How to See Saved Wi-Fi Passwords in Windows (Settings and Command Prompt)

When you want to connect your phone or a guest's laptop to Wi-Fi but can't remember the password, you can look it up on a Windows PC that is already connected. You can even see passwords for Wi-Fi networks you joined in the past.

Method 1: Settings (Windows 11)

• Go to Settings → Network & internet → Wi-Fi.
• Click Properties for the connected network, scroll down and click View next to "View Wi-Fi security key".
• For networks you used before, open "Manage known networks" on the same page, click the network name and do the same.
• If the button is missing, your Windows is not fully updated. Use method 2 or 3 below.

Method 2: Control Panel (Windows 10 and 11)

• Press Win + R, type ncpa.cpl and press Enter to open Network Connections.
• Double-click Wi-Fi to open its status window, then go to Wireless Properties → Security.
• Tick "Show characters" to reveal the password. This only works for the network you are connected to right now.

Method 3: Command Prompt (including networks you joined before)

• Search for "cmd" in the Start menu and choose Run as administrator.
• Type netsh wlan show profiles to list the Wi-Fi networks saved on this PC.
• Type netsh wlan show profile name="NetworkName" key=clear and look for the "Key Content" line in the result. That is the password.
• If the network name contains spaces, keep it inside double quotes.

Keep in mind

• Use this only on your own PC or networks you manage. On work PCs, security policies may hide the key.
• If you'd rather not share your main router password with guests, use your router's guest network feature instead.