Forgotten your WiFi password? Whether you need to connect a new device, share it with a visitor, or write it down somewhere safe, Windows can show you the password for any network you’ve previously connected to. Here’s how.
Method 1: Find the Password for Your Current WiFi Network
This is the quickest method if you’re already connected to the network.
- Click the WiFi icon in the taskbar (bottom right).
- Click the arrow next to your network name, then click Properties.
- Scroll down and click View Wi-Fi security key — or go to Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi, click your network name, then scroll to find the option.
If that option isn’t showing, use the Control Panel method below — it always works.
Method 2: Control Panel (Most Reliable)
- Press Windows key + R, type
ncpa.cpland press Enter. - Right-click your WiFi adapter and select Status.
- Click Wireless Properties.
- Click the Security tab.
- Tick Show characters — your WiFi password will appear in the Network security key field.
Method 3: Command Prompt (Shows Any Saved Network)
This method lets you find the password for any WiFi network your PC has connected to in the past — not just the current one.
- Press Windows key + R, type
cmdand press Enter. - To see all saved networks, type:
netsh wlan show profiles- You’ll get a list of every WiFi network this PC has connected to. Find the one you want, then type:
netsh wlan show profile name="NetworkName" key=clearReplace NetworkName with the exact name of the network (copy it from the list above).
- Look for Key Content in the output — that’s your WiFi password.
Method 4: Check Your Router
If you’ve never connected this PC to the network, the methods above won’t help. Instead:
- Check the label on your router — most routers have the default WiFi name and password printed on a sticker on the bottom or back.
- Log into your router admin page — open a browser and go to
192.168.1.1or192.168.0.1(try both). Log in with admin credentials (also on the router label) and look under Wireless settings.
Can’t See the “Show Characters” Option?
On some versions of Windows 11, the tick box to reveal the password may be missing from the Security tab. If that’s the case, use the Command Prompt method (Method 3) — it always shows the password regardless of Windows version.
