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How to see saved Wi-Fi passwords on Windows and Mac

Why waste energy remembering things when our computers can do it for you?

Wi-fi logo with blurred background
Image: KnowTechie

If you don’t reconnect to your wireless network often, months or even years could pass before you need to enter your password again. That’s why a refresher on how to see all saved Wi-Fi passwords on Windows and Mac might be in order.

When you want to connect a new device or give someone else access to your Wi-Fi, you must provide the security key. That isn’t easy to do if you don’t know what it is.

Fortunately, both Windows and macOS retain the security credentials for all the wireless networks you’ve joined. Let’s discuss how to reveal saved Wi-Fi passwords on Windows and Mac.

How to find all Wi-Fi passwords on Windows

If you prefer to use Microsoft’s operating system, here’s how to see all Wi-Fi passwords on Windows:

  1. Search for Command Prompt from the search icon on your taskbarScreenshot of windows 11 showing a search for the term "command prompt"

  2. Right-click Run as administrator, and click Yes when promptedScreenshot of windows 11 showing the run as administrator menu option to run command prompt

  3. Type or paste netsh wlan show profile and press EnterWindows command prompt

  4. Locate the Wi-Fi network name you want to checkWindows command prompt showing all of the wifi networks with saved passwords on my pc

  5. Type netsh wlan show profile “Network Name” key=clear and press Enter. The image below shows the command for one of my networks, netsh wlan show profile Zyxel-7FA0 key=clearWindows command prompt showing the command to see the wifi password for a selected network

  6. Check the Key Content field under Security Settings for the passwordWindows command prompt showing the wifi password for the selected network

READ MORE: How to add a printer to Mac

That’s how to find every Wi-Fi password you’ve ever stored on Windows. What if you only want the password for the network you’re currently connected to? Read on and we’ll show you.

How to find current Wi-Fi password on Windows

If you only need to find the password for the network you’re currently connected to, you can use Control Panel to perform the task a little quicker.

Here’s how to find the password for the currently connected network on Windows:

  1. Search for Control Panel and click on it to open
Windows 11 search showing control panel
Image: KnowTechie
  1. Go to Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center
Windows control panel with network and sharing center highlighted
Image: KnowTechie
  1. Click your Wi-Fi network name beside Connections
Screenshot of windows control panel networking
Image: KnowTechie
  1. Click Wireless Properties
Screenshot of windows wireless properties
Image: KnowTechie
  1. Select the Security tab
Screenshot of windows wireless properties menu
Image: KnowTechie
  1. Tick the Show characters box to reveal the password
Screenshot of windows wireless properties popup showing the wifi password
Image: KnowTechie

Now you can always find the password of the Wi-Fi network that you’re currently connected to.

How to find all Wi-Fi passwords on Mac

If you prefer Appl’s operating system, here’s how to see all Wi-Fi passwords on Mac:

  1. Launch Keychain Access from Finder > Applications > Utilities
Screenshot of macos finder showing the keychain access app
Image: KnowTechie
  1. Select System in the side menu
Screenshot of macos keychain access app with system highlighted
Image: KnowTechie
  1. Click Passwords to filter out irrelevant items
Screenshot of macos keychain access app with passwords tab highlighted
Image: KnowTechie
  1. Double-click the Wi-Fi network name you want to check
Screenshot of macos keychain access app with a wifi password name highlighted
Image: KnowTechie
  1. Tick the Show password box and enter your admin credentials to reveal the password
Screenshot of macos keychain access app showing the saved wifi password
Image: KnowTechie

Now you know where to find all your Wi-Fi passwords saved on your Mac.

Windows and macOS remember your passwords for ages

Why waste energy remembering things when our computers can do it for us?

With the advancement of technology, we no longer need to crowd our heads with passwords, important dates, or anything noncritical to our immediate survival.

By default, Windows and macOS retain all your Wi-Fi security keys. And if you allow your OS to save other passwords you don’t want to remember, it will retain them too.

Soon we’ll be so good at not remembering things that we’ll forget how to log on to our computers to access all the things we don’t remember. At that point, civilization will surely fall.

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Matt is an Australian writer with a degree in creative and critical writing. Prior to commencing his studies, he worked in tech support and gained valuable insights into technology and its users. He is also an editor and author coach at Dean Publishing.

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