Windows can reveal a Wi‑Fi password when the PC has a saved profile containing a recoverable network key. On Windows 11, use the network’s Show control in Settings; on Windows 10, use Wireless Properties. Command Prompt provides a fallback for saved profiles. The result is the password stored on that PC—not necessarily the router’s current password if it was changed later.
Check a Wi‑Fi password in Windows 11
For the network currently connected
- Select the network icon on the taskbar, then open Wi‑Fi settings.
- Go to Network & internet > Wi‑Fi and open the connected network’s Properties.
- Find Wi‑Fi network password and select Show.
- Approve a Windows authentication prompt if one appears, then copy or enter the displayed password on the other device.
Microsoft documents this Windows 11 path for supported Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems: Connect to a Wi‑Fi network in Windows.
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For a saved network that is not connected
- Open Settings.
- Select Network & internet > Wi‑Fi > Manage known networks.
- Select the saved network.
- Select Show beside Wi‑Fi network password.
This works only while the network remains in the PC’s known-network list. A profile removed with Forget is no longer available locally.
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Check it in Windows 10
- Open Control Panel and select Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center.
- Select the current Wi‑Fi network name beside Connections.
- In the Wi‑Fi Status window, select Wireless Properties.
- Open the Security tab and select Show characters.
- Read the value in Network security key.
Menu entry points can vary by Windows 10 build or manufacturer customization. If you cannot find Network and Sharing Center, search for it from Start or open the adapter’s Wi‑Fi status window.
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Use Command Prompt to find a saved password
Use Windows’ built-in WLAN commands when Settings or Control Panel does not expose the password, or when you need to inspect several saved profiles.
- Open Command Prompt.
- List the profiles saved on the PC:
netsh wlan show profiles- Run the profile command, replacing the name with the exact profile shown above:
netsh wlan show profile name="NETWORK_NAME" key=clear- Find the security-key field, commonly labeled Key Content. Labels may be translated or differ by configuration.
Keep quotation marks around names containing spaces or punctuation. To identify the currently connected SSID first, you can run:
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netsh wlan show interfacesThe netsh wlan command set is documented by Microsoft for Windows 10 and Windows 11 at Microsoft Learn. The profile-specific key command is also described in Microsoft Community guidance.
Why Windows may not show a password
- The profile is absent: Run
netsh wlan show profiles. If the target SSID is not listed, this PC generally has no saved profile to query. - The PC is using Ethernet: An Ethernet connection does not provide a Wi‑Fi profile for the current connection.
- The profile was deleted: Using Forget removes the local saved network.
- No shared key exists: Open networks and enterprise Wi‑Fi may use 802.1X credentials, certificates, or individual accounts rather than one reusable passphrase.
- Access is managed: A workplace or school device may restrict viewing network credentials. Contact the organization’s IT administrator instead of bypassing its controls.
- The interface differs: Windows edition, language, updates, and device management can change labels or hide controls. Try the Command Prompt method.
If a profile appears but the command contains no key content, it may not store a conventional personal-network password, or the profile may be incomplete or corrupted.
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If the displayed password does not work
- Confirm that the SSID is the intended network. Routers may have separate 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, guest, or mesh names.
- Check capitalization, spaces, punctuation, and special characters exactly.
- Consider whether the router password changed after this PC last connected. Windows shows the saved value, which can be stale.
- Check the router label only if its printed default key was never changed, or use the router’s official administration page or ISP app.
- On the receiving device, forget the network and reconnect with the verified password.
- If the network itself is unstable, restart the router and follow Microsoft’s Wi‑Fi connection troubleshooting.
Share the password safely
Enter the revealed key manually on the other device, or use a QR-code sharing option when the Windows and receiving-device interfaces support it. Availability varies by release and device. Do not post the password, a QR code, or an unedited Command Prompt screenshot publicly; anyone who can read it can join the network.
When Windows cannot recover it
Use another already-connected phone or computer that supports Wi‑Fi password sharing, ask the network owner, or sign in to the router’s administration page. Resetting the router should be a last resort because it disconnects devices and may require complete reconfiguration. The router’s administrator login is also often different from its Wi‑Fi password.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I see every Wi‑Fi password the PC has ever used?
No. Windows can list multiple saved profiles, but a profile may have been deleted, overwritten, corrupted, or configured without a reusable shared key. Query each remaining profile individually.
Can I recover a password if this PC never connected to the network?
No. Windows cannot reveal a key for a network that has never been saved on that PC.
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Does this work for school or work Wi‑Fi?
Not necessarily. Enterprise networks often authenticate each person or device with an account, certificate, or managed policy instead of a single shared password. Contact IT for access.
Is the Wi‑Fi password the same as the router login password?
Usually not. The wireless key lets devices join the network; the router administrator credential controls its settings.
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