How to Hide WiFi Password on Windows 10

If you share your Windows 10 PC with others, the saved WiFi password is visible to anyone who opens the network settings. This guide shows you how to hide the WiFi password from the Windows 10 interface so that other users can’t easily view it, while your connection still works normally. You’ll need administrator access to your PC.

What You’ll Need

An administrator account on the Windows 10 computer.
The WiFi network you want to protect must already be saved (connected or remembered).

Step-by-Step

Open Network Connections. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog, type ncpa.cpl, and press Enter. This opens the Network Connections window.
Identify your WiFi adapter. Look for the adapter labeled “Wi-Fi” (it may also show the network name). Right-click it and select Status.
Open Wireless Properties. In the Status window, click the Wireless Properties button.
Go to the Security tab. Click the Security tab at the top of the Wireless Properties window.
Uncheck “Show characters”. Look for the checkbox labeled Show characters. Make sure it is unchecked. This is the setting that reveals the password as plain text. If it’s already unchecked, the password is already hidden from this screen.
Apply and close. Click OK to save any changes, then close the Status window.
Prevent other users from seeing the password via Command Prompt. The most common way people view saved WiFi passwords is by using the command netsh wlan show profile name="YourNetwork" key=clear. To block this for standard users, you need to change the network profile’s permission. Open Command Prompt as administrator (right-click Start and choose “Command Prompt (Admin)” or “Windows PowerShell (Admin)”).
Change the profile permission. Type the following command, replacing YourNetwork with the exact name of your WiFi network, and press Enter:
```
netsh wlan set profileparameter name="YourNetwork" usersonly=no
```
This makes the profile accessible only to administrators. Standard users will no longer be able to see the password with the netsh command.
Verify the change. Log in with a standard user account and try to view the WiFi password using the steps above or the command prompt. It should either be hidden or blocked.

Common Mistakes

Forgetting to uncheck “Show characters” â€“ Even if you set the profile permission, if the checkbox is checked, anyone with access to the Wireless Properties can see the password.
Using the wrong network name â€“ The profile name is case-sensitive. If you type it incorrectly, the command will fail. You can list all profiles with netsh wlan show profiles.
Not running Command Prompt as administrator â€“ The netsh command requires elevated privileges. If you get an “Access denied” error, you’re not running as admin.
Assuming this prevents all access â€“ A determined user with physical access to the PC and an administrator account can still retrieve the password. This method only stops casual snooping by standard users.

Tips

Use a strong, unique password for your WiFi. Hiding it doesn’t make it secure if it’s weak.
If you want to share the password with a guest, consider using the QR code feature in Windows 10 (Settings > Network & Internet > WiFi > your network > “View network security key” shows a QR code). This lets them join without typing the password.
For maximum security, you can also set your WiFi profile to “Connect automatically” only for your account, but that’s a separate setting.
Regularly review which user accounts have administrator privileges on your PC. Fewer admins means fewer people who can bypass these protections.

Troubleshooting

“Show characters” is grayed out or not present. This happens when the network is not currently connected or the profile is corrupted. Reconnect to the network and try again. If it’s still missing, forget the network and re-add it.
Command returns “Profile not found”. Check the exact spelling of the network name. Use netsh wlan show profiles to see all profiles and copy the name exactly.
Standard users can still see the password. If you set the profile permission but it didn’t take effect, try restarting the PC or running the command again. Also ensure you’re editing the correct profile (the one for the WiFi network, not Ethernet).
After changing the permission, you can’t connect to WiFi. The usersonly=no setting shouldn’t break connectivity, but if it does, run the command again with usersonly=yes to revert it.
You’ve forgotten the password yourself. If you lock yourself out, you’ll need to reset the WiFi password on your router, then reconnect all devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does hiding the WiFi password prevent others from using my internet?

No. Hiding the password from view does not stop devices from connecting. It only makes it harder for someone to read the saved password on your PC.

Can a standard user still connect to the WiFi network?

Yes. The network remains available, and any user who knows the password can connect manually. The change only affects the ability to view the saved password.

Will this affect my ability to see the password later?

As an administrator, you can still view the password by checking “Show characters” in the Wireless Properties. The usersonly=no setting only restricts standard users.

Is this the same as hiding the SSID (network name)?

No. Hiding the SSID makes the network invisible to others. This guide is about hiding the password on your PC, not the network itself.

Can I hide the password for one network but not others?

Yes. The steps apply per network profile. You can repeat the command for each network you want to protect.

Does this work on Windows 11?

The steps are similar on Windows 11, but the exact menu names may differ slightly. The netsh command works the same.

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

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