How to Find the Wi-Fi Password Using CMD in Windows

Last Updated : 07 Apr, 2025

Forgotten your Wi-Fi password? Need to connect a new device but can’t recall the complex string of characters? You don’t have to scramble for that sticky note or reset your router just yet! Hidden within Windows is a powerful, built-in tool that lets you retrieve your Wi-Fi password quickly and securely—no third-party software required.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to use the Command Prompt (CMD) to reveal your saved Wi-Fi passwords in Windows 11 and 10 in a matter of seconds. This guide will help you whether you are troubleshooting connectivity issues, helping a friend connect to your network, or just curious about your security settings. This method is perfect for both tech enthusiasts and casual users. Say goodbye to password panic and hello to simplicity with this easy, command-line trick!

Why Retrieve Your Wi-Fi Password?

Following are the reasons to get your Wi-Fi password:

Connect New Devices Easily: Whether you have a smartphone, gaming console, or smart speaker, all devices which need a Wi-Fi password to connect to the internet. Instead of searching through old notes or rebooting your router, use Windows CMD or Settings to obtain stored passwords easily.
Share Your Network Securely with Guests:. When you’re sharing your Wi-Fi password with friends or family, it’s not safe to shout it across the room or write it on a piece of paper that anyone can see. Instead, you can find your password securely using CMD, then send it through a safe messaging app like WhatsApp, Signal, or Telegram. This keeps your network secure and protects your privacy.
Troubleshoot Without Resetting Your Router: Don’t reset the router (and lose all your settings!) yet! Try first to determine if the problem is a typographical error in the password. Utilize Windows own tools to verify your stored password and avoid unnecessary downtime.
Audit Passwords for Stronger Security: Users tend to use default or weak passwords like “12345678” for years, leaving their network vulnerable.

Methods to Find Wi-Fi Password Using Windows

There are mainly two methods to find out the wifi passwords in Windows systems. Here in this section, we have mentioned both of the methods, one using Windows CMD and the other using Windows settings. Now, go through methods to know which one is better for you.

Method 1: Find Wi-Fi Password Via the Command Prompt (CMD)

We can see your forgotten Wi-Fi password by running a couple of quick ‘netsh’ commands using Windows Command Prompt.

Step 1: Open CMD

Press start and type CMD, right-click on the Command Prompt option shown as a search result; and click on Run as administrator.

Step 2: Type WLAN Command

Type the following command and press Enter to show a list of network names that we connect to.

netsh wlan show profile

This command list of all wireless network profiles saved on the computer, including their names and settings as shown below. Select the Wi-Fi you want to know its password. Let’s suppose we want to see the password for the Wi-Fi Name “Gravity”.

Wi-Password via CMD

Step 3: Enter Show Profile Command

Now, type the following command and again press enter

netsh wlan show profile name= "Wi-Fi name" key=clear

This command displays detailed information about that Wi-Fi, including the Profile information, Connectivity settings, Security settings and Cost settings for the specified Wi-Fi network profile.

Using CMD

Step 4: Find Key Content Option

Scroll through the results until we find an entry named Key Content & our Wi-Fi password will be listed next to it.

Wi-Fi password via CMD

As now we have our Wi-Fi password, you can connect our device to the network to complete our work.

Method 2: Easy Method to Find Wi-Fi Password Via Network & Internet settings

Step 1: Open Network Settings

Connect to the Wi-Fi that you want to know the password, then right-click the [Network] icon on the taskbar and select [Network and Internet settings].

Check Wi-Fi Password

Step 2: Choose Advance Settings

Select [Advanced network settings].

Network & Internet

Step 3: Choose Related Settings

Under Related settings, select [More network adapter options].

Network and Internet Settings

Step 4: Select WiFi Option

Choose the connected Wi-Fi network, then select [View status of this connection].

Network Connection

Step 5: Select Wireless Properties

Select [Wireless Properties].

Wireless Properties

Step 6: Click on Security Tab

On the [Security] tab of Wireless Network Properties, check the box [Show characters], you will see the Wi-Fi password in the Network security key field.

Security

Here how they works

When you join a Wi-Fi network, Windows doesn’t just “remember” your password on a virtual sticky note. Instead, Windows uses secure security practices to securely save your password. Windows saves Wi-Fi passwords securely in an encrypted format within its registry. The netsh command decodes this data for networks you’ve joined, while the GUI technique retrieves the same information by means of the Network Configuration Manager. Both are secure and built-in with Windows, obliterating threat potentials from third-party utilities. This is what goes on in the background:

1. Where Does Windows Store Wi-Fi Passwords

Your Wi-Fi passwords are stored in a secure digital safe known as the Windows Registry. Consider the registry as a huge, well-organized file cabinet where Windows stores essential system information, such as network information.

Encryption: Passwords are kept in an encrypted format (scrambled code) so they can’t be read by hackers or malicious programs.
Access Restrictions: Only administrator accounts (such as you, the owner) can unlock and access these passwords.

2. How Do CMD and Network Settings Retrieve the Password?

Both the processes access the same encrypted information but in a different manner:

For CMD (Command Prompt):

The netsh wlan command acts like a master key that decrypts the password which was stored in the registry.
When you execute key=clear in command, Windows momentarily displays the password in plain text.

For Network Settings (GUI):

The graphical interface (Network & Internet settings) uses a utility which called Network Configuration Manager to retrieve the same encrypted password.
Unchecking the Show characters box encrypts your password in real time, much like how your phone displays hidden text when you enter a password.

3. Here how Encryption Works

Windows applies a method called DPAPI (Data Protection API) to encrypt your Wi-Fi password. Here’s a simple analogy:

When you enter your password, Windows jumbles it into a secret code using a special key associated with your user account.
To read it again, Windows employs that same key to decode the code which only occurs when YOU request it through CMD or Settings.

Conclusion

Finding your saved Wi-Fi password on a Windows system doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether you use Command Prompt (CMD) or the Network Settings GUI, Windows gives you easy and secure ways to retrieve forgotten Wi-Fi credentials. These methods are not only safe and native to the operating system, but they also work without needing any third-party tools or internet connection.

Using simple commands like netsh wlan show profile or navigating through the Network & Internet settings, you can recover your password in just a few clicks. These techniques are especially helpful for troubleshooting connectivity issues, connecting new devices, or simply verifying if your network password is strong and secure.

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