Windows remembers passwords for every Wi-Fi network you ever connect to. Read this article to find out where the operating system keeps such passwords and how to view them. We will explore both system-integrated and third-party tools.
Introduction
Windows 10 features support for various Internet connection types, one of the peculiarities being its ability to remember every Wi-Fi password that you have ever used, so next time you come across a wireless network you worked with before, your device will get connected in no time.
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Using a simple method, you can easily view saved passwords to any available network that you may have used with your Windows 10 computer before, and here is how.
Use the WirelessKeyView app by NirSoft
As I said before, Windows 10 offers a universal software platform for various third-party apps. So before we explore how to view saved passwords with the help of Windows integrated tools, let’s try a free application, WirelessKeyView by NirSoft.
This is a simple and convenient tool that requires no installation and is ready to use as soon as you download it from the developer’s website. To make transferring and storing the app easier, and to reduce the required download time, WirelessKeyView is provided as an archive. When you download it, unpack the ZIP file.
When asked for the password to the ZIP file, find it at the bottom of the page you have downloaded the file from.
and double-click on the extracted EXE file (if your system settings don’t display file extensions, start the app by selecting the executable file with the same name, WirelessKeyView). The program will analyze available and previously used wireless connections and will display the list of network names and corresponding passwords saved by Windows.
An important note to consider: Some antivirus products may identify WirelessKeyView as malware. Never mind: it’s a false response as the program doesn’t contain any malicious code and doesn’t harm user data or computing devices – as long as you make sure to download the application from the official website of its developer, NirSoft. Even more, this app doesn’t include any pop-up ads or advertising tabs – which are often displayed in many other software products developed for Windows.
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The column Network Name displays the Wi-Fi network name – in other words, its SSID – the service set identifier for a Wi-Fi wireless access point. To find a password for a specific network, check the column Key (AscII) to find a line corresponding to such name. The related cell will display the password that users enter to connect to such network.
To back up the displayed information, use control buttons in the main menu. Select the tab File and when the panel appears, click on Save All Items.
Note: Also, data can be copied directly, without having the access the menu, if you press the key shortcut Shift + Ctrl + S.
As a result, you get a text file containing all information about the detected connections so that you can use them from a new computer – or keep this data for the future.
Use the Command Prompt console
The standard control panel in Windows 10 only lets you view the password to the Wi-Fi access point you are currently connected to. So if you don’t feel like starting third-party apps to view previously used passwords, it’s time to use Command Prompt functionality to find the information you need.
To obtain password data in Windows 10 without having to use third-party apps, start the Command Prompt console or Windows PowerShell. Both tools will do the job properly, so the choice only depends on your personal preferences.
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