If you’ve ever forgotten your WiFi password but are still connected on your Windows 11 PC, chances are you can track it down pretty easily—no need to reset your router or dig through scraps of paper. It’s a bit of a weird one, but Windows keeps all this info tucked away, and with a few commands in Command Prompt, you can see the password for networks you’ve connected to before. Just run some commands as an admin, and the secret’s out.
How to See Your WiFi Password on Windows 11 CMD
This trick is handy if you need to reconnect a device, share the WiFi with a mate, or just jog your memory—Windows keeps the password saved, but it’s not exactly staring you in the face in the settings anymore. Once you do it right, the password should show up in the command output. Sometimes it’s a bit temperamental — worked smoothly on one machine, on another it might need a reboot or running as admin. No worries, she’ll be right.
Step 1: Fire up Command Prompt
First, hit the Windows key, type cmd in the search bar, then right-click and pick Run as administrator. Yeah, some commands need those admin rights, and Windows isn’t shy about requesting them. Skipping this step can lead to permission errors, so better to do it properly.
Step 2: Check out the Network Profiles
In the command window, type netsh wlan show profiles and press Enter. This will list all the WiFi networks your PC has connected to previously.
Make a note of the exact network name—spelling, spaces, everything matters. If you get it wrong, the command might not work or give you the wrong password. Take your time to get it right.
Step 3: Find the WiFi Password
Next, run netsh wlan show profile name="YOUR_NETWORK_NAME" key=clear, replacing YOUR_NETWORK_NAME with the actual network name you noted earlier. If there are spaces, put quotes around it—they help Windows understand it’s one name. Sometimes including quotes works better, other times not—you might need to try both. Be precise with your spelling.
This command will show detailed info about that network. Look for a line called Key Content under the Security settings; that’s the password. If it’s not appearing or seems missing, double-check the spelling and try again, maybe reboot your PC and run it once more.
Step 4: Write Down the Password
Just note what’s next to Key Content—that’s your WiFi password. Make sure you copy it correctly, ’cause a typo now can cause a headache later when you’re trying to connect again. Windows can be a bit quirky with special characters or spaces, so double-check what you see.
Step 5: Exit Command Prompt
Type exit and press Enter to close the window. Done! Now you’ve got the password saved or ready to share around the house.
Sometimes, you might need to run CMD as admin again if it doesn’t show the info initially or if you get permission errors. Remember, this trick only works if your PC has previously connected to that WiFi network—it’s just pulling up stored info, not magic.
Tips for Using Windows 11 CMD
- Always run Command Prompt as admin to avoid permission dramas.
- Triple-check the network name before running the command—typos are your enemy here.
- Keep your WiFi password safe—don’t go sharing it willy-nilly.
- It’s a good idea to update your passwords now and then, especially if you’ve got a few mates hopping on your WiFi.
- If commands don’t work, retype carefully—Windows doesn’t take kindly to typos or missing quotes.
FAQs
Can I see the WiFi password if I’m not connected to the network?
Nah, if you’ve never connected or Windows never stored the password, this won’t help. It only works if Windows already has the details saved.
What if “Key Content” doesn’t show a password?
If that line’s blank or it just says blank, it could mean the network is open (no password), or Windows can’t retrieve the info. Sometimes security policies block it, or it’s an open network.
Can I use this for any WiFi network?
Only ones you’ve connected to before and Windows has stored credentials for. If it’s a fresh network, this trick won’t do the job.
Is it safe to do this?
Fair dinkum, as long as you’re doing it on your own PC. Don’t go poking around networks you don’t own or don’t have permission for.
What if I get an error about ‘Permission Denied’?
Means you didn’t run CMD as admin. Make sure to right-click and select Run as administrator. Rebooting the PC can help, too.
Summary
- Open Command Prompt as admin.
- Type
netsh wlan show profiles. - Use
netsh wlan show profile name="network" key=clearwith the correct network name. - Look for the Key Content line—there’s your password.
- Close CMD when you’re done.
Hopefully, this saves you a fair bit of hassle. It’s a neat trick—strange how Windows keeps all this info but doesn’t just show it in your network settings. Maybe it’s for security, or just Windows being Windows. Either way, on one machine it worked a treat, on another a bit of fiddling was needed. Worth a go if you’re stuck.