How to See or Show WiFi Password on Windows 10 PC?

If you have forgotten your Wi-Fi password on a Windows PC, you can retrieve it using a few methods. Below are steps for decrypting or viewing saved Wi-Fi passwords on a Windows 10 machine.

In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter to view wifi password in Windows 10 PC:

netsh wlan show profiles

This command lists all the Wi-Fi networks (profiles) that your computer has connected to. Look for the line that says Key Content. The value next to it is your Wi-Fi password.

Note: You need administrative privileges to execute some of these commands and access certain settings.
This method will only show passwords for networks that your computer has previously connected to and saved.

Important: Ensure that you have permission to access the Wi-Fi network you're trying to retrieve the password for. Unauthorized access to networks is illegal and unethical.

When you show WiFi password in Windows 10 computer. For some folks, using command line tools can feel like stepping into a time machine. If you're not used to working in text-based environments, it might be a bit daunting. Windows has lots of user-friendly ways to access network settings, and for those who prefer a GUI over text commands, this method can feel like trying to read hieroglyphs.

It’s easy to mess up in a command prompt. If you’re typing commands, one wrong letter or misspelling, and you might get an error or worse, cause unintended changes to your network configurations. Back when I was first learning to use command line tools, I had a moment where I ended up disabling my network adapter instead of just checking the password! Total facepalm moment.

Another even simpler method to show WiFi Password on Windows 10 PC, especially for those who aren’t too into command lines:

• Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Status.
• Click on Network and Sharing Center.
• Click on your WiFi name next to Connections.
• In the WiFi Status window, hit Wireless Properties > Security tab > and check Show characters to see your password.

To see WiFi Password on Windows 10 PC. I ended up digging into the command prompt to find that elusive password. I mean, it’s pretty straightforward, right? You just type in a few commands, and bam! There’s the password, like magic. But, looking back, I realized there are a few downsides to doing this, and it's good to think about them.

The biggest concern is security. If someone else has access to your computer, they can also access your command prompt and view your WiFi password. This could let unwanted guests connect to your network, which could slow it down or even expose your personal data.

You might be in a situation where you casually share your screen or a friend looks over your shoulder while you’re typing those commands. Next thing you know, they’ve got your password and could use it whenever they want. Awkward!

Even if you retrieve the password, there’s the chance you'll forget it again later, especially if you’ve got a ton of other passwords floating around in your head. It might become a constant cycle of retrieval.

Speaking of checking the WiFi password through the control panel, I remembered the last time my friend suddenly asked me to borrow the WiFi, but she forgot to bring the password. She stayed at my house for a long time, and when she was about to go online, she realized that she didn't write down the password, and she was anxious like an ant on a hot pot. At that time, I remembered that the WiFi password was on the computer, but I didn't know where to look for it. Later, I thought of looking for it through the control panel, and it really saved a lot of trouble.

1. Open the control panel: I first pressed Win + S to open the search box, type "Control Panel" and click to enter. In fact, you can also find the control panel directly in the start menu.
2. Enter the Network and Sharing Center: In the control panel, I clicked "Network and Internet" and then entered the "Network and Sharing Center".
3. Click the currently connected WiFi: On the "Network and Sharing Center" page, there is an "Active Network" section at the top, which shows the name of the WiFi I am currently connected to. I clicked on that WiFi name.
4. Enter the wireless properties: At this time, a WiFi status window popped up, and I clicked "Wireless Properties".
5. View WiFi password on Windows 10: Then switch to the "Security" tab, check "Show Characters", and the password will be displayed below!

Speaking of finding the WiFi password through the command prompt, I remembered that once before, I forgot the WiFi password due to carelessness, and my friend was in a hurry to go online. At that time, I didn't know how to retrieve the password. Finally, I found it through the command prompt, which saved a lot of trouble.

Steps:
Step 1. Open the command prompt: I first press Win + S to open the search box, enter cmd, then right-click the command prompt and select "Run as administrator". This opens the command prompt window with administrator privileges.

Step 2. View WiFi connection information: In the command prompt window, enter the following command and press Enter:

sql
netsh wlan show profiles

Step 3. This command will list the names of all WiFi networks that have been connected to your computer.

Step 4. Find and view the WiFi password: Suppose I want to view the password of the "MyWiFi" network, I enter the following command:

arduino
netsh wlan show profile name="MyWiFi" key=clear

Note that you should replace "MyWiFi" with the WiFi name you want to view.

Step 5. Find the password: When the command is executed, scroll down and find Key Content, which is your WiFi password!

At that time, I was relieved to see the password displayed in the command prompt! Although this method looks a bit technical, it is actually quite simple, and it is a tool that comes with Windows. There is no need to install third-party software at all, and it is also very convenient to operate. The only thing to note is that the command prompt requires administrator privileges, otherwise you cannot view WiFi password.

If you’re trying to show the WiFi password on Windows 10 via the Command Prompt and skip the whole "Run as administrator" thing, you’re going to hit a wall. You must give the command prompt admin privileges to dig into network settings.

Make sure you’re pulling up the correct network profile. If you’re connected to multiple networks, you might accidentally try to grab the password for one that’s not even in use. Check your taskbar to see which network is active!

Some networks, especially corporate or public ones, might have additional security settings that keep you from seeing the password even if you’re connected. If you’re in a place that locks down WiFi for security, you might just need to ask the admin for the password like everyone else!

The problem of finding the WiFi password is actually quite common. Don't worry, I can share with you a method to view WiFi password on Windows 10 without third-party tools. Try these methods!

1. Right-click the network icon in the lower right corner of the taskbar and select "Open Network and Internet Settings".
2. In the pop-up window, click "Network and Sharing Center".
3. On the "Network and Sharing Center" page, find "Active Networks" and click the name of the WiFi network you are currently connected to.
4. In the WiFi status window, click "Wireless Properties"
5. Then, select the Security" tab and check "Show Characters"**, and the WiFi password will be displayed.

The wifi password is encrypted using the Data Protection API (DPAPI) and stored in a secure way, ensuring that even if someone gains access to your computer, the password is not easily accessible. To view the password, you generally need to use tools like Command Prompt or PowerShell, as the data is encrypted in the storage locations listed above.

In the Windows registry, there’s a key for each network profile that contains settings, including the WiFi password (in encrypted form). However, this is not the recommended method for finding the wifi password in Windows 10 due to encryption, and it’s not a user-friendly method.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\NetworkList\Profiles

This is the place you can see wifi password from Windows 10 PC via the Registry editor.

In Windows 10, the WiFi password is stored in a system file within the Network Profile for each WiFi network that you've connected to. This data is stored securely in a system directory and is accessible through the Windows registry or using command-line tools like Command Prompt or PowerShell.

Each WiFi network you’ve connected to is saved in the Profiles folder within the Wlansvc directory. Here, individual folders are created for each WiFi adapter, and inside those, XML-based files store details about your network connection, including the saved password (if you have previously saved it on your device).

Location: 

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Wlansvc\Profiles\Interfaces\

This is the place you can find or see WiFi password in Windows 10 and Windows 11.