How to View Saved Wi-Fi Passwords on Windows 11

You forgot the password to a Wi-Fi network you previously connected to — or you need to share the password with a guest, but don’t want to log into your router. Fortunately, Windows 11 keeps saved Wi-Fi credentials and there are several reliable ways to reveal them. In this guide we’ll show you the safe, built-in methods to view saved Wi-Fi passwords for the network you’re currently on and for any saved profile on your PC.

What you’ll need

You’ll need a Windows 11 PC and administrative privileges for some methods. If the PC is using a work or school account, your IT policy may block access to stored keys. Also keep in mind that revealing Wi-Fi passwords exposes sensitive information — only show them to people you trust.

Overview — Which method to use

• If you’re connected to the Wi-Fi network right now: use Settings → Network & internet → Wi-Fi → Wireless properties (fast and graphical).
• If you want passwords for other saved networks (not currently connected): use Command Prompt (netsh wlan) to list profiles and show the key for any profile.
• If you prefer GUI tools, you can export profiles via netsh wlan export profile and inspect the XML file, or check your router admin page if you have access.

We’ll walk through each method step-by-step.

Method 1 — View the password for the network you’re connected to (Settings GUI)

This is the quickest method when you are connected to the Wi-Fi whose password you need.

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Click Network & internet, then select Wi-Fi.
3. Click your connected network name or Wireless connection properties.
4. Under Wi-Fi network password, click Show (you’ll be asked for your Windows sign-in / PIN).
5. The password will appear in plain text — copy it or write it down.

Tip: This works only for the network you’re actively connected to. If the Show button is greyed out, make sure you’re signed in as an administrator.

Method 2 — View saved passwords for any Wi-Fi profile (Command Prompt)

To reveal saved passwords for networks you previously joined, use netsh wlan. This requires administrative privileges.

1. Open Start, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
2. List all saved Wi-Fi profiles: netsh wlan show profiles You’ll see a list of profile names under User profiles.
3. To view the password for a specific profile (replace "ProfileName" with the SSID from the list): netsh wlan show profile name="ProfileName" key=clear
4. Look for the Key Content field under Security settings — that is the Wi-Fi password in plain text.

Batch tip: To print passwords for all profiles, run:

for /f "tokens=2 delims=:" %i in ('netsh wlan show profiles ^| findstr "All User Profile"') do @echo %i & netsh wlan show profile name="%i" key=clear | findstr "Key Content"

(Use double % if you place this in a .bat file.)

Note: Some enterprise networks use EAP/802.1X and do not store a simple passphrase; Key Content may be absent.

Method 3 — Export profile to XML and inspect (GUI + text)

If you prefer exporting and examining the profile file:

1. Open an elevated Command Prompt.
2. Export the profile: netsh wlan export profile name="ProfileName" folder=C:\Temp key=clear This creates an XML file containing the password (if available) in the C:\Temp folder.
3. Open the XML file with Notepad and look for <keyMaterial> — that element contains the Wi-Fi key.

This is useful for archiving or transferring network settings.

Method 4 — Using PowerShell (alternative)

PowerShell can call the same netsh commands and let you script retrieval. Example to list profiles:

(netsh wlan show profiles) -match ':\s(.*)$' | ForEach-Object { $_.Trim().Split(':')[1].Trim() }

To get a specific key, invoking netsh directly is still the simplest:

netsh wlan show profile name="ProfileName" key=clear

Method 5 — Check the router’s admin page (if you have access)

If you can sign in to the Wi-Fi router’s admin console (usually via 192.168.x.1 in a browser), you can view or reset the wireless password there. This is the authoritative method if you administer the network.

Common problems & troubleshooting

• No “Key Content” shown: The profile may use enterprise authentication (802.1X) or be managed by your organization. Contact your network admin.
• You don’t have admin rights: netsh wlan show profile ... key=clear requires admin — run Command Prompt as administrator.
• Profile missing from list: The profile was deleted or stored under another user account. Ensure you’re on the same Windows user account that originally connected to the network.
• Password appears different on router: The router may be broadcasting a different SSID or you’re looking at the wrong network. Confirm the SSID exactly matches.

Security and privacy notes

• Showing Wi-Fi passwords reveals sensitive credentials. Only reveal or copy them in secure contexts.
• If you share devices with others, consider changing the Wi-Fi password after distributing it widely.
• Avoid posting screenshots of plain-text passwords online.

Wrapping up

Viewing saved Wi-Fi passwords in Windows 11 is straightforward: use Settings for the currently connected network, and use netsh wlan for all saved profiles. Keep administrative access and security best practices in mind, and you’ll be able to recover or share network credentials safely whenever you need them.