How to See Your Wireless Network Security Key Password in Windows 10
When you connect to a new wireless network, Windows will create a profile for the wireless network. A wireless (Wi-Fi) network profile contains the SSID (network name), password key, and security information to be able to connect to a wireless network.
A wireless network security key is the password required to be able to connect your PC to a secured access point (ex: router) on a wireless network.
This tutorial will show you different ways on how to find the security key password of your wireless network connection in Windows 10.
Contents
- Option One: To Find All Wireless Network Security Key Passwords in PowerShell
- Option Two: To Find Wireless Network Security Key Password in Command Prompt
- Option Three: To Find Wireless Network Security Key Password in Wireless Network Properties
- Option Four: To Find Wireless Network Security Key Password in Wireless Router
1 Open PowerShell.
2 Copy and paste the command below you want to use into PowerShell, and press Enter.
(outputs inside PowerShell)
(netsh wlan show profiles) | Select-String "\:(.+)$" | %{$name=$_.Matches.Groups[1].Value.Trim(); $_} | %{(netsh wlan show profile name="$name" key=clear)} | Select-String "Key Content\W+\:(.+)$" | %{$pass=$_.Matches.Groups[1].Value.Trim(); $_} | %{[PSCustomObject]@{ PROFILE_NAME=$name;PASSWORD=$pass }} | Format-Table -Wrap
OR
(outputs to text file on your desktop)
(netsh wlan show profiles) | Select-String "\:(.+)$" | %{$name=$_.Matches.Groups[1].Value.Trim(); $_} | %{(netsh wlan show profile name="$name" key=clear)} | Select-String "Key Content\W+\:(.+)$" | %{$pass=$_.Matches.Groups[1].Value.Trim(); $_} | %{[PSCustomObject]@{ PROFILE_NAME=$name;PASSWORD=$pass }} | Format-Table -Wrap | Out-File "$env:userprofile\Desktop\WirelessNetworkPasswords.txt"
3 You will now see a list of all your wireless network profiles with their SSID name and password. (see screenshots below)
1 Open a command prompt.
2 Type thenetsh wlan show profiles
command into the command prompt, and press Enter.
3 You will now see a list of all wireless network profiles on each interface on your PC. Make note of the wireless profile SSID name you want to see the password (security key) of. (see screenshot below)
4 Type the command below into the command prompt, and press Enter.5 You will see this wireless network's security key to the right of Key Content under the Security settings section. (see screenshot below)
netsh wlan show profile name="SSID" key=clear
Substitute SSID in the command above with the actual wireless network profile SSID name.
For example:netsh wlan show profile name="Brink-Router2" key=clear
1 Open the Win+X Quick Link menu, and click/tap on Network Connections.
2 Click/tap on the wireless network connection (ex: Brink-Router2). (see screenshot below)
3 Click/tap on the Wireless Properties button. (see screenshot below)
4 Click/tap on the Security tab, and check the Show characters box under Network security key to be able to see it. (see screenshot below)
Please read the manual for the brand and model of your wireless router for more specific details on how to do the step below since this will vary per router.
1 Log in to your wireless router, open the Wireless Setup page, and look for the password of the wireless network you want. (see screenshots below)
Note
If you have not changed the security key in your router's wireless settings, or have reset your router back to default, then some wireless router manufacturers set a default security key or password which may be on the bottom of your router or in the router’s documentation. Look for the following terms:
- Passphrase
- Password
- Network Key
- Security Key
- Wireless Key
- WPA Key
- WPA2 Key
- WEP Key
That's it,
Shawn
Related Tutorials
- How to Add a Wireless Network Profile in Windows 10
- How to Connect To a Wireless Network in Windows 10
- How to Delete a Wireless Network Profile in Windows 10
- How to See List of Wireless Network Profiles in Windows 10
- How to Backup and Restore Wireless Network Profiles in Windows 10