How to See Saved WiFi Password on Windows 10 When You Have Forgotten It

A friend asks for the Wi-Fi password, or you need to connect a new phone, but nobody remembers it and the router sticker was changed long ago. Knowing how to see saved WiFi password on slot online Windows 10 solves the problem in a minute, as long as one PC already connects to that network.

Windows stores the password for every Wi-Fi network you have joined. It is protected, but an administrator on the PC can display it.

There are two ways to view it: through the network settings window for the network you are connected to now, or through a command for any network saved in the past.

Both methods are built into Windows and need no extra software.

The need often arises when a guest visits, a new device needs connecting, or a router is replaced and the old password must be entered again.

What Might Be Causing It

Passwords get lost for these everyday reasons:

• The router was set up years ago and the password was never written down.
• The password was changed from the default printed on the router.
• Someone else in the household set up the network.
• The password is long and complicated, so nobody memorised it.

Windows can only show passwords for networks it has saved, not for networks it has never joined.

First Steps to Try

Use the network settings window.

1. Make sure the PC is connected to the Wi-Fi network you need.
2. Press Windows + R, type ncpa.cpl, and press Enter.
3. Right-click the Wi-Fi adapter and choose Status, then select Wireless Properties.
4. Open the Security tab and tick “Show characters.”
5. The password appears in the “Network security key” box.

You need administrator rights to reveal the characters.

If “Show characters” is greyed out, sign in with an administrator account or ask the person who manages the PC.

If the Problem Continues

Use Command Prompt for saved networks.

1. Open Command Prompt as administrator.
2. Type netsh wlan show profiles and press Enter to list saved networks.
3. Type netsh wlan show profile name=”NetworkName” key=clear, replacing NetworkName with the exact name.
4. Look for “Key Content” in the Security settings section.
5. Write the password somewhere safe.

If the network is not listed, Windows never saved it. In that case, check the router’s admin page or reset the router to its default password.

Protect Your Data First

Only view passwords for networks you are entitled to use. Do not share Wi-Fi passwords publicly, and change them if they have been shared too widely. Store passwords in a password manager.

The Bottom Line

Windows keeps saved Wi-Fi passwords, and administrators can view them. Use Wireless Properties for the current network or netsh for older ones.

Consider writing the password on a card kept somewhere safe at home, so you do not need to look it up again.