If you've been connecting to the same wireless network for a while, it's easy to forget the password. Windows, macOS, Linux, and even your Android phone save Wi-Fi passwords so you don't have to type them every time, but sometimes you need to see them in plain text to connect a new device or share them with someone.
The good news is that you don't need to drive yourself crazy looking at the router's sticker or install any strange programs. With a few system options or a couple of commands, you can recover any Wi-Fi password saved on your computer , and even check it directly on the router if needed. Let's look at it step by step, covering all the most common systems.
How to view the current WiFi password in Windows 10 and Windows 11
When your PC is already connected to a wireless network, the most direct way to recover its password is through Windows' network settings . There's no need to install anything or use complicated commands; simply navigate to the correct settings.
In Windows 10, one of the easiest ways is to start from the connection icon in the taskbar:
- Right-click on the WiFi icon which appears at the bottom right, next to the clock.
- Choose the option “Open Network & Internet settings”You can also access it from the Start menu by going to Settings > Network & Internet.
- In the side menu select Wi ‑ Fi and scroll down to the advanced options to tap on Center network and sharing.
- In the "View active networks" section, you'll see your current network. To the right of "Connections" is the Wi-Fi name; click on it.
- The window will open Wi-Fi status. Press on Wireless properties.
- Go to the tab Security and look at the field “Network security key”.
- Check the box “Show characters”Windows will ask for administrator permissions and, upon accepting them, you will see the password in plain text.
In Windows 11 the process is very similar, although the menus are slightly different. You will always have to go through the Settings app and the network section.
- Opens Configuration from the Start menu or with the shortcut Windows + I.
- Sign in Network and Internet.
- Access to advanced adapter options to open the classic network connections window.
- Right-click on your WiFi connection, choose Status & AFTER Wireless properties.
- In the Security, active Show characters so that the content of the network security key.
This method works perfectly when you're currently connected to that network . If you want to recover passwords for networks used in the past, you'll need to use the command line.
View all saved WiFi passwords in Windows using commands
Windows saves a profile for every wireless network you connect to, and you can list these profiles and view their passwords using the netsh command . It's a quick and very useful method if you frequently move around with your laptop at home, in the office, to cafes, etc.
The process works on Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, and 11, and you can run it from the Command Prompt or from PowerShell with administrator privileges:
- Open a Run window with Win + R, writes cmd and press OK, or search for “Command Prompt” or “PowerShell” in the Start menu.
- It is recommended Run the console as administrator (right click > Run as administrator).
- Type the following command and press Enter:
netsh wlan show profiles
With that command, Windows will display the complete list of Wi-Fi networks whose profiles have been saved on the computer . You will see each network name (SSID) under the "User Profiles" section.
To see the password of a specific network, you have to use netsh again, this time specifying the network name:
- Run:
netsh wlan show profile name=networkname key=clear - Replaces networkname by the exact SSID that appears in the list above, respecting spaces and capital letters.
The results will show a lot of information about that profile: security settings, encryption type, etc. The key you're looking for is in the "Security settings" section, specifically in "Key Content ." That value is the Wi-Fi password in plain text.
If you prefer to use PowerShell, the procedure is the same, as the netsh commands work identically. Just make sure you open PowerShell with administrator privileges from the Start menu, and then run the same commands.
Other methods in Windows: Control Panel, PowerShell, and known networks
In addition to netsh and the Wi-Fi Status menu, Windows offers other ways to access the same information . These can be useful if you're not comfortable with commands or if you're using an older version of the system.
One of the classic methods is to do it from the Control Panel using the network connections applet:
- Balance Win + R to open Run.
- Write ncpa.cpl and confirm with Enter.
- The window will open Network connections from the Control Panel.
- Right-click on your WiFi connection and choose Status.
- Press on Wireless properties and go to the tab Security.
- Check the box Show characters, and you will see the password in “Network Security Key”.
If you prefer the command line, you can go straight to PowerShell or Command Prompt. On systems where you manage many networks, netsh is especially useful because it allows you to access all profiles from a single location , without having to switch between graphical windows.
Windows also allows you to view network keys for networks you're not currently connected to but that you saved earlier . In some builds of Windows 10, you can use the "Manage known networks" section within the Wi-Fi menu in Settings.
- Open Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi.
- Press on Manage known networks.
- Select the network that interests you.
- In the advanced options you can find the function to view the security key for that networkdepending on the Windows version.
If your interface doesn't show that option, you can always use the netsh method, which works whether you're connected or not , as long as the profile is still saved.
How to view saved WiFi passwords in Linux
On Linux desktop systems, WiFi passwords are also stored, usually through NetworkManager . The traditional way to retrieve them is by reading the configuration files with superuser privileges.
In most NetworkManager-based distributions, each wireless network has a file in the path:
/etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/
To view the password for a specific network, open a terminal and run:
- sudo cat /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/wifi_network_name | grep psk=
You must replace `nombre_de_la_red_wifi` with the actual name of the saved profile. The value that appears after “psk=" is the password for that Wi-Fi network.
If you don't know the exact name of the file or want to see the password for all stored networks, you can use:
- sudo grep psk = / etc / NetworkManager / system-connections / *
That command will scan all connection files and display the lines where the pre-shared key (PSK) for each network is stored.
Another very practical option is to use nmcli , the NetworkManager command-line interface, which allows you to view both the connection names and their keys :
- First, list all saved connections with:
nmcli -g NAME connection show - Then, to see only the password for a specific network, run:
nmcli -s -g 802-11-wireless-security.psk connection show NetworkName
Where NetworkName is the identifier given to you by the previous command. If you want to see all the details of that connection, simply remove the “-g 802-11-wireless-security.psk” part of the command and you will get a complete description of the profile, including security.
View saved WiFi passwords on macOS
On Macs, Apple centralizes passwords for wireless networks and many other things (websites, apps, certificates, etc.) in the Keychain Access system . This means that all the Wi-Fi passwords you've used are stored in Keychain Access or in the system's password manager.
The classic way to retrieve them is from the Keychain Access application , which is usually located in Applications > Utilities or in the "Other" folder of Launchpad:
- Opens Access to Keyrings.
- On the left panel, make sure you are in System or in the local items.
- At the top, select the category Passwords.
- In the search box in the upper right corner, type the name of the WiFi network you want to check.
- When you find her, you'll see that the type is usually “AirPort Network Password”.
- Double-click on the entry or press Command + i to open the information tab.
- Check the box "Show password".
- macOS will ask for your system administrator username and password; enter them.
After you authenticate, the Wi-Fi password will appear in plain text in the corresponding field . The advantage of this method is that you can see passwords for networks you're not currently connected to, as long as they were previously saved in your keychain.
In the latest versions of macOS, you also have a Passwords section within System Settings, where you can view and manage credentials for known networks. Wi-Fi passwords appear associated with the Known Networks section of the Wi-Fi network itself , and from there you can copy them to the clipboard if needed.
If you're comfortable with the terminal, macOS also allows you to recover WiFi keys from the command line, using the security tool :
- Open the app Bus Terminal from Launchpad > Other.
- Run the following command:
security find-generic-password -D “AirPort network password” -a “SSID” -gw - Replaces SSID by the name of the network whose password you want to see.
The system will ask for your administrator username and password again, and then display the password in the terminal output . This is very useful if you frequently use the command line or want to automate tasks.
How to view saved WiFi password on Android
On a modern Android phone, it's also possible to retrieve the password for a known Wi-Fi network without needing root access or any unusual apps. Starting with Android 10, the system itself includes a feature to share the Wi-Fi network using a QR code and display the password in plain text.
Menu names may vary slightly depending on the manufacturer, but the general approach is as follows:
- Open the WiFi settings from your phone.
- Enter the section Saved networks or “Known Networks”.
- Select the network whose password you want to recover.
- Press on Share or in the QR code icon.
For security reasons, the system will ask you to identify yourself (PIN, pattern, fingerprint, etc.). Afterward, a QR code will appear on the screen along with the network password in plain text, usually under a label such as "Wi-Fi Network Password ." From there, you can copy it or dictate it to someone next to you.
View or change the WiFi password from the router
Beyond computers and mobile devices, the real key to managing your network is the router . From its administration panel, you can view the current password, change it to a more secure one, or even create a guest network to avoid sharing your main password.
Most home routers are managed from an address like 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 , which you type into your browser's address bar. If you don't know your router's IP address, you can find it in Windows using the command `ipconfig` in the Command Prompt, looking for the "default gateway".
Once you enter that IP address into your browser, the router will ask for your username and password. If you've never changed them, they'll be printed on a sticker on the device itself or in the documentation from your internet service provider . After logging in, each brand has its own interface, but they all usually have a clearly visible Wi-Fi section where you can:
- View the network name (SSID) and current key.
- change password for another that is safer, longer, and harder to guess.
- activate a guest network with their own key for family members or visitors.
On routers from operators like Movistar, Vodafone or Orange, you can also manage this from their official mobile applications (Smart WiFi, My Vodafone, My Orange, etc.), where you will see the password, be able to change it and see which devices are connected.
A good security habit is to change your Wi-Fi password and network name from time to time , especially if you've been using the default one for years. When you do this, remember that you'll need to update the password on all devices that connect to your network, or even learn how to remove people from your Wi-Fi if necessary.
Third-party programs to view WiFi passwords on Windows
While the system tools are more than sufficient, there are network auditing and analysis applications designed to list and recover all the Wi-Fi passwords saved on a Windows PC. These are useful when managing multiple computers or many networks.
Among the classic options is WiFi Password Revealer , a free tool that displays, in a single window, the network name, password, authentication type, encryption, and other details. It's designed for older versions of Windows (XP, 7, 8) and may not be compatible with newer versions , so it's best to check compatibility beforehand.
There are also much more advanced solutions, geared towards network auditing and analysis, such as Wifiphisher, Kismet, Wireshark, and Airgeddon , and even commercial tools like CommView for WiFi and Omnipeek . These applications allow you to do things like monitor traffic, capture packets, analyze security, and so on, so they should be used responsibly and only on your own networks or with explicit permission.
In the Windows environment, there are utilities like NirSoft's Manage Wireless Networks that display all saved networks with their parameters (SSID, authentication, encryption, etc.) and allow you to edit, change passwords, or delete profiles in bulk . These are very useful when managing many Wi-Fi profiles in environments with multiple versions of Windows.
How to delete a saved WiFi password so that your PC forgets it.
You might not be interested in seeing the password, but rather the opposite: deleting a saved network so your computer stops connecting automatically . This can be useful when you no longer use a public network, an old work network, or a relative's home network.
In Windows 10, the process to forget a network is simple from Settings:
- Opens Configuration from the beginning.
- Sign in Network and Internet and later Wi ‑ Fi.
- Press on Manage known networks.
- Select the network you want to delete.
- Click on Stop remembering or “Remove” to have Windows delete the profile and its password.
From that point on, if you want to reconnect to that network, you'll have to enter the password again . This is useful, for example, if you suspect the password has been compromised and you've changed it on the router; it forces the system to ask for the new one.
On macOS, the process is also simple, accessible through System Settings:
- Open the Apple menu and go to System settings.
- Go to section Wi ‑ Fi.
- Press on Details or on the known networks button.
- Find the network you want to delete, tap the options button (three dots) and choose Remove from the list or “Skip this network”.
- Confirm when prompted and the network will be deleted from the system.
You can also delete networks directly from Keychain Access , removing the entry for that WiFi, which will cause macOS to stop remembering it and connecting automatically.
Once you know how to view, share, and delete your wireless network keys on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and from the router itself, you have complete control over your WiFi passwords without relying on faded stickers or dubious apps , and you can better manage the security of your connection and that of those who connect to it.
