How to Easily Find Your Wi-Fi Password on Your PC

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A few months ago I had a close friend over to my home for a visit. She asked to use my home Wi-Fi and to do that I needed to give her the password so she could connect. Like most computer users, I had everything set up the way I like it – including password – and promptly forgot about it.

I use a password database that I have encrypted on an external hard drive. I couldn’t remember my home Wi-Fi password right away, so I had to go downstairs to the encrypted password database and retrieve it. After some fumbling around I was then able to get her connected using my forgotten password. Ugh, she even laughed at my password.

But surely there had to be an easier way to simply look at any computer I was using and get the Wi-Fi password. Especially with the holidays around the corner, it would be extremely convenient to quickly open a setting and retrieve the password for guest’s use. After they leave, or after the holidays, I can always change the password to something else if I feel the need.

If you have a PC already connected to your wireless network, follow the instructions below to learn how to find your Wi-Fi password with ease.

Find Your Wi-Fi Password on Windows 10

If you’re using a Windows PC, it doesn’t take much to find your lost Wi-Fi password. If you’re running Windows 10, follow the steps below to retrieve the password for your Wi-Fi network.

1. Select your PC’s Start Menu.
2. Select the Settings icon on the left-hand side of the Start Menu — it looks like a tiny gear.
3. In the Windows Settings window that appears, select Network & Internet.

4. Next, under the Change your network settings area, select Network and Sharing Center

5. In the Network and Sharing Center window that appears, select the highlighted name of your Wi-Fi network.

6. In the new popup window that appears, select the Wireless Properties option.

7. Lastly, select the Security tab and pick the Show Characters option to reveal your Wi-Fi password.

8. That’s all there is to it!

Find Your Wi-Fi Password on Windows 8 and Windows 7

It’s just as easy to find your Wi-Fi password on a slightly older version of Windows. If you’re running Windows 8 or Windows 7, follow the steps below to retrieve the password for your Wi-Fi network.

1. Select your PC’s Start Menu.
2. In the Start Menu Search Bar, type “Network and Sharing Center” and hit the Enter key once the selection is highlighted.
3. In the Network and Sharing Center window that appears, select the name of your Wi-Fi network.
4. In the new popup window that appears, select the Wireless Properties option.
5. Lastly, select the Security tab, then select the Show Characters option to reveal your Wi-Fi password.

Or if you are a grumpy Scrooge, you can simply say that you don’t have Wi-Fi and they’ll have to use their device’s data plan. However, I suggest you don’t try that if your guest knows about this article. Be nice, sharing your Wi-Fi costs you nothing.

Be Safe – Backup Your Data Regularly!

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