How to Check the Password of a Wi-Fi Network on Windows 10
Forgetting a Wi-Fi password is one of those small tech frustrations that happens to everyone. The good news: if your Windows 10 PC is already connected to the network, the password is stored on your device — and you can retrieve it without any third-party software. Here's exactly how that works, what Windows actually stores, and a few factors that affect what you'll be able to access.
Why Windows 10 Stores Your Wi-Fi Password
When you connect to a Wi-Fi network and choose to remember it, Windows saves the credentials in a system area called the Windows Credential Store (also referred to as the wireless profile store). This allows your PC to reconnect automatically without prompting you each time.
The password isn't displayed openly in your settings — it's stored in a protected format — but Windows does give you legitimate ways to view it through the Network and Sharing Center and via Command Prompt. Both methods retrieve the same underlying data.
Method 1: View the Wi-Fi Password Through Network Settings 🔍
This is the most straightforward approach and requires no technical background.
- Click the Wi-Fi icon in your taskbar (bottom-right corner).
- Select Network & Internet settings.
- Click Change adapter options on the right side of the screen.
- Right-click your active Wi-Fi connection and select Status.
- In the Status window, click Wireless Properties.
- Go to the Security tab.
- Check the box that says Show characters next to the Network security key field.
The password will appear in plain text in that field.
Important limitation: This method only works for the network your PC is currently connected to. If you want to retrieve a password for a saved but currently inactive network, you'll need Method 2.
Method 2: Retrieve Any Saved Wi-Fi Password Using Command Prompt
This method gives you access to passwords for all networks your PC has previously connected to, not just the active one. It uses the netsh command, a built-in Windows networking tool.
- Press Windows + S, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.
- To see all saved Wi-Fi profiles, type:
This lists every network your PC has ever connected to and remembered.
- To retrieve the password for a specific network, type:
Replace NetworkName with the exact name (SSID) of the network you want.
- In the output, look for the Key Content field under "Security settings." That's your password.
The key=clear parameter is what tells Windows to display the password in readable text rather than masked format.
What "Key Content" Actually Shows You
The Key Content field displays the Pre-Shared Key (PSK) — the password used to authenticate devices on a WPA2 or WPA3 network. This is the same string of characters you'd type when connecting a new device.
If the Key Content field is blank or absent, it typically means:
- The network uses enterprise-level authentication (like WPA2-Enterprise with a RADIUS server), which doesn't rely on a single shared password
- The profile was saved by a different user account with restricted permissions
- The network connection was set up using Windows Hello or a certificate, rather than a traditional password
Variables That Affect What You Can Access
Not every retrieval attempt works the same way. Several factors shape your results:
| Factor | What It Affects |
|---|---|
| User account type | Standard accounts may not see Key Content without admin rights |
| Network authentication type | WPA2-Personal vs. WPA2-Enterprise use different credential systems |
| Whether the profile is active | GUI method only works on currently connected networks |
| Domain-managed devices | IT policies on work or school PCs may restrict credential visibility |
| Network profile ownership | Profiles saved under a different Windows user may not be accessible |
A Note on Admin Permissions
Running Command Prompt as administrator is critical for the key=clear flag to return the password. If you run it as a standard user, the command will still execute but the Key Content field will either be empty or replaced with asterisks. This is a deliberate security behavior — not a bug.
If you're on a work-managed PC, your organization's IT policy may prevent you from viewing saved credentials regardless of your local account type. Group Policy settings can block this access entirely.
What If You Can't Access the Password at All? 🔑
If neither method surfaces the password, the next practical step is usually logging into your router's admin interface directly. Most home routers display the current Wi-Fi password under a wireless settings or security section, accessible via a browser at an address like 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1. The router admin credentials (separate from the Wi-Fi password) are often printed on a label on the router itself.
For devices outside your control — a workplace network, a guest network managed by someone else, or a public hotspot — accessing the stored password may not be possible through Windows alone, regardless of method.
Understanding the Limits of Each Approach
The GUI method in Network Settings is faster and more beginner-friendly, but it's scoped to your active connection. The Command Prompt method is more powerful — it surfaces passwords for any saved profile — but requires admin access and comfort with a text-based interface.
Neither method can recover a password for a network your device has never connected to, or one that was manually deleted from your saved profiles. Windows can only show you what's already stored in its wireless profile database.
How far you can get with either approach depends heavily on your account type, whether the device is personally owned or managed, and the authentication method the network uses — factors that vary quite a bit from one setup to the next.