How to Find Wi-Fi Password on Windows 11

Your Windows PC stores the credentials for each Windows computer’s Wi-Fi network. Examples include the current Wi-Fi network and any previous networks used to connect your PC to the Internet. As in earlier versions of Windows, Windows 11 stores the Wi-Fi password on your computer when you connect to a Wi-Fi network, whether at home, at work, or in public.

Therefore, it is difficult to remember all stored networks. You may also want to enter a saved network once without entering the network’s credentials. This is especially convenient if you have lost or forgotten the password to the protected network. Below are some important steps to access the saved passwords on a Windows 11 PC.

5 Ways to Retrieve Saved Windows 11 Wi-Fi Password

Several methods exist to view the saved Wi-Fi password on your Windows 11 PC. This article will present three main methods to discover your forgotten network password. All of these methods are easy to perform. Let’s get started.

Method 1: View Password Directly From the Settings

Microsoft has recently added a user-friendly way to view your Wi-Fi password without using Command Prompt or going through the complex network settings.

If you are using the latest version of Windows 11 Version 22H2 (Build 22621.1 and above), you can directly go to Settings and view the Wi-Fi password from the Settings section. However, for security, this method only shows the password for the active network instead of all your saved passwords. To view all saved methods, follow the other methods listed below.

• Open Wi-Fi settings on your device.
  
• Go to Network and Internet settings and then Wi-Fi.
• Ensure you are connected to that network and click on the right arrow under the network.
  
• Then click the View button next to the Wi-Fi Security Key to view your password.
  

Method 2: View Saved Wi-Fi Password Using Control Panel

One of the most commonly used and easiest methods is to retrieve your current Wi-Fi password from the Control Panel. For this approach to work, you must already be logged into the Wi-Fi account you want to recover. This is also helpful when you’re always logged into your Wi-Fi network and probably forget the password when you want to give it to a guest or a friend.

Here are the steps to follow:

1. 1. Click on the Windows icon and type Control in the search bar.

1. 1. Then, open the Control Panel and click Network and Internet.
   2. After that, open the Network and Sharing Center. Your currently saved Wi-Fi network will now be displayed on the recurring page.
   3. Click on your current Wi-Fi network on the Connections tab.
   4. A new window will open where you can see all the properties of your Wi-Fi network.
   5. Then, click on Wireless Properties. Then, open the Security tab in the Properties window.
   6. You can then see your Wi-Fi password. To read the WiFi password, select Show characters. The password can also be copied to the clipboard and saved for further use.

Method 3: View Saved Wi-Fi Password Using Command Prompt

As mentioned earlier, the Control Panel technique can be helpful if you need to access the Wi-Fi password for the currently connected network. However, if you want to access the password of a previously used Wi-Fi network, you can use the command prompt. Below are the steps you need to take to do this.

1. 1. 1. First, press the Windows key + R simultaneously to open Run.
      2. Then, type cmd to open the Command Prompt window.
      3. To view the names of the saved Wi-Fi network profiles, type netsh wlan show profiles in the command window and press Enter.
      4. You will see a list of all Wi-Fi networks you have accessed via PC. Note the name of the network whose saved password you want to retrieve.
      5. Now type the following command:
         netsh WLAN show profile name=profilename key=clear
      6. In the following command, replace the profile name with the network whose password you want to access.
      7. For example, the last command would look like this to show the Wi-Fi password for the user CC -143A:
         netsh WLAN show profile name=CC-143A key=clear
      8. Press the Enter key. The saved password will appear at the bottom of the Key Content tab. Please write it down so you can use it in the future.
         

Related: How to View Wi-Fi Passwords on iPhone [iOS 16]

Method 4: View Saved Wi-Fi Password Using PowerShell

The prompt method allows you to view only the password for a selected user profile. However, if you want to access the password for all stored networks on your Windows PC, run PowerShell to view the passwords for all user profiles. To do this, perform the following steps.

1. 1. 1. Press Windows + X simultaneously to open the WinX menu. You can also right-click on the Windows icon.
      2. Then, click on Windows Terminal. When a command window opens, click Yes.
      3. Next, type or copy and paste the following command into the PowerShell window:(netsh wlan show profiles) | Select-String "\:(.+)$" | %{$network=$_.Matches.Groups[1].Value.Trim(); $_} | %{(netsh wlan show profile name="$network" key=clear)} | Select-String "Key Content\W+\:(.+)$" | %{$password=$_.Matches.Groups[1].Value.Trim(); $_} | %{[PSCustomObject]@{ NETWORK_NAME=$network;PASSWORD=$password }} | Format-Table -AutoSize
      4. You can then view all the Wi-Fi network profiles saved on your computer. You can then write down the required network profile password you want to use for further use.

Related Read: How to View Saved WiFi Passwords on Android

Method 5: Use third-party apps to find Wi-Fi password

The four methods mentioned above are the recommended ways to view and find WiFi passwords in Windows 11. But if you are trying to help a non-techie like your grandmother over the phone, you can try one of the many third-party applications instead.

These apps don’t require you to type commands or look for settings. Just extract the file and open the application, and your WiFi password will be displayed. We suggest WirelessKeyView and WiFi Password Revealer applications, which are simple to use and have a clean interface.

View the stored network passwords on your Windows PC with ease

Viewing Wi-Fi passwords on your Windows 11 computer or laptop should be easy if you follow the instructions above. You can also change the password of a currently saved network if you think it is too easy to crack.

Please let us know in the comments below if you can view the password for your Wi-Fi network using this article.

Related Read: How to Retrieve Saved Passwords on Your Phone and PC

FAQS about the Windows 11 Wi-Fi passwords

How to share your Windows 11 Wi-Fi network with others?

If you want to share your Windows 11 Wi-Fi network with a guest, you can go to Settings. There, select Network and Internet in the left pane. Now enable the mobile hotspot. Your hotspot connection for sharing with other Wi-Fi-enabled devices will now be activated.

Can I reset my Wi-Fi network settings on Windows 11 PC?

You can easily reset your Windows 11 network settings by going to the Windows Settings menu. Go to the Network and Settings tab and then Advanced Network Settings. There you will find the Network Restore option. In the next window, click Reset Now to confirm your decision.

How do I view Wi-Fi Passwords in Windows 11?

Here's how to view Wi-Fi passwords in Windows 11

1. Start by typing control panel into the Start menu on Windows 11.
2. Select Control Panel from the menu.
3. Navigate to Network and Internet.
4. Select the network and sharing center option.
5. View your active networks by clicking on the name of the Wi-Fi you are connected to.

How do I reset my Windows 11 Wi-Fi settings?

Reset your Wi-Fi settings in Windows 11 by going to Start > Settings > Network & Internet. Click Advanced network settings in Windows 11. On the right side, scroll down and click on Network reset. Click on Reset now to complete the reset and reboot.

Where are Wi-Fi passwords stored in Windows 11?

Technically speaking, the Wi-fi passwords are stored under c:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Wlansvc\Profiles\Interfaces[Interface Guid]. If you are trying to find the saved Wi-Fi password, Right-click on your computer's Wi-Fi adapter in the list, choose Status > Wireless Properties. Scroll to the Security tab, you should see a password box with dots in it—click the Show Characters box to see the password appear in plain text.

Is there a way to see the password of your wi-fi?

In Network and Sharing Center, select your Wi-Fi network name next to Connections. Select Wireless Properties from Wi-Fi Status. Choose the Security tab in Wireless Network Properties, then select Show characters. Network security key displays your Wi-Fi network password.