Windows 11 stores passwords in a few different places. Passwords for websites and network shares are in Credential Manager: search Start for Credential Manager, click Web Credentials or Windows Credentials, expand an entry, and click Show, then confirm with your Windows PIN or password. Passwords saved in your browser are in that browser’s settings, such as Edge > Settings > Passwords or Chrome’s Google Password Manager. Saved Wi-Fi passwords are in Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks.
You’ll need your own Windows PIN, password, or Windows Hello to reveal any saved password, which keeps other people from seeing them. Here’s how to find each type.
Where Windows 11 keeps passwords
| Password type | Where to find it |
|---|---|
| Website passwords saved in Edge | Edge settings, or Credential Manager > Web Credentials |
| Website passwords saved in Chrome or Firefox | That browser’s password manager |
| Network drives, remote desktops, some apps | Credential Manager > Windows Credentials |
| Wi-Fi networks | Settings > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks |
| Your Windows account password | Not viewable. Reset it if forgotten. |
Method 1: Credential Manager
- Click Start, type Credential Manager, and open it.
- Click Web Credentials for website sign-ins, or Windows Credentials for network and app sign-ins.
- Click the arrow next to an entry to expand it.
- Next to Password, click Show and verify with your PIN, fingerprint, face, or password.
Windows Credentials entries don’t have a Show button for security reasons. You can edit or remove them, but not reveal the password.
Method 2: Passwords saved in your browser
Microsoft Edge
- Click Settings and more (three dots) > Settings.
- Click Passwords (or Profiles > Passwords). You can also type edge://wallet/passwords in the address bar.
- Find the site and click the eye icon, then confirm with your Windows PIN or password.
Google Chrome
- Click the three dots > Passwords and autofill > Google Password Manager, or go to chrome://password-manager.
- Click a site, then the eye icon, and verify.
Mozilla Firefox
- Click the menu (three lines) > Passwords, or go to about:logins.
- Choose a site and click the eye icon. If you set a Primary Password, enter it.
Method 3: Saved Wi-Fi passwords
- Go to Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi.
- Click Manage known networks and select a network.
- Next to View Wi-Fi security key, click View.
If you don’t see that option, open Terminal and run netsh wlan show profile name="NetworkName" key=clear, replacing NetworkName with your network’s name. The password is listed next to Key Content. To share a Wi-Fi password easily, see how to share a Wi-Fi password with a QR code.
Keep your saved passwords safe
- Use a PIN or Windows Hello and lock your PC (Windows key + L) when you step away.
- Don’t share your Windows account with people who shouldn’t see your saved passwords.
- Consider a dedicated password manager or the one built into your browser, and turn on two-step verification for important accounts.
- Beware of programs that claim to “recover all passwords” on your PC. Many are malware.
Frequently asked questions
Can I see my Windows sign-in password?
No. Windows doesn’t store it in a viewable form. If you forgot it, reset it. For a Microsoft account, reset it at account.live.com.
Why does Credential Manager show only a few passwords?
Chrome and Firefox keep their own password lists, so they don’t appear in Credential Manager. Check each browser’s password manager.
Can I export my saved passwords?
Browsers let you export passwords to a CSV file from their password settings. Store the file securely and delete it after importing, since it isn’t encrypted.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.