How to find forgotten Wi-Fi passwords and SSIDs in Windows and Android
- Reference: 1753466473
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2025/07/25/find_wifi_passwords_ssids_windows_android/
- Source link:
Fortunately, Windows 10 and 11, and Android keep a record of all your stored network connections, and if you know what to do, you can find the SSIDs and passwords to share with a friend or use on another device.
Find the password for your current connection in Windows
The easiest password to find is the one for the network you're currently connected to. To see a list of current network connections, search for "View Network Connections" in Windows search and click on it.
[1]
View network connections - Click to enlarge
You'll then be transported to a screen with a list of all your network adapters on it, including any Ethernet adapters or virtual adapters used for VMs. Your Wi-Fi adapter should be listed there and show itself connected to the current network SSID.
[2]
screen showing all network connections in Windows - Click to enlarge
Right click on the current network connection and select Status.
[3]
Select Status - Click to enlarge
Then click the Wireless Properties button.
[4]
Click the Wireless Properties button - Click to enlarge
Navigate to the Security tab.
[5]
Navigate to the Security tab - Click to enlarge
Check Show characters and the Wi-Fi password for the current network will become visible in the Network security key field.
[6]
Check Show characters - Click to enlarge
You can now copy that password into your clipboard to send to others or type it into a different device.
[7]Print Screen is for noobs: Capture images in Windows like a pro
[8]Copilot Vision on Windows 11 sends data to Microsoft servers
[9]How to host a Linux-powered local dev site in Windows
[10]If you're forced to use Windows 11, here's how to steal some of your time back
Finding SSIDs and passwords for older networks
What happens if your friend needs to know the Wi-Fi password for the office network, but you're in a different location, so you're not actively connected to it? Good news. Windows provides a way to get the SSIDs and passwords for every network you've ever connected to.
First, open a command prompt (it does not need to be an elevated command prompt). The easiest way to do this is to search for "cmd" in Windows search.
[11]
Launch command prompt - Click to enlarge
At the command prompt, enter the following command to see a list of all Wi-Fi profiles. netsh wlan show profile
You'll see a list of all the Wi-Fi networks you've ever connected to on that PC.
[12]
netsh wlan show profile - Click to enlarge
Locate the exact name of the Wi-Fi network you want to get the password for. Then enter it as follows: netsh wlan show profile [NETWORK NAME] key=clear
If the SSID has any spaces in it, be sure to put quotes around the name. For example, when I searched for Valhallan Huntington, a network for an esports training center where I take my son, I entered: netsh wlan show profile "ValHallan Huntington" key=clear
You can then find the password in plain text under Security Settings->Key Content.
[13]
Show wlan password - Click to enlarge
As with any text you see in a Windows command prompt shell, you can copy the password to your clipboard by highlighting it and hitting Enter (do not hit CTRL+C).
Get forgotten Wi-Fi passwords from your Android device
Android phones and tablets also allow you to view stored Wi-Fi SSIDs and passwords. Depending on what Android version and skin you have, the method for doing this may vary slightly. Here's how I did it on a stock Android phone, a Google Pixel 8a running Android 15.
First, swipe down from the top of your screen to get the quick settings menu, then select "Internet."
[14]
Select Internet from quick settings - Click to enlarge
If you want the current network, tap on its name right here. It should be at the top.
[15]
Select the current network (if that is what you need) - Click to enlarge
If you want a network that you're not connected to at the moment, scroll down and tap on See All, then scroll to tap Saved networks.
[16]
Tap saved networks if you need a non-current network - Click to enlarge
Then tap the name of the network you wish to view.
[17]
Tap the network name you want to select - Click to enlarge
On the next screen, you'll be shown some information about the network. Click Share.
[18]
Click Share - Click to enlarge
You'll be asked to verify your identity at this point, perhaps with a facial login (if you have one set up) or a PIN. On the next screen, you'll be shown both a QR code and the actual Wi-Fi password in text.
[19]
Password and QR code for network - Click to enlarge
If there's another Android device you want to share with, you can have that device scan the QR code. Otherwise, it's easiest just to copy and paste the password into an email, a text message, or an instant message to send to the person who needs it.®
Get our [20]Tech Resources
[1] https://regmedia.co.uk/2025/07/25/wifi1.jpg
[2] https://regmedia.co.uk/2025/07/25/wifi2.png
[3] https://regmedia.co.uk/2025/07/25/wifi3.jpg
[4] https://regmedia.co.uk/2025/07/25/wifi4.png
[5] https://regmedia.co.uk/2025/07/25/wifi5.png
[6] https://regmedia.co.uk/2025/07/25/wifi6.png
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2025/07/24/screenshot_windows/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2025/07/23/microsoft_copilot_vision/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2025/07/23/linux_dev_site_windows/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2025/07/21/windows_11_productivity_sink/
[11] https://regmedia.co.uk/2025/07/25/wifi7.jpg
[12] https://regmedia.co.uk/2025/07/25/wifi8.png
[13] https://regmedia.co.uk/2025/07/25/wifi9.png
[14] https://regmedia.co.uk/2025/07/25/wifi10.jpg
[15] https://regmedia.co.uk/2025/07/25/wifi11.jpg
[16] https://regmedia.co.uk/2025/07/25/wifi12.jpg
[17] https://regmedia.co.uk/2025/07/25/wifi13.jpg
[18] https://regmedia.co.uk/2025/07/25/wifi14.jpg
[19] https://regmedia.co.uk/2025/07/25/wifi15.jpg
[20] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Thanks for the Windows method
I'm just going to remember: netsh wlan show profiles
Since that does everything.
Just to add, on IOS: Wifi Settings, Edit (subject to Touch ID)
shows all historically known networks, then you tap i, then the password of one to show it.
Re: Thanks for the Windows method
You can shorten it to netsh wl sh prof .
Also, netsh wl sh n m=b is handy for showing all nearby access points and their signal ratio, MAC address, radio type (b/g/n/ac/ax) and the wireless channel.
Poor man's wireless survey.
Re: Thanks for the Windows method
The recent windows systems have a complete console management environment, but 90% of windows "sysadmins" don't even know what a shell is. This is so sad. (Linux sysadmin here, so I know that Windows can do these things but I don't know how)
PS: It's still true that windows shell is far from optimized and a lot of commands are either obscure or overly verbose, making them quite hard to use unless you happen to have a lot of recipes ready to copy-paste from, because typing in a lot of overly verbose commands is a pain in the you know where.
Re: Thanks for the Windows method
It’s a pain in the Clonker!
You don’t have to sugar coat it, we’ve all been there!
Re: Thanks for the Windows method
"90% of windows "sysadmins" don't even know what a shell is."
92.4% of all statistics are made up on the spot. This is so sad.
"It's still true that windows shell is far from optimized"
How so?
"It's true more Linux admins live in their parents' basements, write Microsoft with a dollar sign and have a Tux plush toy adorning their battle station.
"and a lot of commands are either obscure or overly verbose"
Powershell IS verbose, but I think it also makes it more readable. All the Powershell commands and their parameters have tab completion which makes them easier to use.
Also, how are the commands more obscure? Netsh and all the rest [1]are well documented.
[1] https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/windows-commands
Re: Thanks for the Windows method
“on IOS: Wifi Settings, Edit (subject to Touch ID)”
No such thing!
On ios you can open Settings, choose Wi-Fi, and there is no “Edit.”
You can tap the currently connected Network from which you can: Forget This Network; Auto-Join on/off; Low Data Mode on/off; Private Wi-Fi Address on/off; Limit IP Address Tracking on/off; Configure IP automatic/manual/bootp; Configure DNS automatic/manual; and Configure Proxy off/manual/automatic.
No such button as “Edit”, you lie.
Re: Thanks for the Windows method
On iOS(18.5 and previous): Settings > Wi-Fi
Top right corner “Edit” is in blue, touch, enter passcode/Touch ID.
You will then be presented with a list of all known networks.
Is it only me that finds it horrific that all wifi devices will give up keys that easily?
How else would it know how to log into them?
And that is why it's a good idea to wipe devices you donate / chuck out / sell. It's genuinely scary how often I've heard of people buying second hand gear with someone's stuff still on it.
It’s a full factory rest/restore without preservation of user configuration/data.
With Windows, in the absence of deep cleaning tools like Evidence Eliminator, it’s the only way to clear all of Windows “private” caches and NTFS MFT. A problem is large “disks” make full disk wiping a bit of a time consumer.
More Goddamned-Creepy User-Tracking
You'll see a list of all the Wi-Fi networks you've ever connected to on that PC.
All "excused" in the name of "user convenience".
Re: More Goddamned-Creepy User-Tracking
You can remove ("forget") them. I haven't specifically checked, but I'd be surprised if it remembered the key for any network that you told the device to forget.
Re: More Goddamned-Creepy User-Tracking
The 64,000-Dollar Question: does the 'forget wireless network' feature remove all instances of that data from your device, or just remove it from the displayed list?
Re: More Goddamned-Creepy User-Tracking
Not necessarily straight away. Remember how the registry works, so whilst it has been removed form the current control set, it may still be present in the backup copies 001, 002, 003 and any snap shots you may have made.
"What happens if your friend needs to know the Wi-Fi password for the office network ... "
The friend calls the IT helpdesk if only to confirm they are permitted access to that network.
That per user authentication and authorisation to access resources isn't implemented (.1X?) across enterprise networks still astonishes me.
Wifi AP "passwords" are barely better than the Moria gate's "speak 'friend' and enter."
Re: "What happens if your friend needs to know the Wi-Fi password for the office network ... "
WPA-PSK was made for home use. WPA Enterprise is there for business use, and even better have wifi connect to the internet and then use a vpn to connect to the LAN.
Re: "What happens if your friend needs to know the Wi-Fi password for the office network ... "
> and even better have wifi connect to the internet and then use a vpn to connect to the LAN.
Most places will have a “Staff” network ideally running WPA2-Enterprise but in smaller organisations might be WPA-PSK, which is equivalent to plugging a cable into an Ethernet port, and “Visitor” which will have reduced protections and as you note connect users straight onto the internet.
I have often blocked Guest to Staff VPN so users can’t accidentally connect to the wrong network and complain that things like printers aren’t working.
I remember
that Windows Phones could allow you to share network credentials eg your home network to a contact without - somehow - actually showing the password.
But presumably the password was stored in the clear(?) somewhere on your contacts device once he received it.
Re: I remember
It was called [1]Wi-Fi Sense , allowing you to share wireless password with another Windows 10 device (computers too), supposedly in a way that the person receiving the password couldn't access it or share it further. So, not cleartext.
Most businesses back then (and probably even now - including many small biz) didn't have user authentication, just a shared secret WPA password. You needed to have '_optout' in the network SSID to opt out of this Wi-Fi Sense thing. It was a braindead idea from the beginning and MS removed it in the next Win10 version.
Similarly Google decided to [2]map all WLAN names with their Streetview cars and Android phones , but you could opt out by having '_nomap' at the end of the SSID. At least the password wasn't shared.
[1] https://www.theregister.com/2015/06/30/windows_10_wi_fi_sense/
[2] https://www.theregister.com/2011/11/15/wi_fi_privacy_google/
Re: I remember
thanks.
I think I might have intended to write "(in the clear?)" but I'm obviously not smart enough to check what I wrote before clicking 'submit'....
I just...
... keep all logons to anything in seperate text files, zipped into a single encrypted ZIP file. Which exists on multiple drives/sites.
Hamburglar
All my passwords are “Hambur6!ar”, everywhere I go. I make sure everyone knows it in case I get forgetful.
The one piss-off is my work password, which doesn’t let me use any of the last 10 passwords. So every 90 days I have to change password 10 times in a row to FakePassw()rd1, FakePassw()rd2, and so on sequentially, until I hit FakePassw()rd99 or however far they make me go, before I can switch back to Hambur6!ar, which as I said is my password I use everywhere for everything.
Re: Hamburglar
Our metro library uses the Microsoft Windows-based "Pharos" shared computer software, which disallows special characters in passphrases.
Re: Hamburglar
Special characters are a real bane. It seems everyone has different ideas about what special characters are and are not permissible. Just like some websites tell you to use a password longer than x but don’t tell you it must be shorter than y (eg. x=8, y=12).
When I visit ...
... my favorite coffee shop with a new piece of hardware, I just glance at the big sign on the wall with their WiFi password.
my Samsung (Android13) doesn't let me see Wifi passwords.
Exactly, on Samsung, you xan get the QR code, and only for a network you're connected to, not for the registered ones. A QR code reader can then provide the password, obviously, a clunky process.
You can, though it's well hidden
In One UI 7:
Wifi, three dots menu top-right, advanced settings, manage networks.
Scroll to the one you want*, tap it to open, then toggle the "eye" to view.
It's changed a few times though.
* Likely a very long way as it's every wifi your account has connected to, not just this phone
Re: You can, though it's well hidden
If keith_w's phone is like mine, its One UI version (on Android 13) will be ~5, and lacking in its ability to show these passwords.
(Or it's possible that a Samsung Account is needed, but I'm not getting one to find out)
My favorite aspect of this article is the reminder of all the old, old Control Panel goodness still lurking beneath the "modern" UI.