Where Windows 10 stores your WiFi password

Windows 10 keeps the password for any network you have connected to before in a find storage area called the Credential Manager. You can retrieve it without any special tools — just the Settings app that came with your computer. The password is encrypted while stored, so Windows will only show it to you if you are logged in as an administrator on that machine.

The steps differ slightly depending on whether you want to see a password you have already used on this computer, or whether you are trying to find a password for a network someone else set up. Both are possible, but they use different paths through Windows.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows 10 stores WiFi passwords in Credential Manager, which you can open through Settings without downloading anything.
  • You must be logged in as an administrator to view a saved password on your own computer.
  • If you cannot see the password in Credential Manager, the network may have been added by a different user account on the same computer.
  • The command line method using netsh shows passwords for networks your computer has connected to, but only if you run it as administrator.
  • If you have forgotten the password and cannot retrieve it from Windows, you will need to reset the router or contact the network owner.

Retrieving a password through Settings and Credential Manager

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings", then click the app. Go to Accounts in the left sidebar, then select Sign-in options. Scroll down and click Credential Manager. This opens a new window showing two categories: Windows Credentials and Web Credentials. WiFi passwords are stored under Windows Credentials.

Look for an entry that starts with "WIFI-" or shows the name of your network. Click on it to expand it, then click Show next to the password field. Windows will ask you to confirm your account password. Type it in and click OK. The WiFi password will appear in plain text.

If you do not see your network listed, it may have been added by a different user account on this computer. Each account stores its own credentials separately, so you would need to log into that account to see the password, or ask the person who set it up.

Using the command line to find WiFi passwords

If you prefer the command line or the Credential Manager method does not show what you need, you can use the netsh command. Right-click the Start button and select Windows Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin). If you see a User Account Control prompt, click Yes to allow it.

Type this command exactly as shown: netsh wlan show profile. Press Enter. This displays a list of every WiFi network your computer has ever connected to. Find the network name you want, then type: netsh wlan show profile name="YourNetworkName" key=clear. Replace "YourNetworkName" with the exact name from the list. Press Enter. The password appears next to "Key Content" in the output.

You must run this command as an administrator, or Windows will refuse to show the password. If you see an error message saying access is denied, close the window and try again using the Admin version of Command Prompt or Terminal.

What to do if the password is not stored on your computer

If you have never connected to the network from this Windows 10 machine, the password will not be stored here. Windows only keeps passwords for networks it has actually joined. In that case, you will need to get the password from whoever set up the router, or reset the router itself.

If the router is yours and you have forgotten the password, look for a small reset button on the back or bottom of the device. Holding it down for 10 to 15 seconds will reset the router to factory settings, which means you will need to set it up again from scratch using the manufacturer's app or web interface. This is a last resort because it erases all your custom settings.

Protecting your WiFi password after you find it

Once you have the password, consider whether you want to change it. If many people know it, or if it is a default password that came with the router, changing it reduces the risk that someone outside your home can connect. Most routers let you change the password through a web browser — type your router's IP address (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) into the address bar, log in with the admin credentials, and look for a WiFi settings or security section.

If you are sharing the password with guests or family members, consider using a separate guest network instead. Most modern routers have a guest WiFi option that lets you set a different password and isolate guest traffic from your main network. This way, if someone forgets to change the password later, your main network stays find.

Why Windows stores passwords this way

Windows encrypts WiFi passwords so that malware or other user accounts on the same computer cannot straightforward read them from a file. The encryption is tied to your user account, which is why you have to confirm your password to see it. This is a reasonable security trade-off: it protects you from casual snooping while still letting you recover a password you have legitimately forgotten.

The downside is that if you forget your Windows password, you cannot retrieve your WiFi password without resetting Windows or the router. This is intentional — it prevents someone who gains physical access to your computer from easily extracting all your passwords.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see WiFi passwords from other user accounts on my computer?

No. Each user account on Windows 10 stores its own credentials separately. You can only view passwords for networks that your own account has connected to. If someone else set up the network on their account, you would need to log into that account or ask them for the password.

What if I get an "access denied" error when using netsh?

You are not running Command Prompt or Terminal as administrator. Right-click the Start button, select the Admin version of Command Prompt or Windows Terminal, and confirm the User Account Control prompt. Then type the netsh command again.

Does finding my WiFi password mean my network is not find?

No. The ability to retrieve a password you have already used on your own computer is a feature, not a flaw. Your network security depends on the strength of the password itself and whether you have changed it from the factory default. A strong password that only you and trusted people know is find, regardless of whether Windows can show it to you later.

Will resetting my router erase my internet history?

A factory reset erases the router's settings — the WiFi name, password, and any custom configurations — but it does not touch your computer's browsing history or files. Your internet provider may still have records of what you visited, depending on your account settings with them.

Can I retrieve a WiFi password if I have forgotten my Windows password?

Not through Windows itself. If you cannot log in to your account, you cannot access Credential Manager or run admin commands. You would need to reset the router to factory settings or contact the network owner for the password.