How to Check Password in Windows 11

Understanding Why Windows 11 Hides Your Password

Many users assume they can simply look up their current Windows login password in the system settings, similar to how they might view a saved Wi‑Fi key. In reality, Windows 11 does not store your login password in plain text anywhere that you can access. This is a fundamental security measure. Since the introduction of Windows NT, Microsoft has stored password hashes rather than plaintext strings. When you enter your password at the login screen, Windows hashes it and compares it to the stored hash. This means that even if an attacker gains access to the system files, they cannot retrieve the original password. Consequently, there is no built‑in tool or setting in Windows 11 that will display your current login password. If you have forgotten it, you cannot retrieve it from within the operating system. Instead, you must reset it. This design protects your account from unauthorized access, but it also means that checking your password in the traditional sense is impossible. The only way to know your password for sure is to type it correctly each time. If you suspect you have typed the wrong password, you must use the recovery options provided by Microsoft. Understanding this limitation is the first step in learning how to verify passwords in Windows 11 – you are really learning how to reset or recover access, or how to view other types of passwords stored by the system (such as Wi‑Fi or saved web credentials).

How to Recover Your Windows 11 Login Password

If you cannot log in because you forgot your password, do not panic. Windows 11 offers a straightforward recovery path for Microsoft accounts. On the login screen, after entering an incorrect password, you will see a link that says "Esqueci minha senha" (or "I forgot my password" if your system language is English). Click this link, and Windows will launch a web‑based verification process through your Microsoft account. You will need access to the email address or phone number associated with your account. Follow the prompts to receive a security code, then create a new password. Once the reset is complete, you can log in with the new password. This process does not require any previous knowledge of the old password. If you are using a local account (not a Microsoft account), the recovery is different. Local accounts do not have email‑based recovery. For local accounts, you must have created a password reset disk beforehand. If you did not, the only option is to reinstall Windows, which will result in data loss unless you have backups. Therefore, it is highly recommended to link your Windows account to a Microsoft account for easier recovery. You can also use the "I forgot my PIN" link if you use a PIN to sign in. The PIN is tied to your device, so resetting it requires your Microsoft account password. In summary, you cannot check your old password; you can only reset it. For more details, see the official Microsoft support documentation: Microsoft Support – Change or reset your Microsoft account password in Windows.

Viewing Saved Wi‑Fi Passwords in Windows 11

While you cannot view your Windows login password, you can easily check the password of any Wi‑Fi network you have connected to in the past. This is a common need, especially when you want to share a network with a guest or connect another device. Windows 11 provides two primary methods: the graphical Settings app and the command line. The graphical method is user‑friendly. Follow these steps:

Open the Settings app by pressing Win + I.
Navigate to Network & internet > Wi‑Fi.
Click on "Manage known networks".
Select the network whose password you want to see.
Click the "View key" button next to "Network security key".
If prompted, verify your identity by entering your PIN or password.
The Wi‑Fi password will be displayed in plain text.

Note that the "View key" button appears only if you are currently connected to that network or have previously connected to it. For networks that you have never used, the password cannot be retrieved. This method works on Windows 11 version 22H2 and later. For earlier versions, you may need to use the Control Panel: go to Network and Sharing Center, click on the Wi‑Fi network name (next to Connections), then click Wireless Properties, go to the Security tab, and check "Show characters". That will reveal the password as well.

Using Command Prompt to Find Wi‑Fi Passwords

Another reliable way to view saved Wi‑Fi passwords is through the Command Prompt or Windows PowerShell. This is especially useful if you need to retrieve multiple passwords quickly. Open Command Prompt as administrator (search for cmd, right‑click, and select Run as administrator). Then type the following command:

netsh wlan show profile

This command lists all Wi‑Fi profiles your computer has ever connected to. To see the password for a specific network, use:

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

Replace "NETWORK_NAME" with the actual name of the Wi‑Fi network (including quotation marks if the name contains spaces). In the output, look for the line that says "Key Content" under the Security settings. The value next to it is the password. This method works on all versions of Windows 11 and does not require the Settings app. You can also use PowerShell with the same command. The advantage of the command line is that it can be scripted or used remotely. Many IT professionals use this to recover network passwords for users. However, be aware that this command will only show passwords for networks that have been saved on that specific computer. It does not work for networks that you have only connected to via a mobile device or another machine.

Checking Stored Passwords with Credential Manager

Windows 11 also stores passwords for applications, websites, and network resources in a tool called Credential Manager (Gerenciador de Credenciais). This includes credentials saved by Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer, Remote Desktop connections, mapped drives, and other Windows features. To access it, open Control Panel (search for Control Panel in the Start menu), then click on "Credential Manager". You will see two categories: Web Credentials and Windows Credentials. Web Credentials contain passwords saved by browsers for websites, while Windows Credentials store passwords for network shares, applications, and other system services. To view the details of any credential, click the arrow to expand it, then click "Show". Credential Manager will ask you to verify your identity by entering your Windows PIN or password. Only after successful verification will the password be revealed in plain text. This is an important security feature – even though you can view these passwords, you still need to prove that you are the account owner. Note that Credential Manager does not display your Windows login password; it only shows stored passwords for other services. Many users mistakenly believe they can find their login password here. That is not the case. The credentials stored here are separate. For a comprehensive guide on this topic, see the article at Polimetro: The definitive guide to finding stored passwords in Windows 11.

Comparing Methods for Verifying Different Password Types

To help you understand which method works for which type of password, the table below summarizes the available techniques and their limitations.

Password Type	Can You View It?	Method	Requires Identity Verification?
Windows login password (Microsoft account or local)	No – only reset possible	Click "I forgot my password" on login screen	Yes – email/phone for Microsoft account; no option for local without reset disk
Wi‑Fi network password	Yes (if previously connected)	Settings > Wi‑Fi > Manage known networks > View key; or Command Prompt using `netsh wlan show profile`	Sometimes – GUI may ask for PIN; command line does not
Saved web credentials (browser)	Yes	Credential Manager > Web Credentials > Show	Yes – requires PIN or password
Stored application or network passwords	Yes	Credential Manager > Windows Credentials > Show	Yes – requires PIN or password

As the table shows, the only password you cannot retrieve under any circumstances is your current Windows login password. All other stored passwords are viewable with the appropriate steps, provided you have the necessary access rights.

Warnings About Third‑Party Tools and Registry Hacks

You may encounter online guides that claim to reveal your Windows login password using third‑party software or registry edits. For example, some suggest using the command rundll32.exe keymgr.dll or modifying a registry key under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\...\Winlogon to display the password. These methods are either outdated or completely inaccurate on modern Windows 11 builds. The keymgr.dll command only opens the Stored User Names and Passwords dialog, which shows saved credentials (not your login password). The registry hack often touted in older forums does not exist on Windows 10 or 11; it was a feature of Windows XP that stored passwords in plain text but was removed for security reasons. Using such tools can expose your system to malware or compromise your security. Microsoft has repeatedly stated that Windows does not store your login password in a retrievable format. Any software that promises to reveal it is either a scam or a malicious program designed to steal your credentials. Therefore, we strongly advise against downloading "password revealer" tools. The only reliable ways to handle a forgotten password are the official Microsoft recovery options. If you need to view other types of passwords, use the built‑in methods described above. For more information on why these third‑party tools are ineffective, refer to the Microsoft Q&A discussion: Microsoft Q&A – How to know my current Windows password? (Note: that link may be truncated; the full URL is in the references.)