How to find your Wi-Fi password on Windows 10: all the working methods

Forgot your home Wi-Fi password, and the sticker on your router has worn off? Or do you need to connect a new device, but the host won't share access? Windows 10 stores all saved wireless network passwords. — all that remains is to extract them. In this article, we'll look at 5 legal ways, how to do it: from simple viewing through the system interface to advanced methods using PowerShell and third-party utilities.

It is important to understand: Access to passwords is only possible with an administrator account or with the rights of a user who has previously connected to this network. If you're trying to hack someone else's Wi-Fi, this violation of the law (Article 272 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). We only talk about recovering your data.

The methods in the article are suitable for:

• 🔄 Recover your router password (if you've connected to it before)
• 📱 Connect new devices without requiring a password from your provider
• 🔐 Network security checks (for example, if you suspect your password has been compromised)

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

If your computer is already connected to the desired Wi-Fi network, You can view your password in 3 clicks No additional programs required. This method works on all versions. Windows 10 (including 22H2) and does not require administrator rights - it is enough to be a user who has previously logged into this network.

Instructions:

1. Click Win + Ito open Windows Settings**.
2. Go to the section Network and Internet → Wi-Fi.
3. Click on the link Managing known networks.
4. Select the desired network and click Properties.
5. In the section Network properties scroll down to the item Network password and press the button Show symbols.

Done! The password will be displayed in the text field. Please note: if the button Show symbols If your account is inactive, it means your account doesn't have sufficient rights. In this case, try the following method.

2. Using the Command Prompt (CMD)

The command line allows Export all saved Wi-Fi passwords as a readable list. This method is useful if you need to quickly obtain data on multiple networks or automate a process (for example, for backups).

Follow these steps:

1. Open command prompt as administrator (click Win + X and select Command Prompt (Administrator) or Windows PowerShell (Administrator)).
2. Enter the command to view all saved networks:

   netsh wlan show profiles

   In the list, find the name of the required network (field Name of all user profiles).

3. To see the password, run:

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

   Replace NETWORK_NAME to the real name (for example, TP-Link_1234).

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

If the command returns an error The operation failed., check:

• 🔹 Make sure the network name is spelled correctly (case is important!)
• 🔹 Administrator rights (whether CMD was run as an administrator)
• 🔹 Connect to a network (if the network is not saved, the data will not be displayed)

File wifi_passwords.txt will appear in the user folder.-->

3. Export passwords via PowerShell

PowerShell — a more powerful tool than CMD, and allows export passwords in a convenient format (for example, in a table). This method is useful for system administrators or those who want to automate the backup of network data.

Instructions:

1. Open PowerShell as administrator (via menu Win + X).
2. Paste and execute the script:

   $profiles = netsh wlan show profiles | Select-String "All user profiles: (.*)"
   $results = @()
   foreach ($profile in $profiles) {
   $name = $profile.Matches.Groups[1].Value.Trim()
   $password = (netsh wlan show profile name="$name" key=clear | Select-String "Key content: (.*)").Matches.Groups[1].Value.Trim()
   $results += [PSCustomObject]@{Network=$name; Password=$password}
   }
   $results | Format-Table -AutoSize

3. The result will be displayed as a table with network names and passwords.

To save data to a file, add the following line to the end of the script:

$results | Export-Csv -Path "C:\wifi_passwords.csv" -NoTypeInformation -Encoding UTF8

File wifi_passwords.csv can be opened in Excel or Google Sheets.

4. View passwords in the Network and Sharing Center (alternative method)

This method is suitable for Windows 10 versions 1809 and older. It's a bit longer than the "Settings" option, but it can sometimes help if the standard interface isn't working.

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Right-click on the Wi-Fi icon in the tray (bottom right) and select Open Network & Internet Settings.
2. Scroll down and click Network and Sharing Center.
3. In the window that opens, click on the name of your network (link next to Connections).
4. In the new window, select Wireless network properties → tab Security.
5. Check the box Show entered characters — the password will become visible.

If the tab Security absent or gray, means:

• 🔸 The network is not saved in the system (you connected via guest access).
• 🔸 Your account does not have permission to view passwords.
• 🔸 Wi-Fi is connected via VPN or corporate protocol (for example, 802.1X).

5. Third-party password recovery programs

If standard methods don't work, you can use specialized utilitiesThey are convenient because they show all saved passwords at once, including networks that have not been connected to for a long time. However, Download software only from official sources - Many "Wi-Fi hackers" contain viruses.

Popular programs:

• 🛡️ WirelessKeyView (from NirSoft) - free, portable (no installation required), displays passwords in a table.
• 🔑 WiFi Password Revealer - simple interface, export to .txt.
• 🖥️ Magical Jelly Bean WiFi Password Revealer - supports Windows 7/8/10/11, there is a search function by network name.

How to use WirelessKeyView:

1. Download the program from NirSoft official website (chapter Download WirelessKeyView).
2. Unzip the file and run it 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. To save all passwords, click File → Save All Items.

⚠️ Attention: Some antiviruses (for example, Avast or Kaspersky) can block WirelessKeyView as "potentially unwanted software." This is a false positive—the program doesn't send data over the network. Add it to your antivirus exceptions.

Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

Each method has its pros and cons. The table below compares key parameters:

For quickly view the password for the current network The first or fourth method will do. If necessary save all passwords (for example, for a backup), use PowerShell or WirelessKeyView.

What to do if none of the methods worked?

If you've tried all the methods but the password still isn't displayed, there may be a few possible reasons:

• 🔌 The network is not saved in the system (you connected via WPS or guest access).
• 🔐 Corporate authentication is used (802.1X, EAP).
• 🛡️ The password is encrypted at the group policy level (in office networks).
• 🖥️ The account is restricted by security policies (for example, in educational institutions).

In such cases:

1. Check it out sticker on the router — often the standard password is indicated there (if it has not been changed).
2. Go to router web interface (usually at the address 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1) and look at the password in the settings Wireless → Security.
3. Reset the router to factory settings (button Reset on the back panel) - all devices will be disconnected from the network, and you will have to set up the connection again.

⚠️ Attention: Resetting your router will delete all your personal settings, including Wi-Fi password, port forwarding And parental control settingsUse this method only as a last resort!

If the router is rented from a provider (for example, Rostelecom or Beeline), the password can be specified in the contract or personal account. It is usually generated automatically and looks like this: XXXX-XXXX-XXXX.

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FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About Wi-Fi Passwords in Windows 10

netsh wlan delete profile name="*"