Wireless Network Security Key - Find in Windows 8

How to Find Your Wireless Network Security Key in Windows 8 and 8.1


information   Information
A wireless network security key is the password required to be able to connect your PC to a secured access point (ex: router) on a wireless network.

While your PC is connected to your wireless network, this tutorial will show you how to find the wireless network security key in Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, and Windows RT 8.1.

Note   Note
If you are not currently connected to your wireless network, then you will be unable to find it's security key in Windows.


If you have not changed the security key in your router's wireless settings, or have reset your router back to default, then some wireless router manufacturers set a default security key or password which may be on the bottom of your router or in the router’s documentation. Look for the following terms:

  • Passphrase
  • Security Key
  • Wireless Key
  • WPA Key
  • WPA2 Key
  • WEP Key





OPTION ONE

To Find Wireless Network Security Key in Wireless Properties


1. Do step 2, 3, 4, or 5 below for what Windows you have, and how you would like to open Wireless Properties.​
2. In Windows 8 or Windows RT, open Charms, click/tap on Settings, click/tap on the wireless network icon Wireless_Icon.png, and go to step 3A below. (see screenshot below)​
Charms-1.jpg

3. In Windows 8 or Windows RT, while on your desktop, click/tap on the wireless network icon Wireless_Icon.png in the taskbar notification area.​
A) Right click or press and hold on the connected wireless network name (ex: Brink-Router), click/tap on View connection properties, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)​
Windows-8_Networks.jpg

4. In Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows RT, or Windows RT 8.1, open the Control Panel (icons view), click/tap on the Network and Sharing Center icon, click/tap on the Connections link for your wireless profile name (ex: Brink-Router) on the right, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)​
Wireless_Security_Key-1.jpg

5. In Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows RT, or Windows RT 8.1, open the Control Panel (icons view), click/tap on the Network and Sharing Center icon, click/tap on the Change adapter settings link on the left. (see screenshot above)​
A) Click/tap on the connected wireless profile (ex: Brink-Router), and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)​
OR
B) Select the connected wireless profile (ex: Brink-Router), click/tap on View status of this connection in the toolbar, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)​
OR
C) Right click or press and hold on the connected wireless profile (ex: Brink-Router), click/tap on Status, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)​
Wireless_Security_Key-2.jpg

6. Click/tap on Wireless Properties. (see screenshot below)​
NOTE: Wireless Properties will not be available if this wireless network is not currently connected.​
Wireless_Security_Key-3.jpg

7. Click/tap on the Security tab, and check the Show characters box under Network security key to be able to see it. (see screenshot below)​
Wireless_Security_Key-4.jpg







OPTION TWO

To Find Wireless Network Security Key in Command Prompt


1. Open a command prompt.​
2. In the command prompt, copy and paste the command below, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)​
NOTE: This command will show you a list of all wireless network profiles (ex: Brink-Router) on your PC. You will need this information in step 3 below.​
netsh wlan show profiles
Wireless_Security_Key-CMD-1.jpg

3. In the command prompt, type the command below, and press Enter. (see screenshot below step 4)​
Note   Note
Substitute ProfileName in the command below with your actual wireless profile name (ex: Brink-Router) from step 2 above.

Note   Note

netsh wlan show profile name=ProfileName key=clear
For example: I would type this below exactly for my Brink-Router wireless profile name.​
netsh wlan show profile name=Brink-Router key=clear

4. You will see your wireless network security key to the right of Key Content under the Security settings section. (see screenshot below)​
Wireless_Security_Key-CMD-2.jpg




That's it,
Shawn


 

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Thank you very much.
This is a great tutorials Mr brink.:thumb:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64 Bit
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus-IBM
    CPU
    Intel core i7
    Motherboard
    Asus
    Memory
    4G
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Gforce 610 m 2G
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Intel Graphic 3000 HD
You're most welcome. I'm glad it could help. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
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    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
This is exactly what I was looking or, but it doesn't appear to be doing it for me. The point at which it goes of the rails is 3a. When I right-click on my connected wireless network, nothing much happens... i.e. no menu appears. Any ideas on why this might be?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion
    Memory
    8Gb
    Browser
    Explorer
    Antivirus
    Norton
Hello Numpty, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Since you have Windows 8.1, step 3 wouldn't apply to you. You would need to use step 4 or 5, or OPTION TWO instead. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Thank you very much for your post but I'm having a problem. For some reason I can't open the command prompt. Is it possible that my Dad has it blocked or something. He does computer repair so he's a pretty smart guy.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8
Hello Ted, and welcome to Eight Forums. :)

What happens when you try to open a command prompt?

Any error messages?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
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