Ever had to find your WiFi password after connecting a while ago? Yeah, it’s kinda normal to forget that stuff, especially when it’s buried in settings you rarely poke around in. Windows 10 makes it possible to retrieve those saved passwords without the need for any third-party tools, but the process isn’t exactly obvious if you’re not used to digging through Control Panel or command lines. Knowing this stuff can save a ton of headaches — whether you’re sharing with friends or just setting up a new device. Just a heads up, these steps work best if you’re trying to see the password for a network you’ve already connected to and have permission to access. Otherwise, it’s best to stay within your own network’s boundaries.
How to See the Password of a Connected WiFi in Windows 10
Accessing your WiFi password through the Control Panel
This method is kinda old-school but still reliable. It helps because Windows stores your network credentials once you’ve connected. Here’s what to do:
- First, open the Control Panel. Click on the Start menu and type “Control Panel, ” then hit Enter.(On some setups, this might be buried in the system tray or not show outright — but usually, it’s accessible via search.)
- Next, go to Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center. This still sounds complicated, but it’s basically the hub for network stuff.
- Click on the name of your WiFi connection. You should see this listed next to “Connections.”
- When the WiFi Status window pops up, click on Wireless Properties. It opens a new modal with all the details of your wireless network.
- Switch to the Security tab. Here, you see info like the encryption method, but what we want is the password.
- Check the box for Show characters. Now the password, which lives in the “Network security key” box, appears in plain text. Easy, right?
One note — sometimes the “Show characters” box is greyed out. This usually means you need admin rights. If you’re not logged in as an administrator, you won’t be able to reveal the password. On some machines, this fails the first time or needs a reboot to work properly.
Alternative: Using Command Prompt
Because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary. If Control Panel isn’t your thing or you’re in a hurry, the command line can do the trick. Here’s a quick snippet you can run in Command Prompt (run as administrator):
netsh wlan show profile name="WiFi-Name" key=clearReplace WiFi-Name with the exact SSID of your network, including quotes if it has spaces. This command shows a lot of info, including the Key Content — which is your WiFi password. On some setups, the password is displayed right there, on others, you might need to scroll through the output a bit. Because of the way Windows caches data, this method is often more reliable if you’ve connected before, but can trip up if the profile isn’t saved.
Monitoring network profiles in File Explorer
Another way which kinda feels like hacking but is just Windows being weird: Checking the network profile files located in system folders. Usually, these are hidden and need special permissions to access. Unless you’re a power user, just sticking with the Control Panel or CMD is simpler.
Tips for Troubleshooting & Best Practices
- Make sure you’re definitely connected to the right WiFi network before trying to reveal the password.
- If “Show characters” is greyed out, log in as an administrator or try running the Control Panel as admin.
- On some systems, your network profile might not be saved or accessible — in that case, try reconnecting and re-save the password.
- For more automation or scripting (like if you do this often), consider exporting network profiles using Netsh commands.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I can’t see the password even after trying?
It might be that you lack admin rights, or Windows has some policies blocking access. Also, some corporate or managed devices disable these options for security.
Can I retrieve the password for a WiFi network I’m not connected to?
If you’ve connected before and saved it, maybe. You can try pulling profiles via CMD, but if it’s a network you’ve never connected to, nope, you can’t see it without reconnecting and entering credentials again.
Is this legal? Should I be worried about security?
As long as it’s your network or you have permission, no worries. Just be careful about sharing passwords — Windows makes it easy to find your own passwords, but don’t go hacking into others’ networks.
Summary
- Open Control Panel.
- Go to Network and Sharing Center.
- Click your WiFi network name > Wireless Properties.
- Head to the Security tab.
- Check Show characters and copy the password.
Wrap-up
Getting your WiFi password out of Windows isn’t too complicated once you get the hang of navigating the right menus. It’s especially useful when you’ve forgotten your own password but need quick access, or you’re helping a buddy connect. Just remember to keep that info safe and only share with people you trust — Windows does enough to open up your credentials without giving everyone easy access. Hopefully, this shaves off a few hours of guesswork for someone.