Wifi is an essential component of almost everyone’s daily life these days. Whether it’s for streaming movies, browsing the internet, or playing games online, we need wifi to do our work. The wifi password is kept secret to ensure privacy, but sometimes forgetting this password can be a problem. So, what to do if you forget your wifi password? This blog will cover everything you need to know about how to find your wifi password on Windows 10.
Video Tutorial:
The Challenge of How to Know My Wifi Password on Windows 10
Losing your wireless password means loss of connectivity, which is inconvenient and frustrating. Guests come over, and they require a wifi password, but you can’t remember it, or you’re setting up a new device, and you require the wifi password. In such instances, not having your wifi password can be a severe inconvenience. Fortunately, Windows 10 allows you to find your wifi password with just a few clicks.
Things You Need to Prepare
To recover your wifi password, you don’t need any third-party software or extra equipment. You need to ensure that you are an administrator on your computer, and the computer you are trying to retrieve the password from is connected to that network. Once you have confirmed these things, you can now proceed to the methods below.
Method 1: Using the Network and Sharing Center
If you are using Windows 10, you can easily retrieve your wifi password by following the steps below:
1. Right-click on the wifi icon on your taskbar.
2. Select the option, "Open Network & Internet Settings."
3. Under the "Change your Network Settings" option, click on "Network and Sharing Center."
4. You will now see the network you are connected to. Click on it.
5. Finally, click on "Wireless Properties."
6. In the "Wireless Properties" window, click on the "Security" tab.
7. Click on the "Show characters" checkbox, and your wifi password will be displayed.
Method 2: Using Command Prompt
Another way to find your wifi password on Windows 10 is by using the Command Prompt. The steps are as follows:
1. Open the Command Prompt by entering "cmd" in the search bar.
2. Once you see the Command Prompt, right-click on it and select "Run as Administrator."
3. Type the command "netsh wlan show profile" in the Command Prompt window and press Enter.
4. You will now see a list of all the networks you’ve connected to, including the one you are connected to currently.
5. Type the command "netsh wlan show profile name=WifiName key=clear" in the Command Prompt window and press Enter.
6. You will see several details, but the password will be displayed under "Key Content."
Method 3: Using WirelessKeyView
WirelessKeyView is a third-party application that you can use to retrieve your wifi password, and it is available for free on the internet. Using this software, you can recover passwords for WEP, WPA, and WPA2. Follow the steps below:
1. Download and install WirelessKeyView from the internet.
2. Launch the WirelessKeyView application.
3. You will now see a list of all the wifi networks you have previously connected to, along with their security type, password, and other details.
4. Locate the network you wish to view the password for and note down the password.
Why Can’t I Find My Wifi Password on Windows 10?
Sometimes you may still be unable to find your wifi password on Windows 10, even if you follow the methods outlined above. This could happen for a variety of reasons:
1. Your computer may not be connected to the network: Before retrieving any password, ensure that you are connected to the wifi network you are trying to retrieve the password for.
2. Limited privileges: If you are not an Administrator on your computer, you may not have sufficient privileges to access the password.
3. Compatibility issues: The methods outlined above are for Windows 10. They may not work for other Windows versions.
These fixes may help you regain access to your wifi password:
1. Check that you are connected to the correct network: Make sure you are connected to the network you are trying to retrieve the password for.
2. Ask an administrator to retrieve the password: If you are not an administrator, ask someone who is.
3. Try using a different method: You may want to try one of the other methods outlined above.
FAQs
Q: I tried using the methods above, but I still can’t find my wifi password. What should I do?
A: If the methods outlined above don’t work, you can try resetting your router to its factory settings. This will erase any changes made to the router, including the password.
Q: Can I find the wifi password for a network that I am not currently connected to?
A: Unfortunately, you can only retrieve the wifi password for networks that you have previously connected to.
Q: How can I make sure that I don’t forget my wifi password again?
A: To ensure that you don’t forget your wifi password again, you can write it down and save it in a secure place. Alternatively, you can store it in a password manager app on your computer or mobile device.
Q: Can I retrieve my wifi password if I am using a Mac?
A: Yes, you can. The steps to retrieve your wifi password on a Mac are different, but you can find detailed guidelines on the internet.
Q: Can I retrieve my wifi password without administrative privileges?
A: No, you can’t. You need administrative privileges to retrieve wifi passwords on Windows 10.
Conclusion
Losing your wifi password can be a great inconvenience, but thankfully, recovering it is easy on Windows 10. As outlined in this blog, you can use the Network and Sharing Center, Command Prompt, or a third-party application like WirelessKeyView to retrieve your wifi password. Additionally, you can ensure that you don’t forget your password again by following the suggestions provided in the FAQs section.