How to find your home Wi-Fi password on your computer: all the methods

Forgot your home Wi-Fi password and there's no sticker with the code on your router? Don't rush to reset the router or call your ISP. In 90% of cases, the password can be found directly on your computer—if it's ever connected to the network. Windows stores all saved passwords in encrypted form, making them easy to retrieve without special software.

In this article you will find 7 working methodsHow to find out a Wi-Fi password on a PC: using standard tools Windows 10/11 to little-known command line tricks. We'll also discuss what to do if your computer has never been connected to the network, but you can access the router. All methods have been tested on current OS versions and don't require administrator rights (with one exception).

Important: If you use macOS or LinuxSome methods won't work—there's a separate section for these systems at the end of the article. And if your Wi-Fi is configured via WPS (button on the router), a password may not be needed at all.

1. The fastest way: via Windows Settings

This method works on Windows 10/11 and takes less than a minute. This is suitable if your PC is currently connected to a Wi-Fi network whose password you've forgotten.

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. Select your Wi-Fi network and click Properties.

5. Scroll down to the block Network password and press the button Show near the point.

Done! The password will be displayed in the text field. If the button Show is inactive, which means your account does not have administrator rights - try the following method.

2. Command Prompt: A Universal Method for All Windows Versions

Command line (CMD) allows you to find out the Wi-Fi password even without administrator rights, if the computer has previously connected to the network. This method works on Windows 7/8/10/11.

Open command prompt:

• 🔍 Click Win + R, enter cmd and press Enter.
• 📋 Or search for "Command Prompt" using the search in the menu Start.

Enter the command to view all saved networks:

netsh wlan show profiles

Find the name of your network in the list (for example, TP-Link_1234) and enter:

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

Find the line in the results Key content — this is your password. If the command returns an error, check that the network name is correct (case is important!).

What if the network name contains spaces?

If your Wi-Fi name contains spaces, enclose it in quotation marks: name="My Network".

⚠️ Note: On some corporate laptops, access to the team netsh may be blocked by security policies. In this case, try the method with PowerShell (section 4).

3. Via the Network and Sharing Center (for Windows 7/8/10)

This method is suitable for older versions of Windows and doesn't require the command line. The interface may differ slightly depending on the OS version, but the principle remains the same.

1. Right-click on the Wi-Fi icon in the tray (bottom right) and select Open Network & Internet Settings.

2. Follow the link Network and Sharing Center.

3. Click on your network name next to Connections.

4. In the window that opens, click Wireless network properties → tab Security.

5. Check the box Show entered characters — the password will become visible.

If tabs Security No, that means the network is configured through WPS Or enterprise authentication is used (for example, in offices). In this case, the password is stored not on the PC, but on the provider's server.

4. PowerShell: An Alternative to the Command Prompt

PowerShell — a more powerful tool than CMD, and also allows you to extract the Wi-Fi password. This method is useful if standard methods fail.

Open PowerShell as administrator:

• 🔍 Click Win + X and select Windows PowerShell (Administrator).
• 🛡️ If it asks for permission, click Yes.

Enter the command (replace WiFi_Name to the name of your network):

(Get-NetAdapter -Name "Wi-Fi" | Get-NetConnectionProfile).Name; (Get-Credential -UserName "WiFi_Name" -Message "Password").GetNetworkCredential().Password

Or a simpler option to view all saved passwords:

(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

This command will output a table with all networks and their passwords. If PowerShell gives an error, make sure you run it as administrator.

I ran PowerShell as an administrator. I entered the network name correctly (case-sensitive). I connected to this network before. I disabled the VPN (it may block commands).

5. How to find out the password if the PC is not connected to Wi-Fi

If your computer has never connected to the network, but you have physical access to the router, you have three options:

• 📋 View password on router sticker (usually on the back). Look for the fields Wi-Fi Password, Key or PIN.
• 🔧 Log in router web interface via Ethernet cable. Usually the address 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1, login/password — admin/admin.
• 🔄 Reset the router to factory settings using the button Reset (hold for 10 seconds). Attention: after this, all settings, including the provider password, will be reset!

If there is no sticker and you don't know the login details for your router, try the standard combinations for your model:

⚠️ Note: On new routers (especially from ISPs), the login and password may be unique and listed on a sticker or in the contract. If the default information doesn't work, please contact technical support.

6. Special programs for extracting passwords

If system methods don't work, you can use third-party utilities. They're handy for saving passwords for all networks to a file or transferring them to another PC.

Top 3 proven programs:

• 🔓 WirelessKeyView (from NirSoft) — displays all saved Wi-Fi passwords in one window. No installation required.
• 📡 WiFi Password Revealer - simple interface, export passwords to .txt.
• 🛠️ Magical Jelly Bean WiFi Password Revealer - supports Windows 11 and shows the signal strength.

How to use (using example) WirelessKeyView):

1. Download the program from official website (for free).
2. Unzip and run WirelessKeyView.exe (no installation required).
3. Find your network in the list - the password will be in the column Key (Ascii).

Warning: Some antivirus programs may block such programs because they access system data. If you don't trust third-party software, use the methods in sections 1–4.

7. macOS and Linux: How to find out the Wi-Fi password

If you have MacBook or PC with Linux, the process is slightly different. Here are brief instructions for these systems.

For macOS (Monterey, Ventura, Sonoma):

1. Open Programs → Utilities → Keychain.
2. Enter the name of your Wi-Fi network in the search.
3. Double-click on the found entry and check the box. Show password.
4. Enter your account password Macto see the Wi-Fi code.

For Linux (Ubuntu, Debian, Mint):

Open Terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and enter:

sudo grep psk= /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/*

Or for newer versions:

nmcli -s -g 802-11-wireless-security.psk device wifi show-password

If the commands didn't work, try:

cat /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/* | grep psk=

⚠️ Attention: In Linux Passwords are stored in cleartext in configuration files, so anyone with access to the system can read them. If this is critical to security, configure encryption for your home folder.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About Wi-Fi Passwords

Is it possible to find out the password for a Wi-Fi network I've never connected to?

No, unless you have access to the router or device that connected to this network. Your only options are:

• Look at the password on the router sticker.
• Request it from the network owner.
• Reset your router to factory settings (if this is your router).

Programs for hacking Wi-Fi (like Aircrack-ng) are illegal and ineffective against modern encryption standards (WPA3).

Why is there no "Show password" button in Windows Settings?

This happens in three cases:

1. Your account does not have administrator rights.
2. The network uses enterprise authentication (for example, in offices or universities).
3. The password was entered through WPS (button on the router) and is not saved in the system.

Solution: Try the command line method (netsh) or check your router settings.

How do I change my Wi-Fi password after I know it?

To change the password, you need to go to the router's web interface:

1. Open your browser and enter the router's IP address (usually 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1).
2. Log in (see login/password on the sticker or in section 5).
3. Find the section Wireless (or Wi-Fi) → Security (or Security).
4. In the field Password (Password) enter a new code (at least 8 characters, with numbers and letters).
5. Save the settings and reconnect all devices.

Recommended password format: Example: HomeWiFi_2026!Qw (a mixture of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols).

Is it possible to recover a Wi-Fi password after resetting a router?

After resetting the router (Reset) all settings, including the Wi-Fi password, are reset to factory defaults. The new password will be:

• It is indicated on the router sticker (field Wi-Fi Key or Password).
• Generated automatically (for example, at Keenetic This is a random set of characters).

If there is no sticker, you will have to configure the router again through the web interface, using the data from the provider (they are in the contract).

Why doesn't the router accept the password from the sticker?

Possible reasons:

• The password was entered with an error (check the case, symbols 0 And O, 1 And l).
• The router has already been configured and the password has been changed (the sticker shows the factory code).
• The device is operating in the mode WPS — try connecting via the button on the router.
• Network hidden (SSID hidden) - enter the network name manually.

Solution: Reset the router using the button Reset and use the data from the sticker.