The fastest way: use Settings on Windows 10 or 11

Open Settings (press Windows key + I), then go to Network & internet on the left sidebar. Click WiFi, then scroll down and select Manage known networks. Find the network name you want, click it, then click Forget. This does not delete your password — it just removes the network from your saved list temporarily.

Now reconnect to that same network. Windows will prompt you to enter the password again. When you type it in, check the box that says Show password before you click Next. You will see the actual characters instead of dots. Write it down or take a screenshot before you finish connecting.

This method works on Windows 10 and Windows 11. It is slower than the command-line method below, but it does not require you to open a terminal or remember syntax.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows stores your WiFi password in encrypted form, and you can view it through Settings by temporarily forgetting the network and reconnecting with the password visible.
  • The Command Prompt method (running netsh wlan show profile name="YourNetworkName" key=clear) displays the password when ready without reconnecting.
  • You must be logged in as an administrator on your computer to see saved passwords for any network.
  • If you cannot remember your network name, run netsh wlan show profiles to list all networks your computer has ever connected to.
  • These methods only show passwords for networks your computer has already connected to and saved — they cannot recover a password you never saved.

Using Command Prompt to see the password when ready

Press Windows key + R, type cmd, and press Enter. This opens Command Prompt. Type the following exactly as written, replacing "YourNetworkName" with the actual name of your WiFi network:

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

Press Enter. Scroll down in the Command Prompt window until you see a line that says Key Content. The password appears right after it. Copy it or write it down.

If you do not know the exact name of your network, type this command first:

netsh wlan show profiles

This lists every WiFi network your computer has ever connected to. Find the one you want, then use its exact name (including capital letters and spaces) in the first command above.

Why Windows hides your password

Windows encrypts saved WiFi passwords so that other people who use your computer cannot easily see them. This is a security feature — if someone sits down at your machine, they cannot just open Settings and read off all your passwords.

However, anyone with administrator access to your computer can still view them using the methods above. This is by design: the person who owns or manages the computer should be able to see what networks it remembers. If you share your computer with others and want to keep your WiFi password private, you should not save it on that machine.

What to do if you see "Access Denied"

This error means you are not logged in as an administrator. Ask whoever manages your computer to run the command for you, or ask them to give you temporary administrator rights.

If this is your personal computer and you are the only user, you may still need to run Command Prompt as administrator. Right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator, then enter your password if prompted. Then run the netsh command again.

Recovering a password you never saved to Windows

If your computer has never connected to this network, Windows has no record of the password. These methods will not help. You will need to reset the password through your router's admin panel or contact your internet provider.

To access your router, open a web browser and type 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 into the address bar. Log in with your router's admin username and password (often printed on the router itself or in the manual). Look for a section called Wireless, WiFi, or Security to view or change the password.

Viewing passwords for networks you are not currently connected to

Windows only stores passwords for networks your computer has actually connected to before. If you want to see the password for a network you connected to months ago but are not using now, the methods above still work — you do not need to be connected to that network to view its saved password.

Just use the network name exactly as it appears in your saved networks list. If you are not sure of the exact spelling or capitalization, run netsh wlan show profiles first to see the full list.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see passwords for networks I have never connected to?

No. Windows only stores passwords for networks your computer has connected to and saved. If you need the password for a network you have never used, you will need to contact the network owner or reset it through the router.

Will viewing my password change it or log me out?

No. Looking at your saved password does not change it or affect your connection. You can view it as many times as you want without any impact.

What if the password shows as blank or empty?

Some networks, usually public WiFi, do not use passwords. If the Key Content line is empty, the network is open and does not require authentication. This is common in coffee shops, libraries, and airports.

Can I see passwords saved on someone else's Windows computer?

Only if you have administrator access to that computer. If you do, you can see all saved passwords using the methods above. This is why you should not share administrator access with people you do not trust.

Does this work on Windows 7 or older versions?

The Settings method does not exist on Windows 7. However, the Command Prompt method works the same way: open cmd, run the netsh command, and look for Key Content. Windows 7 is no longer supported by Microsoft, so consider updating if possible.