💻✨ Windows 11 PowerShell Trick: Reveal Hidden Wi-Fi Passwords! 🔐📶

If you are using Windows 11 and want to reveal the saved Wi-Fi passwords for networks your computer has connected to in the past, you can use a simple PowerShell or Command Prompt trick. This method is particularly useful if you’ve forgotten the password but need it to connect other devices or share it with someone else. Below is a step-by-step guide to uncover hidden Wi-Fi passwords using PowerShell.

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Step-by-Step Guide to Reveal Wi-Fi Passwords Using PowerShell

Step 1: Open PowerShell or Command Prompt

1. Press Windows + S to open the search bar.
2. Type PowerShell or Command Prompt into the search bar.
3. Right-click on either application and select Run as Administrator (this ensures you have sufficient privileges).

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Step 2: List All Saved Wi-Fi Profiles

To see all the Wi-Fi networks your computer has connected to in the past, type the following command:

netsh wlan show profiles

• This will display a list of all saved wireless network profiles on your system.
• Look for the name of the specific Wi-Fi network whose password you want to retrieve.

Example output:

Profiles on interface Wi-Fi:
Group policy profiles (read only)
---------------------------------
    
User profiles
-------------
    Profile 1 : HomeNetwork
    Profile 2 : OfficeWiFi
    Profile 3 : CafeHotspot

In this example, let’s say you want to find the password for HomeNetwork.

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Step 3: Retrieve Detailed Information About a Specific Profile

Once you know the name of the profile, use this command to get detailed information about it:

netsh wlan show profile name="ProfileName"

Replace ProfileName with the actual name of your desired network (e.g., HomeNetwork). For example:

netsh wlan show profile name="HomeNetwork"

This command will display various details about that specific network, such as its SSID (network name), authentication type, and more. However, at this stage, it does not yet reveal the password.

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Step 4: Reveal the Password

To display the password in plain text, modify the previous command by adding key=clear at the end:

netsh wlan show profile name="ProfileName" key=clear

For example:

netsh wlan show profile name="HomeNetwork" key=clear

• Look for a field labeled Key Content under “Security settings.” The value next to Key Content is your Wi-Fi password.

Example output:

Profile HomeNetwork on interface Wi-Fi:
=======================================================================
...
Security settings
-----------------
    Authentication         : WPA2-Personal
    Cipher                 : CCMP
    Security key           : Present
    Key Content            : mysecurepassword123

In this case, mysecurepassword123 is your Wi-Fi password.

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Step 5: Optional - Display Only Password Information

If you only want to see just the password without additional details cluttering up your screen, use this modified version of Step 4’s command:

netsh wlan show profile name="ProfileName" key=clear | findstr "Key Content"

For example:

netsh wlan show profile name="HomeNetwork" key=clear | findstr "Key Content"

This will return only one line showing just the Key Content (password):

Key Content            : mysecurepassword123

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Important Notes

1. You must have previously connected to this network on your device for its credentials to be stored and retrievable.
2. Administrative privileges may be required depending on system policies.
3. Ensure that you type commands exactly as shown; incorrect syntax will result in errors.
4. This method works for both Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems.

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Why Use PowerShell Instead of GUI?

While there are graphical methods available (e.g., through Network & Sharing Center), using PowerShell or Command Prompt is faster and allows access to all stored profiles at once rather than checking them individually through menus.