How to Find My Wi-Fi Password in Windows 11

How To Find My Wi-Fi Password in Windows 11

If you need your Wi-Fi password but can’t find the router or simply don’t remember it, Windows 11 has you covered. Your PC saves credentials for every network it has connected to, and there are a few straightforward ways to retrieve them. This guide covers three methods for finding your Wi-Fi password in Windows 11, from the simplest settings menu to a quick Command Prompt lookup.

Method 1: Find Your Wi-Fi Password Through Network Settings

This is the most accessible route, no technical knowledge required.

Open Settings and go to Network and Internet. Click Wi-Fi, then select the network you want to check. Scroll down and click View Wi-Fi security key. Windows will show your password in plain text.

Note: this method only works for the network your PC is currently connected to.

Practical tip: If the View Wi-Fi security key button is greyed out, you may need to open Network and Sharing Center instead. See Method 2 below.

Method 2: Use Network and Sharing Center

This method works on most Windows 11 systems and gives you access to the password through the adapter settings.

Open Control Panel and navigate to Network and Internet, then Network and Sharing Center. Click the name of the Wi-Fi network you are connected to. In the Wi-Fi Status window, click Wireless Properties, then go to the Security tab. Check the box labelled Show characters to reveal the network security key.

Note: You must be connected to the network in question to use this method. If you want to find the password for a network you are not currently using, Method 3 is the one to use.

Method 3: Use Command Prompt to View Any Saved Password

This method gives you access to passwords for any Wi-Fi network your PC has previously connected to, not just the current one.

Open Command Prompt as an administrator. Type the following and press Enter:

netsh wlan show profiles

This lists every Wi-Fi network your PC has saved. To retrieve the password for a specific network, type:

netsh wlan show profile name=”NetworkName” key=clear

Replace NetworkName with the exact name of your network. In the output, look for the line labelled Key Content under Security settings. That is your password.

Practical tip: The network name is case-sensitive. Copy it exactly from the profiles list to avoid errors.

How to Share Your Wi-Fi Password from Windows 11

If you want to share your password with someone else without reading it aloud, the quickest option is to go to Settings, then Network and Internet, and select the network. There is a Share button that generates a QR code another device can scan to connect.

Alternatively, just use Method 3 above to retrieve the password as text and share it however suits you.

If you are exploring Windows 11 settings more broadly, our guide to hidden Windows 11 features covers a range of useful tools most people have not discovered yet.

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