Introduction
Forgot your WiFi password but already connected the network on your Windows 10 PC?
Good news — Windows automatically saves every WiFi password, and you can easily retrieve it using Command Prompt (CMD) without any third-party software.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to view a WiFi password in Windows 10 using CMD, along with advanced commands and troubleshooting tips.
Useful internal links included:
How to View WiFi Password in Windows 10 Using CMD
Windows CMD provides special netsh commands that allow you to display saved WiFi network passwords.
Step 1: Open Command Prompt as Administrator
Follow these steps:
- Press Windows Key + S
- Type cmd
- Right-click Command Prompt
- Select Run as administrator
You must run CMD with admin rights to access WiFi profiles.
Step 2: View All Saved WiFi Networks
Enter the command below:
netsh wlan show profiles
This will list all WiFi network profiles stored on your PC.
Step 3: Display the Password of a Specific Network
Replace WiFiName with your actual network name:
netsh wlan show profile name="WiFiName" key=clear
Scroll down until you see:
👉 Key Content : your_password_here
That value is your WiFi password.
Alternative Method: View All Passwords at Once
You can reveal all saved WiFi passwords together:
netsh wlan show profiles name=* key=clear
Useful for recovering multiple network passwords quickly.
Troubleshooting (CMD Not Showing Password?)
If you don’t see “Key Content”:
✔ You are not running CMD as Administrator
✔ The WiFi profile may be corrupted
✔ Your PC has never connected to that WiFi network
✔ Password is hidden due to system encryption (rare)
Security Tip
Never share your WiFi password publicly, as access allows devices to join your home network.
Conclusion
Using CMD to view saved WiFi passwords in Windows 10 is fast, safe, and does not require any external software. Whether you forgot the password or need to share it with another device, these netsh commands make the process easy and reliable.
For more helpful Windows tutorials, check out:
FAQs
1. Can I view a WiFi password in Windows 10 without CMD?
Yes, through Network Settings > Wireless Properties > Security tab.
2. Can CMD show the password of a WiFi I was never connected to?
No, CMD only reveals passwords of previously connected networks.
3. Why does CMD show the WiFi password as blank?
Because the WiFi profile is corrupted or CMD isn’t running as Administrator.
4. Is CMD safe for viewing WiFi passwords?
Yes, it uses built-in Windows commands.
5. Can I use CMD to export WiFi settings?
Yes, using:
netsh wlan export profile key=clear