Quick answer: Run netsh wlan show profile name="YourNetwork" key=clear in an elevated Command Prompt. Look for Key Content in the output — that is your WiFi password.
In This Guide
Step-by-Step: Show WiFi Password with CMD
Step 1: Open Command Prompt as Administrator
- Press Win + S and type cmd
- Right-click Command Prompt in the results
- Click Run as administrator
- Click Yes in the UAC prompt
Must be admin: Running without administrator rights will hide the Key Content field. You will see an empty line where the password should be.
Step 2: Run the Password Command
netsh wlan show profile name="YOUR-NETWORK-NAME" key=clear
Replace YOUR-NETWORK-NAME with your exact WiFi name (case-sensitive). Include quotation marks if the name has spaces.
Step 3: Find Key Content
Scroll to the Security settings section of the output. Look for:
Key Content : YourActualPasswordHere
List All Saved Networks First
If you are unsure of the exact network name, list all saved profiles first:
netsh wlan show profiles
Copy the name exactly as shown, including spaces and any special characters.
Troubleshooting Common CMD Errors
| Error | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Profile not found | Network name misspelled | Run netsh wlan show profiles and copy the exact name |
| Key Content blank | Not running as admin | Reopen CMD as administrator |
| WLAN service not running | Service is stopped | Open services.msc, find WLAN AutoConfig, set to Automatic and start it |
| Access is denied | Insufficient permissions | Right-click CMD and choose Run as administrator |
Export All WiFi Passwords at Once
Running the command per network is slow with many saved networks. Advanced Password Recovery Suite scans and displays all WiFi passwords simultaneously.
Advanced Password Recovery Suite
Lists all saved WiFi passwords in one scan. Export to CSV in one click — no command for each network.
- ✓ No command prompt required
- ✓ All networks displayed simultaneously
- ✓ Export all passwords in one step
- ✓ Also recovers browser passwords and software keys
Frequently Asked Questions
Summary
Open Command Prompt as administrator, run netsh wlan show profile name="NetworkName" key=clear, and find Key Content in the output. For all networks at once, use Advanced Password Recovery Suite.