How to find the Wi-Fi password on a Windows 11 computer: all the working methods

Forgot your home Wi-Fi password and there's no sticker with the connection information on your router? Or do you need to connect a new gadget but can't be bothered to look for the paper with the access code? Windows 11 There are several ways to extract a saved wireless network password—both through built-in system tools and third-party utilities. The main requirement is that your computer must have been connected to this network at least once.

In this article you will find 5 proven methods, including use Command line, PowerShell, graphical interface Windows and specialized programs. We'll also discuss what to do if your password isn't displayed or the system returns an error. All instructions are relevant for Windows 11 any build, but some steps may differ slightly depending on the OS version.

⚠️ Important: Password recovery is only possible for networks to which the computer has previously connected. If you are trying to hack someone else's network, it is illegal. This article is intended solely for legally restoring access to his own Wi-Fi networks.

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

If you need to quickly find the password for your current or previously connected network, the easiest way is to use the graphical interface Windows 11This method does not require knowledge of commands or installation of additional software.

Open the menu Start and go to Settings → Network and Internet → Wi-Fi. In the section Famous Networks Find the name of your network and click on it. Then select Network information (or View network properties (in some builds). In the window that opens, scroll down to the field Network Password — by default it is hidden by dots. Click the button Show next to the field, and the system will display the password in a readable form.

Find the name of your Wi-Fi network in the list of known networks

Make sure you have administrator rights on your PC.

Connect to the network if the password is not displayed

Check if the "Hide characters" option is disabled in your security settings.

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⚠️ Attention: If the button Show is inactive or the password field is empty, this may mean that:

• 🔹 You are not currently connected to the network (you need to reconnect).
• 🔹 The password is not saved in the system (for example, if the connection was through WPS or guest access).
• 🔹 Your account does not have administrator rights.

2. Using Command Prompt (CMD) to extract the password

If the graphical interface did not show the password or you prefer to work with the console, you can use Command lineThis method is universal and works even in cases where Windows does not display password in settings.

Open Command line as administrator (find it through the search, right-click and select Run as administrator). Enter the following command, replacing NAZVANIE_SETI to the name of your Wi-Fi network:

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

In the execution results, find the section Security Settings - there will be a line Key content, where the password is specified. If the command returned an error Profile not found, this means the computer has never connected to this network or the profile has been deleted.

⚠️ Attention: On some corporate networks, the password may not be displayed due to domain security policy. Also, the command will not work if the connection was configured via radius authentication (for example, in hotels or offices).

3. Extracting the password via PowerShell

PowerShell — a more powerful tool than CMD, and also allows you to obtain a Wi-Fi password. This method is useful if you need to automate the process or extract data for multiple networks.

Open PowerShell as 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=$_.Matches.Groups[1].Value.Trim(); [PSCustomObject]@{PROFILE_NAME=$name;PASSWORD=$pass}} | Format-Table -AutoSize

This command will output a table with all saved networks and their passwords. If you only need the password for one network, simplify the command:

(netsh wlan show profile name="NAVVANIE_SETI" key=clear) -Match "Key Contents"

⚠️ Attention: IN Windows 11 with the Russian interface language the command searches for a string Key contentIf you have an English version of the OS, replace it with Key Content.

The file will appear on the disk. C:-->

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

Another option is through the classic control panel. This is suitable for users accustomed to the interface. Windows 10 or older versions.

Click Win + R, enter ncpa.cpl and press EnterA window will open. Network ConnectionsFind a connection Wi-Fi, right-click on it and select StateIn the new window, click Wireless network properties, then go to the tab "Safety". Check the box. Show entered characters — the password will be displayed in the field Network Security Key.

If the tab "Safety" is missing or the password field is empty, this may mean:

• 🔹 Connection configured via WPS or Enterprise authentication.
• 🔹 The network profile is corrupted (try deleting the network and connecting again).
• 🔹 You don't have permission to view this content (you need an administrator account).

This will create backups of all networks with passwords in a folder on the disk. C:-->

5. Using third-party programs (for advanced users)

If built-in tools Windows If these don't help, you can use specialized utilities. They not only display passwords but also allow you to manage saved networks, export them, or restore deleted profiles.

The most popular programs:

• 🔧 WirelessKeyView (from NirSoft) is a free utility that displays all saved Wi-Fi passwords. It requires no installation and runs on a portable version.
• 🔧 WiFi Password Revealer — a simple program with a graphical interface that displays passwords and allows you to copy them to the clipboard.
• 🔧 Magical Jelly Bean WiFi Password Revealer - in addition to passwords, it shows additional information about the network (encryption type, BSSID and others).

⚠️ Attention: Download programs only from official developer websites. Many "Wi-Fi hackers" online contain malware. Also, some antivirus programs may block utilities like WirelessKeyView, as they could theoretically be used to illegally extract passwords.

Example of working with WirelessKeyView:

1. Download the program from the website NirSoft (direct link: https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/wireless_key.html).
2. Unzip the archive and run the file WirelessKeyView.exe (administrator rights are not required).
3. In the main window you will see a list of all saved networks with speakers. «Network Name» (network name) and «Key (Ascii)» (password).
4. To copy a password, right-click on it and select Copy Key.

6. What should I do if my password is not displayed in any way?

If none of the above methods worked, the reasons may be as follows:

1. The network profile is corrupted. Try deleting the network and reconnecting to it. To do this, Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi find the network, click Forget, then reconnect.
2. Enterprise authentication is used. In corporate networks (for example, with 802.1X) The password is stored on the Radius server, not on the device. In this case, please contact your network administrator.
3. The network is connected via WPSIf the connection was made via a button WPS On the router, the password might not be saved in the system. Try connecting the traditional way (enter the password manually).
4. The password has been reset on the router. If the password was changed directly in the router settings, and not through a computer, the old version in Windows may not be updated. In this case, the only option left is to access the router's web interface (usually at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) and look at the password there.

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