Windows makes this easy, as long as you’re currently connected to the network in question. Open Settings > Network & Internet, then click the Change Adapter Options button (in Windows 10) or Advanced network settings > More network adapter options in Windows 11).

Right-click on your computer’s Wi-Fi adapter in the list and choose Status > Wireless Properties. Open the Security tab, and you should see a password box with dots in it—click the Show Characters box to see the password appear in plain text.

If you’re trying to view the password for a network you aren’t currently connected to, things are a tad more complicated. You can download a third-party app like Magical JellyBean WiFi Password Revealer, which will show you the passwords of all saved networks.

If you prefer not to install extra software, use the Windows Command Prompt. Open the Start Menu, search for Command Prompt, right-click the app, and select Run As Administrator. Then run the following command to see a list of saved Wi-Fi networks:

netsh wlan show profile

Pick the network you want from the list, then run another command (replacing MyNetwork with the name of the network in question):

netsh wlan show profile MyNetwork key=clear

You’ll be presented with a lot of information about the network, most of which can be ignored. Look for the section titled Security Settings; the entry marked as Key Content is the password.