Windows 10 stores your WiFi password, and you can view it in three ways

If you have connected to a WiFi network on your Windows 10 computer, the password is saved in your system. You can retrieve it without calling your internet provider or resetting your router. The fastest method takes about 30 seconds and uses the Settings app. The other two routes — through the Command Prompt or Network and Sharing Center — work if Settings does not show the password for some reason.

All three methods require you to be logged into the Windows account that originally connected to that network. If someone else set up the WiFi connection on this computer, you will need to ask them or use a different method.

Key Takeaways

  • The Settings app (Settings > Network & Internet > WiFi > Manage Known Networks) is the quickest way to view a saved WiFi password on Windows 10.
  • You must be logged into the same Windows user account that originally connected to the network, or the password field will not appear.
  • If Settings does not show the password, the Command Prompt method (running netsh wlan show profile name="YourNetworkName" key=clear) will retrieve it from your system files.
  • The Network and Sharing Center method works on older Windows 10 builds and is useful if you prefer a graphical interface over Command Prompt.
  • If none of these methods work, your network may be set to hide passwords from user accounts, or you may not have permission to view it.

Finding your password through Settings (fastest method)

Open the Settings app by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings," then pressing Enter. Click Network & Internet in the left sidebar. On the right side, scroll down and click Manage Known Networks. You will see a list of every WiFi network your computer has connected to.

Find the network name you need and click it. A window will open showing network details. Look for the line that says Password. If you see a blank field or no password line at all, it means either you are not logged into the account that connected to this network, or Windows is not storing the password for some reason. If the password field appears, click Show next to it to reveal the actual characters.

Using Command Prompt to retrieve the password

This method reads the password directly from your Windows system files. Right-click the Start button and select Windows PowerShell (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin). If you see a User Account Control prompt asking for permission, click Yes.

Type this command exactly as written, replacing "YourNetworkName" with the actual name of your WiFi network:

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

Press Enter. The system will display detailed information about that network. Look for the line labeled Key Content under the Security Settings section — that is your WiFi password. If you see "Key Content : " with nothing after it, the network does not have a password, or your account does not have permission to view it.

Finding the password through Network and Sharing Center

Right-click the WiFi icon in your system tray (bottom right corner of the screen) and select Open Network & Internet settings. Click Change adapter options on the left side. You will see a list of network connections. Right-click the WiFi network you are currently connected to and select Status.

In the window that opens, click Wireless Properties. Go to the Security tab at the top. You will see your network name and security type. Check the box that says Show characters to reveal your password in the Network security key field.

What to do if the password does not appear

If none of these methods show a password, the most common reason is that you are logged into a different Windows user account than the one that originally connected to the network. Each Windows account stores its own set of saved passwords. Ask whoever set up the connection to log in and retrieve it, or have them change the WiFi password from the router itself.

A second possibility is that your network administrator has blocked password viewing on this computer. This is common in workplaces and schools. If you are on a work or school network, contact your IT department — they may be able to reset your connection or provide the password through a find channel.

If you own the router and cannot remember the password through any method, you can reset the router to factory settings. This erases all your custom settings and WiFi name, so it should be a last resort. The reset button is usually on the back of the router and requires holding it for 10 to 15 seconds.

Why Windows stores your WiFi password

When you connect to a WiFi network and choose to save the password, Windows encrypts it and stores it in your user profile. This is why you can reconnect to that network automatically without typing the password again. The encryption protects the password from other user accounts on the same computer, but anyone logged into your account can view it using the methods above.

If you share your computer with others and do not want them to see your WiFi password, you have two options: create a separate Windows user account for them (so they cannot access your saved passwords), or do not save the password when you connect. If you do not save it, you will need to type it manually each time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see the WiFi password if I am not the one who connected to it?

Only if you are logged into the same Windows user account that made the original connection. If someone else set it up under their account, you cannot view it from your account. You would need to ask them to log in and retrieve it, or reset the router.

What if I see the network in my list but it says "Not connected"?

You can still view the password using the Command Prompt method or by clicking the network in Manage Known Networks. You do not need to be actively connected to the network to view its saved password — you only need to have connected to it at some point in the past while logged into your current account.

Does viewing my saved password put my network at risk?

No. Viewing your own password does not change anything about your network security. The password itself is not compromised by looking at it. However, if someone else gains access to your Windows account, they can view all your saved passwords, so keeping your Windows password strong is important.

Can I change my WiFi password from Windows?

No. Windows can only show you the password you already have. To change it, you need to log into your router's admin panel, usually by typing your router's IP address (often 192.168.1.1) into a web browser. Check your router's manual or the sticker on the back for the admin login details.

Why does the Command Prompt show "Interface not found" when I type the command?

This usually means you typed the network name incorrectly, or the network name contains special characters that need to be handled differently. Make sure the name in quotes matches exactly what appears in your WiFi list, including spaces and capitalization.