What is my Wi-Fi password? Extracting Wi-Fi passwords from Windows

Published on March 26th, 2023

If you’ve saved a Wi-Fi password into Windows as part of connecting to the network, and need to extract it at a later date (e.g. for use in another device), you’ll be pleased to know that Windows gives you a way to extract saved Wi-Fi passwords. You just need to have administrator rights on the device.

Extracting the current Wi-Fi network password

If you’re currently connected to the Wi-Fi network that you need to extract the password for, this is the easiest method to extract the Wi-Fi password from Windows:

Left-click on the Wi-Fi icon in the system tray (icons in the clock in Windows) and choose “Network & Internet settings”
Choose “Change adapter options”
From the list of connections, right-click the “Wireless Network Connection” that you are currently connected to (those not connected will have a red cross and “Not connected” stated against them), and choose “Properties”
Choose “Wireless Properties”
Go to the “Security” tab
Tick the “Show characters” checkbox, to unmask the password for the currently connected Wi-Fi network

It is best to choose “Cancel” to exit this window, to avoid accidentally overwriting the password saved in your computer for this Wi-Fi network.

Extracting another Wi-Fi network password

If you aren’t currently connected to the Wi-Fi network that you need to extract the password for, you will need to use the Command Prompt to extract the Wi-Fi password from Windows:

Open Command Prompt (press the Windows key, and type “cmd” and select “Command Prompt”
Run the below command to display all Wi-Fi networks saved to this PC:
netsh wlan show profiles
Identify and note the exact name of the relevant Wi-Fi network you wish to extract the password for. The name to note is to the right of the semi-colon

C:\Users\Artexic>netsh wlan show profiles

Profiles on interface Wireless Network Connection:

Group policy profiles (read only)
---------------------------------
    <None>

User profiles
-------------
    All User Profile     : MyHomeWifi
    All User Profile     : Linksys0123
    All User Profile     : Galaxy A403545
    All User Profile     : BTHub4-72FG


C:\Users\Artexic>

Run the below command to display the details of the Wi-Fi network, including the password. Change “myhomewifi” for the exact name from the previous command output.
netsh wlan show profile name=”MyHomeWifi” key=clear
Look through the output. Under “Security settings”, there is a “Key Content” attribute which will show you the saved password for this connection. In the example below “Bell#37Higher” is the Wi-Fi password.

C:\Users\Artexic>netsh wlan show profile name="MyHomeWifi" key=clear

Profile MyHomeWifi on interface Wireless Network Connection:
=======================================================================

Applied: All User Profile

Profile information
-------------------
    Version                : 1
    Type                   : Wireless LAN
    Name                   : MyHomeWifi
    Control options        :
        Connection mode    : Connect automatically
        Network broadcast  : Connect only if this network is broadcasting
        AutoSwitch         : Do not switch to other networks
        MAC Randomization  : Disabled

Connectivity settings
---------------------
    Number of SSIDs        : 1
    SSID name              : "MyHomeWifi"
    Network type           : Infrastructure
    Radio type             : [ Any Radio Type ]
    Vendor extension          : Not present

Security settings
-----------------
    Authentication         : WPA2-Personal
    Cipher                 : CCMP
    Authentication         : WPA2-Personal
    Cipher                 : GCMP
    Security key           : Present
    Key Content            : Bell#37Higher

Cost settings
-------------
    Cost                   : Unrestricted
    Congested              : No
    Approaching Data Limit : No
    Over Data Limit        : No
    Roaming                : No
    Cost Source            : Default


C:\Users\Artexic>