How to Find Saved WiFi Passwords on Windows, Ubuntu, and Linux: Complete Guide

Forgetting a WiFi password that's already saved on your computer is a common problem. Whether you need to connect another device or share your network credentials with a guest

, retrieving saved WiFi passwords is straightforward on both Windows and Linux systems. This comprehensive guide will show you exactly how to find WiFi passwords on Ubuntu,

other Linux distributions, and Windows operating systems.

How to Find Saved WiFi Passwords on Ubuntu

Ubuntu stores WiFi credentials through NetworkManager, making it easy to retrieve passwords using the command line. Here are multiple methods to access your saved WiFi passwords.

Method 1: Using nmcli Command (Recommended)

The nmcli (NetworkManager Command Line Interface) is the most straightforward method for retrieving WiFi passwords on Ubuntu.

Step 1: List all saved WiFi connections

nmcli connection show

Step 2: Retrieve the password for a specific network

sudo nmcli connection show "YOUR-WIFI-NAME" | grep psk

Replace YOUR-WIFI-NAME with the actual network name from the list. The password will appear in the wireless-security.psk field.

Example:

sudo nmcli connection show "HomeNetwork" | grep psk

Output:

wireless-security.psk: MyPassword123

Method 2: View All Saved WiFi Passwords at Once

To quickly see all saved WiFi passwords on your Ubuntu system:

sudo grep -r '^psk=' /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/

This command searches through all NetworkManager connection files and displays the stored passwords.

Method 3: Direct File Access

WiFi credentials on Ubuntu are stored as individual files in /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/.

Step 1: List all saved connections

sudo ls /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/

Step 2: View a specific connection file

sudo cat /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/YOUR-WIFI-NAME

The password will be listed in the psk= line under the [wifi-security] section.

Quick One-Liner for Ubuntu

Display all WiFi passwords without connection names:

sudo grep -h '^psk=' /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/* | sed 's/psk=//'

How to Find Saved WiFi Passwords on Other Linux Distributions

Most modern Linux distributions use NetworkManager, so the Ubuntu methods above will work on Fedora, Debian, Linux Mint, Pop!_OS, and other distributions.

For Arch Linux and Manjaro

The process is identical to Ubuntu:

sudo nmcli connection show "WIFI-NAME" | grep psk

For Distributions Without NetworkManager

If your Linux distribution uses a different network manager like wicd or ConnMan, you'll need to check their respective configuration directories:

For wicd:

sudo cat /etc/wicd/wireless-settings.conf

For wpa_supplicant (manual configuration):

sudo cat /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf

How to Find Saved WiFi Passwords on Windows

Windows provides both graphical and command-line methods to retrieve saved WiFi passwords.

Method 1: Using Command Prompt (All Windows Versions)

This method works on Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11.

Step 1: Open Command Prompt

• Press Win + R, type cmd, and press Enter
• Or search for "Command Prompt" in the Start menu

Step 2: List all saved WiFi networks:

netsh wlan show profiles

Step 3: Retrieve the password for a specific network

netsh wlan show profile name="YOUR-WIFI-NAME" key=clear

Replace YOUR-WIFI-NAME with the network name from the previous list. Look for the "Key Content" field under "Security settings" to find your password.

Example:

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

Method 2: Using PowerShell (Windows 10/11)

PowerShell offers a more streamlined approach:

View all WiFi passwords at once:

(netsh wlan show profiles) | Select-String "\:(.+)$" | %{$name=$_.Matches.Groups[1].Value.Trim(); $_} | %{(netsh wlan show profile name="$name" key=clear)} | Select-String "Key Content\W+\:(.+)$" | %{$pass=$_.Matches.Groups[1].Value.Trim(); $_} | %{[PSCustomObject]@{ PROFILE_NAME=$name;PASSWORD=$pass }} | Format-Table -AutoSize

Method 3: Using Windows Settings GUI (Windows 10/11)

For Windows 11:

1. Open Settings (Win + I)
2. Navigate to Network & Internet → WiFi
3. Click on "Manage known networks"
4. Select the network you want
5. Click "View WiFi security key"
6. Enter your Windows password when prompted
7. The password will be displayed

For Windows 10:

1. Open Settings → Network & Internet → WiFi
2. Click "Manage known networks"
3. Select the network and click "Properties"
4. Check "Show characters" under Network security key

Method 4: Using Control Panel (Legacy Method)

1. Open Control Panel → Network and Sharing Center
2. Click on your active WiFi connection
3. Click "Wireless Properties"
4. Go to the "Security" tab
5. Check "Show characters" to reveal the password

Security Considerations

When retrieving WiFi passwords, keep these security best practices in mind:

• Elevated Privileges Required: Both Linux and Windows require administrator/sudo access to view saved passwords, which is a security feature to prevent unauthorized access
• Protect Your Credentials: Never share WiFi passwords over unsecured channels like email or text messages
• Regular Password Updates: Change your WiFi password periodically for better security
• Use Strong Passwords: Ensure your WiFi network uses WPA2 or WPA3 encryption with a strong password

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Ubuntu/Linux Issues

Problem: "Permission denied" error Solution: Make sure to use sudo before your commands

Problem: NetworkManager not installed Solution: Install NetworkManager:

sudo apt install network-manager

Problem: Empty results when searching for passwords Solution: The network might not be saved. Reconnect to the network and save the credentials.

Windows Issues

Problem: "The wireless local area network interface is powered down" Solution: Enable your WiFi adapter in Device Manager

Problem: Profile not found Solution: Ensure you're typing the network name exactly as it appears in the profile list, including spaces and capitalization

Conclusion

Retrieving saved WiFi passwords is a simple process on both Linux and Windows systems. Ubuntu and other Linux distributions make use of NetworkManager's nmcli command or direct file access, while Windows users can leverage the netsh command or built-in Settings app. Whether you're a system administrator, power user, or just someone who forgot their WiFi password, these methods provide quick and reliable solutions.

Remember to always handle network credentials responsibly and maintain good security practices to keep your wireless network protected.

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By Azzani