How to Find the Wi-Fi Password in Windows 11

To find out the Wi-Fi password in Windows 11, you need to open Settings and go to the Network & Internet section. Click on Manage Wi-Fi connections, then go to the Manage known networks section. Select the desired Wi-Fi network and click the “Show” button. The password and a QR code for connection will appear in a new window.

In this article, I will explain this in more detail and provide screenshots. We will also look at other ways to find the Wi-Fi password in Windows 11.

You can view the Wi-Fi password in Windows 11 settings for both the currently connected Wi-Fi network and a saved one. You can also use the command prompt. We will need just two commands: the first command will display a list of saved Wi-Fi networks, and the second command will reveal the wireless network key.

Viewing the Wi-Fi Password in Windows 11 Settings

After the 23H2 update, Windows 11 introduced the ability to view passwords for all saved Wi-Fi networks directly in Settings. This is the easiest method, and I recommend using it.

Step 1

Open Settings and go to Network & Internet > Wi-Fi. Alternatively, click on the Wi-Fi icon near the clock, open Manage Wi-Fi connections, and then click on More Wi-Fi settings.

Step 2

Go to the Manage known networks section.

Step 3

A list of saved Wi-Fi networks will appear. Find the Wi-Fi network for which you want to see the password and click on it. For example, in my case, it is the “TP-Link_8937_5G” network.

Step 4

To view the password for this network, click the Show button next to the Wi-Fi network password field. A window will appear displaying the password for this Wi-Fi network along with a QR code for connection.

You can simply point your phone’s camera at this QR code, and it will prompt you to connect to the Wi-Fi network without entering the password.

Other Ways to Find the Password

If, for some reason, you were unable to find the password using the method described above, you can do it through the Network Connections window in the old Control Panel. There are three ways to access these settings. Let’s look at them in detail.

1. Through the Network Connections Window

Step 1

Open Settings either by right-clicking on the Start menu and selecting Settings or by pressing the Windows + I keys.

Step 2

Navigate to the Network & Internet section and choose Advanced network settings. If you have Windows 11 updates installed, this option may not be available. Use another method.

Step 3

Select More network adapter options.

Step 4

Access the status of the Wi-Fi adapter.

Step 5

Click on the Wireless Properties button. In the new window, move to the Security tab and tick the Show characters box. The Network Security Key field will then display the password for the currently connected Wi-Fi network in Windows 11.

You can copy the password and send it to another device if needed.

2. Using the Old Control Panel

Step 1

Open the Start menu, type “Control Panel” in the search bar, and launch the Control Panel application.

Step 2

In the View by dropdown, choose Category. Then, under the Network and Internet category, click on View network status and tasks.

Step 3

In the next window, click on the name of your Wi-Fi network for which you want to view the password.

Step 4

Click the Wireless Properties button, navigate to the Security tab, select Show characters, and the Wi-Fi password will be visible in the Network Security Key field.

3. Using the Run Dialog

Step 1

The quickest and simplest way to open the Network Connections window is through the command ncpa.cpl. Press the Win + R keys, type ncpa.cpl in the command field, and click OK.

Step 2

Either double-click on the Wi-Fi adapter or right-click and choose Status. In the popup window, select Wireless Properties. Switch to the Security tab and tick Show characters. The Network Security Key field will reveal the Wi-Fi password.

Note: You can view this password, but avoid altering it here, as it could disrupt Wi-Fi connectivity.

How to View All Saved Wi-Fi Passwords in Windows 11 Using Command Prompt

Let’s say you need to retrieve the password for your home Wi-Fi network, but you’re currently in a different location and your computer isn’t connected to that network. However, you’ve connected to that network in the past. Windows 11 stores passwords for all wireless networks to which it has connected.

Step 1

Open the Command Prompt. I usually access it through search. Click the Start menu and type Command Prompt. Then right-click on the Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.

Step 2

Copy the following command:

netsh wlan show profiles

Paste it into the Command Prompt and press Enter. This command displays a list of saved Wi-Fi networks on Windows 11.

For instance, if you want to find out the password for a Wi-Fi network named “Xiaomi_3965_5G“, copy the network name. Then use the command in the Command Prompt:

netsh wlan show profile name=WifiConnectionName key=clear

Remember to replace “WifiConnectionName” with the actual name of the Wi-Fi network whose password you wish to view.

For me, the command is:

netsh wlan show profile name=Xiaomi_3965_5G key=clear

Paste this command into the Command Prompt and hit Enter.

Next to Key Content, the password for that Wi-Fi network will be displayed.

Other Ways to Find Your Wi-Fi Password

If, for some reason, Windows 11 doesn’t share the passwords with you, or if you don’t have a computer connected to the desired Wi-Fi network, you might want to consider other solutions.

1. One program I often use is WirelessKeyView. Ensure you download it from the official website and then run it. This program is free of charge. After launching it, the software will display your computer’s saved Wi-Fi networks and their respective passwords. Each Wi-Fi network’s password will be shown in the “Key” field. I have tested the program on Windows 11, and it functions well.
   The software also allows you to copy a password, which is useful if you want to share it through a messenger. Simply right-click on the desired network and choose Copy Key.
2. Typically, a variety of devices are connected to a Wi-Fi network. This includes not just computers and laptops but also smartphones. As such, you can view the Wi-Fi password on both Android phones and iPhones.
3. Additionally, you can locate the Wi-Fi network password within your router or modem’s settings. To do this, access the router’s settings either through a browser-based web interface or a mobile app. The password is often found in the Wi-Fi or Wireless section.

Now you know several methods to retrieve your Wi-Fi password in Windows 11. I hope everything worked out for you. If you have any questions or remarks, feel free to leave them in the comments. I’ll be happy to answer and assist you!