How to Find Your Network Details (Username and Password) in Windows 11

Finding your Wi-Fi credentials, like the username and password, in Windows 11 isn’t as tricky as it might seem at first. Yeah, Windows loves to hide things behind a bunch of menus, and sometimes it feels like you need a bit of magic just to see your saved passwords. If a network’s credentials aren’t showing up in the usual places, there are other ways to get the info—especially if you’ve connected before and forgot the password, or you need it for a new device. This guide will help you uncover those details—sometimes you just gotta be a bit cheeky with some settings, command prompts, or network tools. The goal? Access your network info without pulling your hair out or having to reset everything.

How to Find Your Network Credentials (Username and Password) in Windows 11

Method 1: Check your Wi-Fi saved passwords with Command Prompt

This one’s a bit sneaky but works a treat. If you’ve connected to a Wi-Fi network before, Windows probably saved the password somewhere. It’s just a matter of pulling it out with a command. Why does it help? Because Windows stores these passwords in plain text inside system files, but you can get to them if you know the right commands. When they’re not obvious in the menus, this is your best shot.

Open Start menu and type cmd. Right-click on Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator. (This is important, as normal cmd might not have the permissions.)
Type netsh wlan show profiles and hit Enter. This shows a list of all Wi-Fi networks your PC has connected to before.
Pick the network you want the password for. Say it’s called MyWiFiNetwork. Then type: netsh wlan show profile name="MyWiFiNetwork" key=clear and press Enter.
Scroll through the output and look for a line called Key Content. That’s your Wi-Fi password in plain as day. Easy as!

Why it’s handy: It directly grabs your saved Wi-Fi passwords, so no need to hunt through menus or guess. If you’ve connected before but can’t remember the password, this trick’s a lifesaver. Sometimes it doesn’t work on the first try or Windows acts a bit funny, so a quick restart or running as admin might help.

Method 2: Use Windows Credential Manager

Sometimes, your username and passwords for network shares or other logins are stored in Credential Manager. To check this:

Hit the Start menu and search for Credential Manager. Or go via Control Panel > User Accounts > Credential Manager.
Click on Windows Credentials. You might find your network’s info listed here under “Generic Credentials” or similar.
Click on the relevant entries to see more details. For security reasons, Windows might not show the password outright—you might need to reset or check your router for that info.

This method mostly helps if you’re dealing with network shares or remote logins, but it’s worth a look if the first method doesn’t cut it.

Method 3: Check your router’s admin page

If all else fails, the router knows all about your Wi-Fi details—since that’s where you set them up in the first place. Here’s the quick rundown (not sure of your router’s IP? It’s usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1, but double-check your manual):

Open a web browser and type your router’s IP address into the address bar.
Log in with your admin username and password. If you’ve never changed it, it’s probably still the default—check the label on your router or Google your model.
Navigate to the wireless or Wi-Fi section. The menu varies a bit, but look for “Wireless,” “Wi-Fi settings,” or similar.
Here, you’ll see your network name and password. If it’s hidden, look for a “Show Password” option. That’s often the easiest way to check what your Wi-Fi password is if Windows isn’t playing ball.

Why do this? Because the router’s admin panel has your real credentials. Sometimes, the info displayed might be old or default, so it’s good to double-check what’s actually set.

More tips if you’re Struggling to Find Network Details

Make sure your Wi-Fi drivers are up to date—Windows can get a bit flaky if they’re out of date.
If you’re on a work or university network, check with your IT admin—they usually know the details or can help reset them.
Sometimes, disconnecting and reconnecting to Wi-Fi prompts Windows to ask for fresh credentials or re-save them properly.
If you previously connected but don’t see the network now, the info might be stored in your router or cloud management, not in Windows itself.

Summary

Use Command Prompt with netsh wlan show profile to find saved Wi-Fi passwords.
Check Credential Manager for stored network or share login details.
Log into your router’s webpage to see or reset your Wi-Fi password.
Keep your system and drivers up to date—sometimes all it takes is a quick reboot.

Wrap-up

This whole process can feel a bit like a treasure hunt, especially when Windows hides passwords unless you know where to look. It’s a bit weird, but once you get the hang of using command prompts or your router login, it’s not so bad. And don’t forget—keeping your firmware and drivers up to scratch helps avoid issues. Hopefully, this saves you some time digging around menus and configs. Good luck getting back into your networks!