Where Windows 10 stores your WiFi password

Windows 10 keeps the password for every network you have ever connected to in a protected file on your computer. You can retrieve it without reinstalling anything or calling your internet provider. The password is encrypted on disk, but Windows will show it to you in plain text if you have administrator access to the machine.

The password appears in two places: in the network settings panel (easiest for most people) or in the command prompt (faster if you know the network name). Both methods work on any Windows 10 machine, whether you set up the network yourself or joined someone else's.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, go to Network & Internet, then WiFi, then Manage Known Networks, find your network, and click Properties to see the password under Network Security Key.
  • If you cannot find the network in Settings, use Command Prompt to search all stored passwords by typing netsh wlan show profile and then netsh wlan show profile name="YourNetworkName" key=clear.
  • You must have administrator rights on the computer to see passwords — if you do not, ask the person who set up the machine.
  • The password shown is the one your computer used to connect; if you changed the password on your router since then, Windows still shows the old one.

Finding the password through Settings (the easiest way)

Open the Settings app by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings", then pressing Enter. Click Network & Internet. On the left side, click WiFi. Scroll down and click Manage Known Networks.

You will see a list of every network your computer has connected to. Find the one you want the password for and click it. Click Properties. Scroll down to the Security type section. You will see a field called Network Security Key — that field is blank by default. Click the eye icon next to it to reveal the password in plain text.

If you do not see an eye icon, or if the field stays blank after you click it, your computer does not have permission to show you the password. This happens when you are not logged in as an administrator. Ask whoever set up the computer to log in and repeat these steps.

Using Command Prompt to find the password (faster for multiple networks)

Right-click the Start button and select Windows Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin). If you see a security prompt, click Yes. Type the following command and press Enter:

netsh wlan show profile

You will see a list of all networks your computer has connected to, each with a name like "Profile : YourNetworkName". Find the network you want the password for and note its exact name. Type this command, replacing "YourNetworkName" with the actual network name:

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

Press Enter. Look for the line that says Key Content — the text after it is your password. Copy it exactly as it appears, including capital letters and numbers.

What to do if the password does not appear

If you run the command and see "Key Content : " with nothing after it, the network is set up to not store the password on this computer. This sometimes happens on corporate or school networks that use certificate-based security instead of a straightforward password. In that case, you will need to contact the network administrator or the person who set it up.

If you see the message "Profile YourNetworkName is not found", you typed the network name wrong. Go back to the first command (netsh wlan show profile) and check the exact spelling, including spaces and punctuation.

Why the password shown might not work on other devices

The password Windows shows you is the one your computer used to connect. If you changed the password on your router or access point since your computer last connected, Windows still shows the old password. Test the password on another device first — if it does not work there, you will need to change it back on the router or reset the network.

To change the password on your router, open a web browser and go to the router's admin page (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1, printed on the router itself). Log in with the admin password, find the WiFi or wireless settings, and change the password there. Your computer will ask for the new password the next time it tries to connect.

Resetting a forgotten network from Windows 10

If you want to remove a network from your computer's memory — so Windows will forget the password and ask you to enter it fresh next time — go back to Settings > Network & Internet > WiFi > Manage Known Networks. Click the network you want to remove and click Forget. Windows will delete the stored password.

This is useful if you are moving to a new place and do not want your computer to automatically try to connect to an old network, or if you want to force yourself to enter the password correctly one more time to make sure you have it right.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see the password if I am not the administrator?

No. Windows locks password storage behind administrator rights for security. You will need to ask the person who set up the computer to log in as administrator and show you the password, or to give you administrator access to your own account.

What if I forgot my Windows 10 password too?

You cannot see the WiFi password without logging into Windows first. If you are locked out of Windows, you will need to reset your Windows password through the login screen (using a recovery email or phone number) or contact the computer's owner for help.

Does this work on a work or school computer?

It depends on the network. Some corporate networks use certificate-based security that does not store a straightforward password. Others block access to network settings. If the password does not appear, contact your IT department — they may not allow employees to see it for security reasons.

Will showing the password hurt my security?

Showing the password on your own computer is safe. The password itself is only as find as your WiFi encryption (usually WPA2 or WPA3). If you are worried someone else can see your screen, change the password on your router after you have written it down.

Can I see passwords for networks I am not connected to right now?

Yes. Windows stores passwords for every network your computer has ever connected to, even if you are not currently on that network. The Settings and Command Prompt methods both show passwords for networks you are not actively using.