How to Find Your Wi-Fi Password in Windows 11

You have guests over, and they want to connect to your home internet. The problem? You threw away the router’s instruction manual three years ago, and you cannot remember the impossibly long string of letters and numbers you set as the password.

If your Windows 11 PC is currently connected to that Wi-Fi network, you are in luck. Windows securely stores the password in plain text deep inside its networking settings. Here is how to find your Wi-Fi password in Windows 11 so you can share it with others.

Method 1: Using the Modern Settings App

Microsoft recently updated Windows 11 to make finding your Wi-Fi password much easier than it was in Windows 10.

1. Click the Start button on your taskbar.
2. Click the Settings icon (the gear symbol).
3. In the left-hand navigation menu, click on Network & internet.
4. At the top of the main window, click on Wi-Fi.
5. Click on Manage known networks. You will see a list of every Wi-Fi network your computer has ever connected to.
6. Click on the name of your current Wi-Fi network.
7. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and look for the “Wi-Fi security key” section.
8. Click the View button next to the hidden password.

A small pop-up window will appear, revealing your password in plain text. You can copy it to your clipboard or simply read it out loud to your guests.

Method 2: Using the Classic Control Panel

If you are running an older build of Windows 11 and the “View” button is not present in the modern Settings app, you can still retrieve the password using the classic Control Panel method.

1. Click the Start button, type Control Panel into the search bar, and hit Enter.
2. Under the “Network and Internet” heading, click on the blue View network status and tasks link.
3. This opens the Network and Sharing Center. Look at the right side of the screen for the “Connections:” section and click on the blue link containing your Wi-Fi network name.
4. A small “Wi-Fi Status” window will appear. Click the Wireless Properties button.
5. A new window will open. Click the Security tab at the top.
6. You will see a field labeled “Network security key” filled with black dots. Click the checkbox labeled Show characters directly below it.

Windows will ask for your administrator PIN or password. Once you authenticate, the black dots will vanish, revealing your Wi-Fi password.