> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://itsfoss.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Find Saved Wi-Fi Passwords in Ubuntu and Other Linux Distributions - URL: https://itsfoss.com/how-to-find-saved-wireless-wifi-passwords-ubuntu/ - Published: 2012-06-17T23:35:47.000Z - Updated: 2024-01-22T10:15:32.000Z - Description: Here is GUI and command line methods of getting saved wifi passwords in a Linux system. - Author: Abhishek Prakash - Tags: Tutorial When you connect to a wireless network using [WPA](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wi-Fi%5FProtected%5FAccess?ref=itsfoss.com) or WPA2-PSK, Ubuntu saves the password to your system when you use the “connect automatically” option. You may find yourself in a situation to know the Wi-Fi password. For example, if you need to provide the password to a visitor and you have not noted it down elsewhere. Thankfully, all the network settings are stored properly and can be retrieved along with the wireless password anytime you want. I’ll show you both GUI and command line ways to see the saved WiFi passwords in Ubuntu and hopefully other Linux distributions. ## Method 0: Use nmcli command to get password of currently connected network This method should work on all Linux distributions that use network-manager. You just have to use this single command to get the details of the currently connected wifi network. You also get a QR code that can be shared with other people to connect to the network. ``` nmcli device wifi show-password ``` ![saved wifi password ubuntu](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2021/04/saved-wifi-password-ubuntu-800x540.png) ## Method 1: Find saved WiFi password in Ubuntu using the GUI The procedure to find saved WiFi passwords is quite simple. Launch the **Settings** application from the gnome applications menu. [![Ubuntu Wifi Password 1](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2020/05/ubuntu-wifi-password-1.jpg "Ubuntu-System-Settings")](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2012/06/Ubuntu-System-Settings.jpg) Here, in the **Wi-Fi** tab, you’ll find a list of available WiFi networks and the ones you’ve connected to in the past. Click on the gear icon in the row corresponding to the network whose password you want to find. [![Ubuntu show saved Wifi Password](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2020/05/ubuntu-wifi-password-2.jpg?fit=800%2C467&ssl=1 "Ubuntu-Network-Settings")](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2012/06/Ubuntu-Network-Settings.jpeg) Click on the gear symbol of the desired WiFi connection In the **Security** tab and check the **Show Password** button to reveal the password. [![Ubuntu show saved Wifi Password](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2020/05/ubuntu-wifi-password-3.jpg "Ubuntu-Network-Settings-1")](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2012/06/Ubuntu-Network-Settings-1.jpeg) See saved WiFi password That works for the currently connected networks. What about the networks to which you had connected in the past but that are not available anymore? ### See all the previously connected networks (and their password) In Ubuntu and other distributions using the GNOME desktop, you get an Advanced Network Configuration GUI tool. ![advanced network configuration gnome](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2022/06/advanced-network-configuration-gnome.png) Advanced Network Configuration When you start this tool, it shows all the networks that you had connected to previously. You can select the desired one and then click on the gear symbol at the bottom to access its settings. ![previously connected networks ubuntu](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2022/06/previously-connected-networks-ubuntu.png) Previously connected networks in ubuntu It will give you the same interface you had seen earlier. Go to the Wi-Fi Security tab and click on the show password to see the password that you had used to connect to the said network. ## Method 2: Finding saved WiFi password via the terminal Ubuntu uses [Network Manager](https://help.ubuntu.com/community/NetworkManager?ref=itsfoss.com) to handle network related settings. These settings can be found in the **/etc/NetworkManager** directory. The details of networks you have connected to in the past are stored in separate files in the sub-directory /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections. In the associated file, the password for the network connection can be found under the **wifi-security** section, in the line that starts with **psk**. ``` sudo cat /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/.nmconnection ``` Replace **** with the name of the desired WiFi network and make sure there is a “\\” before every space in the network’s name (if any). ![Ubuntu check Wifi Password in terminal](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2020/05/ubuntu-wifi-password-4.jpg?fit=800%2C547&ssl=1) Ubuntu check saved Wi-Fi Password in terminal Voilà, here is the password you were looking for. You can use this method to [see saved Wi-FI password in Linux Mint and other distributions](https://itsfoss.com/find-wifi-password-linux-mint-16/). How did you find the tutorial? Was it helpful? Do let me know in the comment section.