Where Your Computer Keeps WiFi Passwords

Your computer stores the password for every WiFi network you have ever connected to. Windows keeps this information in a protected system file, and macOS stores it in the Keychain — a built-in password vault. You can retrieve the password from either system without resetting the network or contacting your router manufacturer, as long as you have administrator access to the computer.

The password is encrypted on disk, but your operating system will show it to you in plain text once you prove you own the account. This takes two to five minutes depending on which system you use.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows stores WiFi passwords in a system file you can access through Command Prompt with administrator rights, and the password appears in plain text in the results.
  • macOS stores WiFi passwords in Keychain, and you can view them by opening System Settings, finding the network name, and entering your Mac password when prompted.
  • You must have administrator access to the computer to retrieve any stored password — standard user accounts cannot view this information.
  • If you cannot remember your administrator password, you cannot retrieve the WiFi password this way; resetting the network on your router is the alternative.

Finding a WiFi Password on Windows

Open Command Prompt as an administrator. Click the Windows Start button, type cmd, right-click the Command Prompt result, and select Run as administrator. Windows will ask for permission — click Yes.

Type this command exactly and press Enter:

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

Replace NetworkName with the exact name of the WiFi network. If the network name has spaces or special characters, keep the quotation marks. For example, if your network is called "Smith Family WiFi", the command is:

netsh wlan show profile name="Smith Family WiFi" key=clear

Press Enter. Windows will display a block of information about that network. Scroll down until you see Key Content — the password appears right after it. Copy the password exactly as shown, including any capital letters, numbers, or symbols.

If you do not know the exact network name, type this command first to see all networks your computer has connected to:

netsh wlan show profiles

This shows a list of every network name. Find the one you need, then use the command above with that exact name.

Finding a WiFi Password on macOS

Open System Settings and click WiFi in the left sidebar. Find the network name in the list, click the information icon (a small circle with an i) next to it, and select Details.

Click the Security tab. You will see a field labeled Password, but the text is hidden. Check the box next to Show password. macOS will prompt you to enter your Mac administrator password — type it and press Enter. The WiFi password now appears in plain text in the Password field. Copy it exactly.

If you do not see the network in your current list, it may be a network you connected to in the past but are not currently joined to. Open Keychain Access instead: press Command + Space, type keychain access, and press Enter. Search for the network name in the search box. Double-click the network name, check Show password, enter your Mac password, and the password appears.

What to Do If You Forgot Your Administrator Password

If you cannot remember the administrator password for your Windows or Mac account, you cannot retrieve the WiFi password through these methods. Your operating system will not show you the password without proving you own the account.

Your options are to reset your administrator password (which requires access to a recovery account or recovery media) or to reset the WiFi network itself. Resetting the network means pressing and holding the reset button on your router for 10 to 15 seconds until the lights blink, which erases all settings and returns the router to factory defaults — you will then need to set up the network from scratch using the router's manual or the manufacturer's app.

Retrieving a Password from a Network You No Longer Use

If you connected to a WiFi network months or years ago and no longer use it, your computer still has the password stored. On Windows, use the Command Prompt method above with the exact network name — it works whether the network is currently in range or not. On macOS, use Keychain Access to search for the network name, even if you are not connected to it now.

This is useful if you are moving back to an old apartment, visiting a place you have been before, or helping someone else connect to a network they set up years ago. The password does not expire or change unless someone manually changes it on the router.

Why Your Computer Stores Passwords This Way

Your computer remembers WiFi passwords so you do not have to type them every time you reconnect to the same network. The password is encrypted while stored on disk, meaning it is scrambled and unreadable to anyone who steals your hard drive. But your operating system decrypts it when you ask for it, because you have already proven you own the account by logging in.

This is also why only administrator accounts can view stored passwords — standard user accounts do not have permission to access system-level information. If multiple people use the same computer, only those with administrator access can see the WiFi password.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see a WiFi password if I am using a guest account?

No. Guest accounts and standard user accounts do not have permission to view stored passwords. You must log in with an administrator account. If you are the only person who uses the computer, your account is almost certainly an administrator account already.

What if the network name has special characters or quotation marks in it?

On Windows, keep the quotation marks around the network name in the Command Prompt command. If the network name itself contains quotation marks, escape them by typing a backslash before each one. For example, if the network is called Smith's WiFi, use: netsh wlan show profile name="Smith's WiFi" key=clear

Does retrieving the password this way alert the network owner?

No. Viewing a password stored on your own computer does not send any signal to the router or the network owner. You are only reading information that is already on your device.

Can I retrieve a password from a network I was never connected to?

No. Your computer can only show you passwords for networks it has actually joined before. If you have never connected to a network, the password is not stored anywhere on your device. You would need to contact the network owner or reset the router.