Find Forgotten Passwords on Windows: Full Guide

If you’ve forgotten a password saved on your Windows computer, you can often retrieve it from the browser’s saved passwords settings, the Windows Credential Manager, or by resetting your Microsoft account password online. This guide walks you through each method step by step, covering browsers, Wi-Fi passwords, and app credentials.

Where Windows Stores Saved Passwords

Windows stores passwords in two main places: the Credential Manager (for network shares, mapped drives, and some apps) and your web browsers’ built-in password managers (for websites). The Credential Manager is a hidden control panel that keeps login information for Windows services, shared folders, and remote desktop connections. Browsers like Chrome, Edge, and Firefox each have their own encrypted vault, protected by your Windows user account or a master password.

Understanding this distinction is key: if you forgot a website password, check the browser first. If you forgot a password for a network drive or a Windows app, look in Credential Manager.

Find Saved Passwords in Chrome, Edge, and Firefox

All major browsers let you view saved passwords, but you’ll need to enter your Windows login PIN or password to reveal them. Here’s how:

Google Chrome: Click the three-dot menu → Passwords (or go to chrome://password-manager/passwords). Find the site, click the eye icon, and authenticate with your Windows credentials.
Microsoft Edge: Click the three-dot menu → Settings → Profiles → Passwords. Or go to edge://settings/passwords. Same process: click the eye icon and enter your Windows PIN.
Mozilla Firefox: Click the hamburger menu → Logins and Passwords (or go to about:logins). Click the eye icon next to a password; you may need your Firefox master password if you set one.

If you don’t see a saved password for a site, it might be stored in a different browser or not saved at all. Also note that some sites use “sign in with Google” or “sign in with Microsoft” – those passwords are managed by the provider, not your browser.

Use Windows Credential Manager

Credential Manager is a built-in Windows tool that stores login details for network resources, shared folders, and some apps. To access it:

Press Win + S and type “Credential Manager”.
Click the result to open the Control Panel app.
You’ll see two tabs: Web Credentials and Windows Credentials.
Expand an entry and click Show to reveal the password (you’ll need to confirm your Windows account).

Web Credentials are mostly for legacy Internet Explorer/Edge logins, while Windows Credentials cover mapped drives, remote desktop, and shared folders. If you’re looking for a Wi-Fi password, it’s not here – see the next section.

Recover Forgotten Wi-Fi Passwords

If you forgot the password for a Wi-Fi network your Windows PC is currently connected to, you can find it in the network settings:

Open Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi.
Click Manage known networks.
Select the network, then click Properties.
Under “View Wi-Fi security key”, click Show and enter your Windows PIN.

For networks you’re not currently connected to, you can use the command prompt: open cmd as administrator and type netsh wlan show profile name="NetworkName" key=clear. Look for “Key Content” – that’s the password. This works for any saved profile on the machine.

Reset Your Microsoft Account Password

If you forgot the password for your Microsoft account (the one you use to sign into Windows), you can reset it online. Go to account.live.com/password/reset and follow the prompts. You’ll need access to the recovery email or phone number associated with the account. After resetting, you can use the new password to sign into Windows, but note that this does not recover the old password – it replaces it.

If you’re using a local account (no Microsoft account), you can reset the password by using a password reset disk (if you created one) or by booting into Safe Mode and using the built-in Administrator account (if enabled). For Windows 10/11, the most reliable method is to use a Microsoft account or a password reset disk.

Common Problems and Solutions

“Show” button is greyed out: This happens if you’re not using a Microsoft account or if the browser requires a master password. In Chrome, you can set a master password, but it’s off by default. For Edge, you may need to sign in with your Microsoft account.
Password not saved: Some sites prevent saving, or you may have chosen “Never” when prompted. Check the browser’s “Never saved” list (in Chrome, it’s under Passwords → Never saved).
Credential Manager shows nothing: If you’re looking for a Wi-Fi password, it’s not there. Use the network settings method instead.
Forgot Windows login password entirely: If you can’t get into Windows at all, you’ll need to reset it via a Microsoft account online, a password reset disk, or a system restore. For local accounts, you may need to reinstall Windows if no reset options were set up.

Security and Privacy Considerations

Viewing saved passwords requires your Windows login credentials, which is a security feature to prevent unauthorized access. Be careful when using public or shared computers – anyone who knows your PIN can see your passwords. Consider using a dedicated password manager (like Bitwarden, 1Password, or KeePass) that encrypts your vault with a master password, so even if someone gets into your Windows account, they can’t see your passwords without the master password.

Also, never share your passwords or save them on devices you don’t control. If you think your saved passwords might be compromised, change them immediately and enable two-factor authentication on important accounts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see saved passwords without admin rights?

Yes, for your own user account, you can view saved passwords in browsers and Credential Manager without admin rights. However, you’ll need to enter your Windows login PIN or password to confirm your identity. For Wi-Fi passwords via command prompt, you need to run it as administrator.

What if I forgot my Windows login password?

If you use a Microsoft account, go to the password reset page and follow the steps. If you use a local account, you’ll need a password reset disk or you may have to use a third-party recovery tool (use at your own risk). In some cases, you can boot into Safe Mode and use the built-in Administrator account if it’s not password-protected.

Are saved passwords encrypted?

Yes, browsers and Windows encrypt saved passwords using your Windows user account as part of the encryption key. That’s why you need to enter your PIN to view them. However, this encryption is not as strong as a dedicated password manager’s master password, so it’s a good idea to use one for sensitive accounts.

How do I export saved passwords?

Chrome and Edge allow you to export passwords as a CSV file. In Chrome, go to Passwords → three-dot menu → Export passwords. You’ll need to enter your Windows PIN. Firefox also allows export via Logins and Passwords → three-dot menu → Export Logins. Keep the file safe – it’s plain text.

Why can’t I see the password for some sites?

Some sites use third-party login (like “Sign in with Google”) that doesn’t store a password in your browser. Also, if you’ve cleared your browsing data or cookies, the saved password might be removed. Check the “Never saved” list to see if you accidentally blocked saving for that site.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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