How to View Wi-Fi Password in Windows 10

This guide shows you how to find the password for a Wi-Fi network you’ve connected to on a Windows 10 PC. You’ll learn the built-in method for the currently connected network, plus how to recover saved passwords for other networks you’ve used before. No extra software is needed—everything is done through Windows settings and the command prompt.

What You’ll Need

A Windows 10 PC that is currently connected to the Wi-Fi network (or has connected to it in the past).
Administrator access to the PC (required for the command prompt method).

Step-by-Step

Method 1: View the Password for the Network You’re Currently Connected To

Click the Wi-Fi icon in the system tray (bottom-right corner of your screen).
Click Network & Internet settings (the link below the list of available networks).
In the Settings window, click Network and Sharing Center (under “Advanced network settings”).
Next to “Connections,” click the name of your Wi-Fi network (it will be blue text).
In the Wi-Fi Status window, click Wireless Properties.
Go to the Security tab.
Check the box that says Show characters. The password will appear in the “Network security key” field.

Method 2: View Saved Passwords for Other Networks (Using Command Prompt)

Right-click the Start button and select Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin).
If prompted by User Account Control, click Yes.
Type the following command and press Enter to see a list of all saved Wi-Fi profiles:
```
netsh wlan show profiles
```
Find the name of the network you want the password for. It will be listed under “User profiles.”
Type the following command, replacing NETWORK_NAME with the exact name of the network, and press Enter:
```
netsh wlan show profile name="NETWORK_NAME" key=clear
```
Scroll down to the “Security settings” section. The password is listed next to Key Content.

Common Mistakes

Typing the network name incorrectly in the command prompt. The name must match exactly, including spaces and capitalization. Use quotes around the name if it contains spaces.
Not running the command prompt as administrator. Without admin rights, the command may show an error or not display the password.
Looking at the wrong profile—if you have connected to multiple networks with similar names, double-check you’re viewing the correct one.
Expecting to see a password for a network you’ve never connected to. Windows only stores passwords for networks you’ve actually joined.

Tips

If you just need the password to share with a guest, use Method 1—it’s faster.
Use Method 2 when you’re not currently connected to the network but have connected before.
You can also copy the password directly from the command prompt by selecting it and pressing Ctrl+C.
If you have multiple Windows 10 PCs, you can use the same command on each one to find their saved passwords.

Troubleshooting

The “Show characters” checkbox is grayed out

This usually happens if you don’t have administrator privileges on the PC. Try logging in with an admin account, or use the command prompt method instead.

Command prompt says “Profile is not found”

This means the network name you typed doesn’t match any saved profile. Run netsh wlan show profiles again and copy the exact name from the list. Pay attention to capitalization and special characters.

Key Content is blank or shows “None”

This can happen if the network is an open network (no password) or if the profile is corrupted. For open networks, there’s no password to recover. If it’s a password-protected network and the field is blank, try forgetting the network and reconnecting (you’ll need the password from the router).

Command prompt says “Access is denied”

You didn’t run the command prompt as administrator. Close it, right-click the Start button, and choose Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin).

You can’t find the Wi-Fi icon in the system tray

Click the upward arrow (^) to show hidden icons. If the Wi-Fi icon still isn’t there, your PC might be using a wired connection, or the wireless adapter is disabled. Check your network settings or use the command prompt method directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I view the password for a Wi-Fi network I’m not currently connected to?

Yes, if you’ve connected to that network before. Use the command prompt method (Method 2) to see all saved profiles and their passwords.

Do I need to be an administrator to view Wi-Fi passwords?

For the Settings method, yes—the “Show characters” checkbox is only available to administrators. For the command prompt method, you also need admin rights to run the necessary command.

Will this work if I’m using a VPN or a proxy?

Yes, the Wi-Fi password is stored locally on your PC and is not affected by VPN or proxy settings.

Can I use this method to see the password for a network that requires a username and password (like enterprise networks)?

No, this method only works for networks that use a pre-shared key (WPA2-Personal, WPA3-Personal, etc.). Enterprise networks use a different authentication method that doesn’t store a simple password.

Is there a way to view the password without using the command prompt?

Yes, for the currently connected network, you can use the Settings method. For other networks, the command prompt is the only built-in way on Windows 10.

What if I forgot the password and I’m not connected to the network?

You’ll need to reset the router or ask the network owner for the password. Windows only stores passwords for networks you’ve connected to in the past.

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

More in this bed

The whole Tech How-To bed →