How to Find Your Wi-Fi Password in Windows 10

How to Find Your Wi-Fi Password in Windows 10

Most of the time, your Windows 10 PC and other devices (like your smartphone or tablet) automatically connect to your home or office Wi-Fi network thanks to the auto-connect feature. While this convenience is great, it also means you rarely (if ever) type your Wi-Fi password—and it’s easy to forget. If you find yourself needing to share your network’s password with a guest, or if you simply want to confirm what it is, Windows 10 makes it straightforward to retrieve it. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover two detailed methods:

• Method 1: Using the Control Panel

• Method 2: Using the Command Prompt

Both methods require that your PC has previously connected to the Wi-Fi network in question (so that Windows has stored the credentials). Let’s dive in.

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Method 1: Find the Wi-Fi Password via Control Panel

This graphical approach leverages familiar Windows interface elements and is ideal if you prefer point-and-click steps.

Step 1: Open the Network and Sharing Center

1. Click on the Start menu (Windows icon) or press the Windows key.

2. Begin typing Control Panel, then select the Control Panel app from the search results.

Step 2: Navigate to Your Active Network

1. In Control Panel, click Network and Internet.

2. Under Network and Sharing Center, click View network status and tasks.

Step 3: Open Your Wi-Fi Connection’s Status

1. In the Network and Sharing Center window, locate the Connections field—it shows your current network’s name as a clickable link (e.g., “Wi-Fi (YourNetworkName)”).

2. Click that link to open the Wi-Fi Status dialog.

   Alternative: You can also access this dialog by right-clicking the Wi-Fi icon in your taskbar, selecting Open Network & Internet settings, then clicking Change adapter options, right-clicking your Wi-Fi adapter, and choosing Status.

Step 4: View the Network Security Key

1. In the Wi-Fi Status dialog, click the Wireless Properties button.

2. Switch to the Security tab.

3. Here you’ll see a field labeled Network security key—this is your Wi-Fi password, but it’s masked by dots by default.

4. To reveal it, check the Show characters box.

   The password will instantly be displayed in plain text. You can now copy or note it down.

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Method 2: Find the Wi-Fi Password via Command Prompt

If you’re comfortable with command-line tools, this method is fast and allows you to retrieve passwords for multiple saved networks.

Step 1: Launch an Elevated Command Prompt

1. Click the Start menu and type cmd.

2. In the search results, right-click Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.

3. If prompted by User Account Control, click Yes to grant permission.

Step 2: List All Saved Wi-Fi Profiles

In the Command Prompt window, enter:

netsh wlan show profiles

Windows will display a list of all wireless profiles stored on your PC, for example:

User profiles
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    All User Profile     : HomeNetwork
    All User Profile     : OfficeWiFi
    All User Profile     : CoffeeShop

Step 3: Show the Password for a Specific Profile

To see the password for one of these profiles, run:

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

Replace "ProfileName" with the exact name from the list. For example:

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

Step 4: Find the “Key Content” Field

Scroll through the output until you reach the Security settings section. Under Key Content, you’ll see:

    Key Content            : youractualpassword

That string next to Key Content is your Wi-Fi password in plain text.

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Tips and Precautions

• Administrator Rights: Both methods require administrator privileges. If your user account doesn’t have these rights, ask someone who does or switch to an account that does.

• Multiple Networks: Method 2 can be repeated for each saved profile, making it ideal when you manage several networks.

• Secure Your Password: Avoid sharing your password carelessly. If you need to show it to guests, consider creating a separate guest network on your router for security.

• Router Interface: If you can’t retrieve the password via Windows, you can often log in to your router’s web interface (typically at 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1) to view or change wireless settings—consult your router’s manual for details.

• Password Managers: To prevent forgetting future passwords, consider using a trusted password manager that securely stores your network passwords along with your other credentials.

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By following either of these methods, you can quickly recover your Wi-Fi network’s password without needing to reset the router or call your ISP. Whether you prefer the visual approach in the Control Panel or the command-line power of netsh, Windows 10 gives you all the tools you need. Happy connecting!