Passwords – they are supposed to keep our data safe and secure especially in this digital age. Today every important information is stored electronically. So, at times, while deciding on a safe and secure password, there are situations when an important password is lost and forgotten. So, finding the Wi-Fi password in Windows 7,8, & 10 is a difficult situation which is encountered by one and all. However, there is a solution t hand. This article lists the following steps to follow by which the Wi-Fi password in Windows 7,8 & 10 can be found.
If the wireless network is already generated, then the following steps need to be undertaken.
- First and foremost, please ensure that the computer device is connected to a wireless network. This is a prerequisite that the windows machine must be connected to a Wi-Fi network.
- From that computer device, on the Control panel, go to the Network and Internet section. Select the Network and Sharing Centre and then finally select the Change Adaptor settings.
- Here, a Wi-Fi icon will be shown on the taskbar. Right Click on it. Immediately select Open Network and Sharing centre. Go to the ‘Change Adaptor’settings.
- If you are using a Windows 7, then right-click on Wireless network connection. If you are using a Windows 8 or 10, then click on the Wi-Fi button which will lead you to Status.
- In the box, select the Wireless Properties.
- When this is selected, check on the Show characters button. Once this is check marked, the Network security key will be shown.
To summarise the above steps, from the Wi-Fi icon, click open the Network and Sharing centre. From there go to the change in Adapter settings. In this dialog box, find the icon for the Wi-Fi and choose the Status button. Once this is done, the Wi-Fi status dialog box will open. Select the wireless properties button and then the Security tab. In this dialog box mentioned below is a small information box which must be check marked. That is Show characters box. Immediately the Network Security key text field will show the Wi-Fi password. By following the above steps, you can find out the Wi-Fi password for the currently connected wireless network.
Additional information:
If you are using Windows 7 and want to know the different networks that you have used earlier and the password for it, then simply go to the Control panel and from there select the Network and Sharing Centre. This will in turn lead you to manage the wireless network. Here in this section, all details of the networks will be mentioned. For fining out the password used in these networks, then right-click on the network, go to properties and then Security, check on the small box which says Show Characters.
Another situation might be encountered. Suppose you want to find out the passwords for Wi-Fi networks to which you had previously connected. Even in such seemingly difficult situation, the password can be found out easily especially if you are using Windows 7. The process is more simplified for Windows 8 & 10.
For Windows 7:
Firstly, go to the Network and Sharing Centre and select the option Manage wireless Networks. This will throw up a list of all the previous networks that the computer device was connected to. So then, select the network which you want the password for and double click on it. From there go to the Security tan and again checkmark the show characters box to see the password.
For Windows 8 & 10:
From the Start button, go to the command prompt by typing in the CMD. The following command must be typed: netsh wlan show profiles.
Under the user profiles, all the wireless profiles list will be shown. Now another command must be typed:
netsh wlan show profile name=profilename key=clear
Please name in the above command, replace the profile name with the actual name of the Wi-Fi network that you want the password for. Once this is done a lot of information will come up. However, look for the line which starts with the word “KeyContent”. Mentioned on its right is the password that you were looking for!
END NOTE:
The steps mentioned above are very easy to follow and so there is no need to worry if you want to find your Wi-Fi password in Windows 7, 8 and 10. So do not get stressed out. All hope is not lost. The solution is ready at hand.
So, if you are one of those users who have written down the password somewhere and lost it or forgotten the password since it was too hard to remember, then there is nothing to worry about. The password can be retrieved easily. Just follow the steps detailed in this report and find your wi-fi password in a matter of minutes.
