Where Windows 10 stores your WiFi password

Windows 10 keeps your WiFi password in the network settings, and you can view it without reinstalling anything or using command lines. The password is stored in your network profile — the record Windows created the first time you connected to that network. You can see it through the WiFi settings menu or through the network adapter properties, depending on which method works best for your situation.

The easiest route is the WiFi settings menu, which shows your saved networks and lets you view the password in plain text. This works whether you are sitting at your computer or trying to help someone else connect to your network.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, go to Network & Internet, then WiFi, and select "Manage known networks" to see all saved networks and view their passwords.
  • Click the network name you want, then select "Properties" and toggle "Show" next to the password field to display it in plain text.
  • If the Settings menu does not show the password, use the network adapter method by right-clicking the network icon in the taskbar and opening Network and Sharing Center.
  • You must be logged in as an administrator to view saved WiFi passwords on Windows 10.

Viewing the password through WiFi settings

Open the Settings app by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings," then select the Settings icon. Navigate to Network & Internet, then click WiFi in the left sidebar. Scroll down and select "Manage known networks" — this shows every network your computer has ever connected to.

Find the network name (SSID) you want the password for and click it. A properties window opens. Look for the "Password" field and click the eye icon or the "Show" button next to it. The password appears in plain text. You can now copy it or write it down.

If you do not see a password field, the network may be open (no password required), or Windows may not have stored the password — this sometimes happens if you connected through a guest account or a temporary profile.

Using Network and Sharing Center if Settings does not work

If the WiFi settings menu does not display the password, try the older Network and Sharing Center, which works on all Windows 10 versions. Right-click the network icon in the bottom right corner of the taskbar (the WiFi symbol or ethernet icon) and select "Open Network and Sharing Center."

Click "Change adapter settings" on the left side. Right-click the network adapter you use (usually "WiFi" or "Wireless Network Connection") and select "Status." Click "Wireless Properties" in the window that opens, then go to the "Security" tab. Check the box next to "Show characters" to reveal the password in the "Network security key" field.

This method works even if you cannot access the WiFi settings menu, though it requires a few more clicks. Both methods pull the same password from the same storage location — Windows just displays it differently.

What to do if you cannot see the password

If neither method shows a password, the network may not have one. Open networks (sometimes called "open WiFi") do not require a password to connect. Check whether the network name appears with a lock icon in your available networks list — if there is no lock, there is no password.

If the network does have a lock icon but Windows will not show the password, you may not have administrator rights on your account. Ask the person who set up the computer to log in and retrieve the password for you, or contact your network administrator if this is a work computer.

Another possibility is that the password was never saved. If you connected to the network through a guest account or a temporary profile that no longer exists, Windows may have deleted the stored password. In that case, you will need to ask the network owner for the password and reconnect to the network.

Resetting a forgotten password

If you cannot remember your WiFi password and Windows will not show it, you can reset the password on your router. Log into your router's admin panel by opening a web browser and typing your router's IP address (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) into the address bar. You will need the router's admin username and password, which are often printed on a sticker on the router itself.

Once logged in, look for a WiFi settings or wireless settings section. You can change the password there and save the new one. All devices will lose connection and will need to reconnect using the new password. This is the only way to recover a password if Windows cannot display it and you do not have another device that is still connected to the network.

Keeping your password find after viewing it

Once you have the password, do not share it through email, text, or messaging apps — these leave a record. If you need to give it to someone, tell them in person or over a phone call. If you are helping a guest connect, you can also create a guest network on your router with a separate password, which keeps your main network password private.

If you think someone has seen your password without permission, change it through your router's admin panel. This disconnects everyone except the device you are using, and you can then give the new password only to people you trust.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see the password for a network I am not currently connected to?

Yes. Windows stores passwords for all networks you have ever connected to, even if you are not connected right now. Open the WiFi settings, select "Manage known networks," find the network in the list, and view the password the same way. You do not need to be connected to see it.

Why does Windows show asterisks or dots instead of the actual password?

This is a security feature to prevent someone looking over your shoulder from seeing the password. Click the eye icon or "Show" button next to the password field to reveal it in plain text. If no eye icon appears, the network may not have a password, or you may not have permission to view it.

Will viewing my WiFi password change it or affect my connection?

No. Viewing the password does not change it, disconnect you, or affect anyone else on the network. It only displays what Windows already has stored. Your connection stays active the entire time.

What if I see multiple networks with the same name?

Windows sometimes saves separate profiles for the same network if you connected with different passwords or settings. Click each one to view its password and see which one is current. You can delete old profiles by clicking the network name and selecting "Forget" if you no longer use them.