View a Saved WiFi Password Through Network Settings

Windows 10 stores the password for any network you have connected to before. To see it, open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "settings", then select the Settings app. Go to Network & Internet, then WiFi on the left side.

Click Manage known networks and find the network name (SSID) you want the password for. Click it, then select Forget — this does not delete anything yet. when ready click the same network name again from the list, and Windows will prompt you to enter the password. The password you enter here is the one you need. Write it down before closing this window, because clicking away will lose it.

If you do not see Manage known networks, your version of Windows 10 may be older. Use the Command Prompt method instead, described below.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows 10 remembers every WiFi password you have ever entered on that computer, and you can view it through Settings or Command Prompt without resetting the network.
  • The Settings method works on newer versions of Windows 10 and shows the password when you try to reconnect to a forgotten network.
  • The Command Prompt method works on all versions of Windows 10 and displays the password in plain text without forgetting the network.
  • You need administrator rights on the computer to view saved passwords through either method.
  • If you cannot remember which network is yours, look for the one with the strongest signal in your WiFi list, or check your router's label.

Retrieve the Password Using Command Prompt

This method works on all versions of Windows 10 and does not require you to forget the network. Right-click the Start button and select Windows PowerShell (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin). If a security prompt appears, click Yes.

Type this command exactly and press Enter: netsh wlan show profile name="YourNetworkName" key=clear. Replace "YourNetworkName" with the actual name of your WiFi network — for example, if your network is called "Linksys", type netsh wlan show profile name="Linksys" key=clear.

Look through the results for a line that says Key Content. The password appears directly after that label. If you see "Security key is not shown" instead, the network was set up on a different user account on this computer, and you cannot view its password from your account.

Find Your Network Name If You Are Not Sure Which One Is Yours

If you do not know the name of your own network, click the WiFi icon in the bottom right corner of your taskbar. A list of all nearby networks appears. Your network is the one you are currently connected to — it will have a checkmark next to it and may say "Connected" underneath.

Write down the exact name, including capital letters and spaces, because the Command Prompt method requires it to be spelled correctly. If the name contains special characters or quotation marks, you may need to add a backslash before each quotation mark in the command.

What to Do If the Password Does Not Appear

If you run the Command Prompt and see "Interface not found" or "No profiles found", you may have typed the network name incorrectly. Copy the exact name from your WiFi list and try again, paying attention to capital letters and spaces.

If the command runs but shows no password line at all, the network may not have a password, or it may be a guest network that does not store passwords. Try connecting to the network again and see if it asks for a password. If it does not, the network is open.

If you see "Access denied", you are not running Command Prompt as an administrator. Close it and right-click the Command Prompt or PowerShell icon again, then select Run as administrator.

Reset Your Password If You Want to Change It

Viewing the password through Windows does not change it. If you want to set a new password, you need to access your router's settings, not Windows. Most routers have a sticker on the back with an IP address (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) and a default username and password.

Open a web browser, type that IP address into the address bar, and log in with the credentials from the sticker. Look for a section called WiFi Settings, Wireless, or Security. From there you can change the password. After you save the new password on the router, you will need to forget the old network on Windows and reconnect using the new password.

Retrieve a Password from a Different User Account

If someone else set up the WiFi on this computer and you need the password, you have two options. If you know their password, log into their account, open Command Prompt as administrator, and run the command above. The password will appear for you.

If you do not have access to their account, you cannot view the password through Windows. Your only option is to reset the router to factory settings (usually a small button you hold for 10 seconds) and set up a new network with a new password. This will disconnect everyone from WiFi temporarily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see the password if I am not logged in as an administrator?

No. Windows requires administrator rights to display saved passwords. If you are not an administrator on this computer, ask someone who is to run the Command Prompt command for you, or contact your IT department if this is a work computer.

Will viewing the password change it or disconnect me from WiFi?

No. Using Command Prompt to view the password does not change anything. Using Settings to view the password requires you to forget the network first, which will disconnect you temporarily, but reconnecting with the password you just saw will restore your connection when ready.

What if I typed the network name wrong in the Command Prompt?

The command will return an error saying "Interface not found" or "No profiles found". Copy the exact network name from your WiFi list — including all capital letters, spaces, and special characters — and try again. Network names are case-sensitive in this command.

Can I see passwords for networks I am not currently connected to?

Yes. Windows stores passwords for every network you have ever connected to on that computer, even if you are not connected now. The Command Prompt method works for any saved network, whether you are connected to it or not.

What should I do if the password appears but does not work when I try to reconnect?

The password Windows shows is correct for that network. If it does not work, the network password may have been changed on the router since you last connected. Check with whoever manages the router, or try resetting the router and setting up a new password.