Overview – Find Wifi Password in Windows
Entering the network password and connecting the computer to the network is a one-time effort, thereafter, the computer automatically connects to the saved network when it’s in range. This is one of the reasons why we tend to forget the network password.
It appears that you forgot your WiFi password and no longer connect to your network, or that you would like to recover the WiFi password to share it with another device. By the end of this article, you’ll be able to recover/find wifi password in Windows:
1. Using Command Prompt (CMD) / PowerShell
Step 1: Open the Command Prompt or PowerShell (any) from the Start menu as an administrator.
Step 2: To list all WLAN profiles on your computer, type the following command: “netsh wlan show profiles” (without quotation marks).
Step 3: To check the password for a specific profile, type the following command:
netsh wlan show profile “Profile-Name” key=clear.
2. Using Batch Script
Step 1: Right-click the desktop and create a new “Text Document“.
Step 2: Copy and Paste the following Batch Script into the text document:
:: Show Wi-Fi Password in Windows 11 using Batch Script – TheCategorizer
@echo off
echo Available User Profiles
netsh wlan show profiles
echo Select an Available User Profile
set /p user_profile= “”
netsh wlan show profile “%user_profile%” key=clear
pause
Step 3: Click the “File” button on the top bar and click the “Save as” button.
Step 4: Change the file extension from “File-Name.txt” to “File-Name.bat“.
Step 5: Run the batch script as an administrator and the Command Prompt window will appear.
Step 6: Enter the profile name of the Wi-Fi (SSID) for which you want to show the password. You’ll find the network’s password on the right of the “Key Content” key under the “Security settings” section.
Suggested Article: PowerShell and Batch Scripts To Show Wifi Password in Windows (With Explanation) – Scripts Library.
3. Using Pre-Built Batch Script
Step 1: Download the Batch Script to Show Wi-Fi Passwords in Windows.
Step 2: Right-click the ZIP File, and extract it by clicking the “Extract All” button.
Step 3: Run the batch script as an administrator, and enter the profile name of the Wi-Fi for which you want to show the password.
Step 4: Enter the profile name of the Wi-Fi (SSID) for which you want to show the password. You’ll find the network’s password on the right of the “Key Content” key under the “Security settings” section.
4. Using PowerShell Script
Step 1: Right-click the desktop and create a new “Text Document“.
Step 2: Copy and Paste the following PowerShell Script into the text document.
# Show Wi-Fi Password in Windows using PowerShell Script – TheCategorizer
“Available User Profiles”
netsh wlan show profiles
“Input an Available User Profile”
$user_input = Read-Host
netsh wlan show profile “$user_input” key=clear
pause
Step 3: Click the “File” button on the top bar and click the “Save as” button.
Step 4: Change the file extension from “File-Name.txt” to “File-Name.ps1” and save it in the desired location.
Step 5: Right-click the newly created “ps1” format file and click the “Run with PowerShell” option.
Step 6: Enter the profile name of the Wi-Fi (SSID) for which you want to show the password. You’ll find the network’s password on the right of the “Key Content” key under the “Security settings” section.
5. Using Pre-Built PowerShell Script
Step 1: Download the PowerShell Script to Show Wi-Fi Passwords in Windows.
Step 2: Right-click the ZIP File, and extract it by clicking the “Extract All” button.
Step 3: Enter the profile name of the Wi-Fi (SSID) for which you want to show the password. You’ll find the network’s password on the right of the “Key Content” key under the “Security settings” section.
6. Using Control Panel (For Connected Network)
NOTE: This method will only show the WiFi password for the network with which you’re connected.
Step 1: In the Start menu, search for Control Panel and open it.
Step 2: Click the “Network and Internet” option.
Step 3: Click the “Network and Sharing Center” option.
Step 4: Select the Wi-Fi / Ethernet Connection.
Step 5: Click the “Wireless Properties” button.
Step 6: Select the “Security” tab from the top and check the “Show Characters” box.
7. Using Third-Party Software
Step 1: Download Wireless Key View Software from the official website.
Step 2: Extract the software using WinRAR or the 7-Zip utility.
Step 3: Run the program and you’ll find the passwords for all the networks listed in tabular format.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are network passwords stored in Windows?
The WiFi password is stored in the following path in Windows:
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Wlansvc\Profiles\Interfaces. The folder includes the XML documents in which the network information including its SSID (name), authentication type, key material (encrypted hexadecimal password key), etc are stored.
Next Steps
We’ve covered how to find WiFi passwords in Windows 11. You can use any one of the methods listed above. Using these methods, you can show password for any saved network.
Further, configure your computer’s settings by referring to the related articles below.
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