How to Find Your Wi-Fi Password in Windows 11

We have all been there: a friend comes over and asks for your Wi-Fi password, but you set it up years ago and completely forgot what it is. If you cannot find the sticky note or the sticker on the back of your router, do not panic. If your Windows 11 computer is currently connected to that Wi-Fi network (or has been connected to it in the past), the password is saved securely inside your system. Windows 11 allows you to easily view these saved passwords, meaning you can retrieve your network security key in just a few clicks without having to reset your router.

Method 1: Find the Password for Your Current Network (Settings App)

If you are actively connected to the Wi-Fi network right now, this is the easiest way to reveal the password.

1. Click the Start button and open the Settings app (the gear icon).
2. In the left-hand sidebar, click on Network & internet.
3. On the right side of the screen, click on Wi-Fi.
4. Click on the row labeled Wi-Fi network properties (this row will also display the name of the network you are currently connected to).
5. Scroll down to the bottom of the page until you find a section called “Security.”
6. Look for the line that says View Wi-Fi security key.
7. Next to it, click the View button.
8. Your network password will instantly appear in plain text on the screen.

Method 2: Find the Password for Your Current Network (Control Panel)

If you prefer the older Windows interface, the classic Control Panel method still works perfectly.

1. Click the Start button, type Control Panel, and press Enter.
2. Under the “Network and Internet” heading, click on View network status and tasks.
3. In the “Network and Sharing Center,” look for your active connection next to the word “Connections:” (it will look like a blue link with your Wi-Fi name). Click that blue link.
4. A small “Wi-Fi Status” window will pop up. Click the Wireless Properties button.
5. A new window will open. Click the Security tab at the top.
6. You will see a box labeled “Network security key” filled with black dots.
7. Check the box below it that says Show characters.
8. The black dots will change into your actual Wi-Fi password.

Method 3: Find Passwords for Past Networks (Command Prompt)

If you need the password for a network you are not currently connected to (like a coffee shop or a relative’s house), you must use the command line.

1. Click Start, type cmd, and press Enter to open the Command Prompt.
2. First, view a list of all saved networks by typing:
   netsh wlan show profile
3. Press Enter. Note the exact name (SSID) of the network you want under the “User profiles” section.
4. Type the following command, replacing NETWORKNAME with the exact name you just found:
   netsh wlan show profile name="NETWORKNAME" key=clear
   (Example: netsh wlan show profile name="HomeNetwork" key=clear)
5. Press Enter.
6. Scroll through the text output until you find the “Security settings” section. Look for the line labeled Key Content. The text next to it is the Wi-Fi password.