2. Alternative method: via Control Panel (for Windows 7/8/10)

This method works on all versions of Windows, including older ones. Suitable if you have Windows 7 or the Settings interface does not display the password.

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Open Control Panel (can be found through the search in the menu) Start).
2. Go to the section Network and Internet → Network and Sharing Center.
3. Select on the left Changing adapter settings.
4. Find your Wi-Fi network, right-click on it and select State.
5. In the window that opens, click Wireless network properties → tab Security.
6. Check the box Show entered characters — the password will appear in the field Network security key.

Important: If the password field is empty or gray, it means the network is connected without saving the password (for example, via WPS or guest access).

Why might the password not be displayed?

If you connected to the network using the WPS button on the router, Windows doesn't explicitly save the password. The field will also be empty if the network is open (without a password) or Enterprise authentication is used (for example, in offices).

⚠️ AttentionOn some corporate laptops, access to this menu may be blocked by security policies. In this case, try other methods.

3. Viewing the password via the command line (CMD)

If the GUI does not show the password, you can extract it via command lineThis method works even on older versions of Windows and does not require installing additional software.

Run the following commands in order:

netsh wlan show profiles

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

Then enter:

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

Replace NETWORK_NAME the name of your Wi-Fi network (without quotation marks if there are no spaces in the name). In the results, find the line Key content - this is the password.

🔹 Output example:

Profile name: TP-Link_1234

Security parameters
Security type: WPA2-Personal
Encryption type: AES
Key contents: 12345678Qw!

⚠️ AttentionDo not run this command on work or other people's computers without permission. The network administrator may be able to track such requests through security logs.

4. Using PowerShell to extract the password

PowerShell — a more powerful tool than the standard command line. With it, you can Export all saved Wi-Fi passwords in a convenient format.

Open PowerShell as administrator (right-click on Start → Windows PowerShell (Administrator)) and run the command:

(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;PASSWORD=$pass}} | Format-Table -AutoSize

The result will be in the form of a table:

✅ Advantage of the method: displays passwords for all saved networks all at once, not one by one.

❌ Flaw: the command looks complicated, but you can just copy it.

Via "Windows Settings"|Via "Control Panel"|Via Command Prompt (CMD)|Via PowerShell-->

5. If nothing works: check the password in the router settings

If the computer did not save the password (for example, it was connected via WPS or guest access), remains the last reliable way — access the router's web interface. To do this:

1. Find out Router IP address. Usually it is 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1You can find out more using the command:

   ipconfig | findstr"Default Gateway"

2. Open your browser and enter this IP into the address bar. Click Enter.
3. Enter your login and password to log into the router (usually admin/admin, if you haven't changed it).
4. Go to the section Wi-Fi (or Wireless network, Wireless).
5. Find the field Password, Security key or PSK.

📌 Where to find settings on popular routers:

• 🔹 TP-Link: Wireless → Wireless Security
• 🔹 ASUS: Wireless Network → Authentication Settings
• 🔹 Keenetic: Home Network → Access Point
• 🔹 MikroTik: Wireless → Security Profiles

⚠️ Attention: If you have not changed the default password of the router (admin/admin), anyone who connects to your network will be able to find it just as easily. Be sure to change the administrator password in the router settings!

What to do if you can't access your router?

If you've forgotten your router's web interface password, you'll need to reset it to factory settings. To do this:

1. Find the button Reset on the back panel of the router (usually it is recessed).

2. Press it with a pin and hold for 10-15 seconds.

3. The router will reboot, and you will be able to log in using the standard login/password (indicated on the sticker).

❗ Please note: After the reset, you will have to set up your internet and Wi-Fi again!

6. Additional programs for viewing Wi-Fi passwords

If standard methods don't work, you can use third-party utilitiesThey are convenient when you need to quickly export all saved passwords or if access to the system is limited.

🔹 Top 3 proven programs:

• 🛡️ WirelessKeyView (from NirSoft) - free, portable (no installation required), shows all saved Wi-Fi passwords.
• 🔐 WiFi Password Revealer - simple interface, export passwords to a file.
• 📡 Magical Jelly Bean WiFi Password Revealer — supports Windows 7–11, Russian language.

⚠️ Warning: Download programs only from official websites of developersMany "Wi-Fi hackers" on the internet contain viruses!

📌 How to use WirelessKeyView:

1. Download the program from the website nirsoft.net (chapter Download WirelessKeyView).
2. Unzip and run the file WirelessKeyView.exe.
3. Find your network in the table - the password will be in the column Key (Ascii).

Bonus: How to protect your Wi-Fi from password leaks

Now that you know how easy it is to extract a Wi-Fi password from a computer, it's time to think about security. Here 5 practical tipsTo protect your network:

• 🔒 Use a complex password: minimum 12 characters, with letters, numbers and special characters (eg. K!t7eN_2026@WiFi).
• 🔄 Change your password every 3-6 months, especially if guests connected to the network.
• 📵 Disable WPS - This protocol is vulnerable and allows one to guess the password in a few hours.
• 👤 Create a guest network For friends, it is isolated from the main one and does not provide access to your devices.
• 🛡️ Update your router firmware — Manufacturers regularly patch vulnerabilities.

The most common mistake is using the default router password (like 12345678 or admin). Such networks can be hacked in seconds!

🔧 How to check the strength of your password:

1. Go to the website howsecureismypassword.net (or similar).
2. Enter your password (don't worry, the site doesn't save your data).
3. If the hack time is less than 100 years, change your password immediately!

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about viewing your Wi-Fi password

❓ Is it possible to find out someone else's Wi-Fi password without permission?

Technically yes, but that's violation of the law (Article 272 of the Russian Criminal Code—unauthorized access to computer information). Furthermore, many companies have corporate policies that block such actions. Risks:

• The network administrator will see your actions in the logs.
• Antivirus software may detect password extraction attempts as malicious activity.

Conclusion: Use this method only on your own devices or with the owner's permission.

❓ Why does my password appear as asterisks in Windows Settings?

This is a standard security measure. To see your real password, you need to check the box. Show entered charactersIf the checkbox is inactive:

• You do not have administrator rights.
• The password is not saved in the system (for example, connecting via WPS).
• The network uses Enterprise authentication (often found in offices).

❓ Is it possible to find out the password for a Wi-Fi network that my computer connected to a long time ago but is currently not connected to?

Yes, if the network is saved in Windows profiles. Use:

• Team netsh wlan show profiles (will show all saved networks).
• Program WirelessKeyView - It displays passwords even for inactive networks.

If the network is not in the list, it means it is not saved, and the password will have to be reset on the router.

❓ Do these methods work on Mac or Linux?

No, on macOS And Linux Other commands and paths to password files are used. For example:

• On Mac: passwords are stored in (Keychain Access).
• On Linux: can be viewed in the file /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/.

If you need instructions for these systems, please leave a comment, and we'll prepare a separate article.

❓ What to do if none of the methods worked?

There are two options left:

1. Reset the router to factory settings (button Reset for 10 seconds). After this, the password will be the default one (indicated on the router sticker).
2. Contact your provider - some operators (for example, Rostelecom or Beeline) may provide the password over the phone if you are the owner of the contract.

⚠️ After resetting your router, you'll have to reconfigure your internet and Wi-Fi!