You have a new phone, a guest to connect, or simply a device to reconfigure, but you've completely forgotten the Wi-Fi password. Good news: if one of your computers is already connected to the network, the password is saved there and you can retrieve it in less than a minute, without downloading any software or calling your internet provider.

This guide shows you three reliable ways to recover your Wi-Fi password on Windows 11. The first method is suitable for everyone, the second is handy for retrieving passwords for multiple networks at once, and the third allows you to share the connection via QR code. We conclude with some security tips that our IT services team implements for our clients in the Mauricie region.

1. Why does a PC know your Wi-Fi password?

When you connect a computer to a wireless network for the first time, Windows saves the key in a profile. As long as this profile exists, the device reconnects automatically, and the key remains stored locally. This is exactly the information we're going to retrieve. Therefore, you don't need to reset the router or search for the sticker under the modem, which is often impossible to find in a tidy small business.

One important point to note: these methods display the password of the network to which the PC is connected or has previously connected. To see a network's password, the device must therefore have a profile for that network. If none of your devices have ever connected to this network, you will need to access the router's administration interface, a process we will cover in a future article.

2. Method 1: via Windows 11 settings

This is the simplest and most visual method. It works for the network your computer is currently connected to.

• Click on the Start menu, then on Settings (the gear icon).
• Go to Network and Internet, then Wi-Fi.
• Click on Hardware Properties or on your network name, then find the Network and Sharing Center (sometimes under Advanced network settings).
• In this window, click on the name of your Wi-Fi connection (to the right of Connections).
• Click on Wireless Properties, then open the Security.
• Check the Show characters. The Wi-Fi password will be displayed in the Network security key field.

You can now write down or copy the key. This official procedure is documented by Microsoft and remains the same on most recent versions of Windows. If many of your employees switch devices, a good IT service partner can centralize these access credentials to prevent everyone from having to search for the password individually. Our team does this regularly as part of our managed services for SMEs.

3. Method 2: The netsh command for all your networks

This method is a bit more technical, but it has a major advantage: it displays the key for all Wi-Fi networks saved on the PC, even those you're not currently connected to. Ideal when you manage multiple sites or branches.

• Click Start, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
• To see the list of saved networks, type: netsh wlan show profiles and then press Enter.
• Locate the name of the network you are interested in, then type: netsh wlan show profile name="NetworkName" key=clear
• In the results, look for the line "Key Contents". The Wi-Fi password is right next to it.

Replace NetworkName with the exact name of your network, keeping the quotation marks if it contains a space. This command is part of the netsh utility included with Windows, a tool that technicians use daily to diagnose networks. No third-party software is needed; everything is already integrated into the system.

4. Method 3: Share Wi-Fi via QR code

Sometimes you don't actually need to read the password; you just want to quickly connect a guest or a new device. Windows 11 lets you generate a QR code for your network directly from the Wi-Fi settings, in the Hardware Properties section. Your visitor scans the code with their phone's camera and connects without typing a single letter.

This is convenient in a meeting room or at the reception desk of an office in Trois-Rivières where clients come and go. You maintain control, avoid spelling out a long key aloud, and reduce typing errors. For a corporate network, however, it is recommended to restrict this sharing to a guest network separate from your internal network, for security reasons.

5. Security tips for your Wi-Fi passwords

Recovering a password is useful, but it's also a good reminder that your Wi-Fi key is a gateway to your network. Here are the best practices we implement for our clients in the Mauricie and greater Quebec City areas.

• Use a long and unique key, ideally a passphrase of at least 15 characters, which is easier to remember than a jumble of symbols.
• Enable WPA3 encryption if your hardware supports it; otherwise, use at least WPA2. Avoid older WEP protocols, which can be broken in minutes.
• Separate the guest network from the internal network, so that no one touches your workstations and servers.
• Change the router's default administration password, which is often left as is and easy to guess.
• Renew the Wi-Fi key after the departure of an employee who had access to it.

The Canadian Centre for Cyber ​​Security publishes excellent guidance on passwords and wireless network security—free resources tailored to the realities of Canadian organizations. If you would like to have your entire network configuration reviewed, please contact us through our contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to view the Wi-Fi password on Windows 11 without being an administrator?

The method via Settings (Wireless Properties, Security tab, Show characters) works on a standard account as long as the PC is connected to the network. The netsh command with key=clear, however, requires administrator privileges.

Can I retrieve my Wi-Fi password without a computer connected?

If no device has the network profile, you need to connect to the router's administration interface, usually via an address like 192.168.1.1, or look at the sticker affixed to the modem provided by your Internet provider.

Is it legal and safe to display the Wi-Fi key like this?

Yes, on a device you own or manage, it's simply a matter of reading information that's already been saved. However, be sure not to display the key on the screen to unauthorized individuals.

A well-managed Wi-Fi network in Trois-Rivières and the Mauricie region

Forgetting a Wi-Fi password should be the last thing on your mind when you're running your business. If managing your network, access, and security is eating up your time, OKTO Solutions supports SMEs in Trois-Rivières, the Mauricie region, and throughout Quebec. Discover our managed IT services or speak to a member of our team through our contact form; we'll take care of the rest.