Updated by
Cici on Jan 23, 2025
There are a lot of essential passwords stored within your computer. When you accidentally forget your password, you can quickly find the saved password if you find the place where Windows stores it. EaseUS will provide several ways to find passwords stored in Windows 10.
Before we start the specific tutorial, let’s briefly examine where passwords are stored in Windows 10.
Only when you know where your passwords are saved you can find the username and password on Windows 10. Luckily, Windows provides a digital locker called Credential Manager to store all login credentials, including usernames, passwords, and addresses. Passwords or other login information. However, viewing passwords requires your authentication.
In addition, some passwords may be stored in the Windows registry, Windows vault, or command line. All such credentials are accumulated in an encrypted format. The system asks you to enter the administrator’s password for this purpose. Once you know where the passwords are stored, it’s time to learn how to find them on Windows 10. We’ll give a detailed step-by-step guide next.
How to Find Windows Login Password
Discover quick steps to retrieve or reset your Windows login password. Here’s how to find Windows login passwords ensuring secure and easy access to your system.
How to Find Stored Passwords on Windows 10?
Since there are multiple places where passwords are stored on Windows 10, there are various ways to find the Stored password; the following are the four best options:
- Find Stored Passwords via Key Finder
- Find Stored Passwords via Credential Manager
- Find Stored Passwords via Command Prompt
- Find Stored Passwords via Registry Editor
Method 1 is a comprehensive password solution more suitable for novice computer users. Other methods have certain limitations and are more suitable for users who are familiar with computers. Once you have chosen the method, let’s start with a detailed step-by-step guide!
Find Stored Passwords via Key Finder
EaseUS Key Finder is a dedicated tool for Windows password finding and recovery. It integrates all passwords in one, including software passwords, email passwords, WiFi passwords, and more. It not only supports web passwords, such as Check Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and IE browser accounts and passwords but also supports Windows product keys.
The Key Finder has very powerful features. But it is simple and easy to use, perfect for users without technical knowledge. Download it and follow the steps below to find all the passwords you have stored on Windows 10.
Step 1. Launch EaseUS Key Finder, and click «Windows Credentials» on the left pane.
Step 2. Now, you can check all available Windows Credential addresses with respective user names, and passwords.
You can click «Copy», «Print», or «Save» these Windows Credentials’ accounts and passwords at one time.
Other Features of EaseUS Key Finder
EaseUS Key Finder is a very good password finder. It also has the following powerful features:
- Recover lost product keys: It can be used to recover lost product passwords, Adobe and Microsoft Office passwords.
- Find WiFi passwords: The tool can find and recover any WiFi password on your computer.
- Find Product Key from Dead PC: If your PC is unfortunately dead or unbootable, this tool can recover the product key from a dead PC.
- Find IE accounts and passwords: It can easily display accounts and passwords stored in different web browsers such as Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Internet Explorer.
EaseUS Key Finder can also meet more of your needs. It is a one-stop solution for password services. You can download it if you need it by clicking the link below!
Find Stored Passwords via Credential Manager
Windows Credential Manager allows users to store their usernames, passwords, and other credentials when logging in to websites. These credentials help users to automatically log in to the target web page, saving them a lot of time and effort. Here are the steps to find stored passwords using Credential Manager:
Step 1. Search for Credential Manager in the Start menu bar and open the search results.
Step 2. You will see two categories: Web Credentials and Windows Credentials. You can have the entire web credentials, as well as website passwords. You can click on Web Credentials and expand the Web Passwords option.
Step 3. Click «Show» and enter the Windows password used to unlock the password.
If you want to find the Windows credentials, click the option next to Web Credentials. There are fewer credentials stored there unless you enter the corporate environment.
Find Stored Passwords via Command Prompt
You can also find Administrator password Windows 10 using Command Prompt. The Command Prompt is a very powerful built-in tool for Windows. It allows you to find passwords on Windows without being able to use the Credential Manager. However, this method is only available to users familiar with the command parameters. The following is a step-by-step guide:
Step 1. Open a command line window and run it as administrator.
Step 2. Enter the command: rundll32.exe keymgr.dll,KRShowKeyMgr, and press enter.
Step 3. View the Stored Usernames and Passwords window.
Find Stored Passwords via Registry Editor
The Windows registry allows you to access your administrator passwords. However, an incorrect click can seriously damage your computer’s operating system. So please be careful while operating. The following is a detailed step-by-step guide:
Step 1. Open Windows Command Prompt and type regedit, and press Enter.
Step 2. Go to HKEY_ LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Microsoft > Windows NT > CurrentVersion > Winlogon when the registry editor window appears.
Step 3. Scroll down to DefaultPassword and double-click it.
Note: There are some risks associated with this method. Tampering with the Windows registry may damage your operating system. If you are unfamiliar with this way, please choose a professional password manager.
Conclusion
On Windows 10 computers, passwords are usually stored in the registry, Windows vault, or credentials file. This article provides four ways to find stored passwords on Windows 10. Once you have lost or forgotten any specific password, you can easily retrieve it using this article’s methods. EaseUS Key Finder is a password management tool that you should not miss. If you like the method in this article, you can share it with more friends by clicking the button below.
FAQs About Stored Passwords on Windows 10
This section provides some additional topics related to how to find stored passwords on Windows 10. If you are interested, read on.
1. Can I find a stored WIFI password on Windows 10?
Yes, you can find the WiFi password. Open the Network and Sharing Center, and select your WiFi network name. In WiFi Status, select Wireless Properties, select the Security tab, and then check the Show characters checkbox. The WiFi network password is displayed in the Network Security Key box.
2. What to do if I forget my Windows 10 password?
If you forgot your password, you can reset it to log in to your account by
Step 1. On the Enter Password screen, select Reset Password to connect.
Step 2. Answer the security question.
Step 3. Enter a new password and log in with the new password.
3. How to find saved passwords via CMD?
All you need to do to retrieve your password using CMD is to familiarize yourself with the parameters for finding your password. Here are the simple steps:
Step 1. Open a command prompt window and type cmd.
Step 2. Enter the command: rundll32.exe keymgr.dll,KRShowKeyMgr, and press Enter.
“I’ve been looking everywhere for my saved passwords on my windows 10 PC. My PC seem to have a problem accepting my new passwords after I changed them. When I do manage to find my way to credential manager and manage passwords, it demands ID verification with a username and password, which I can’t even remember having set up in the first place. I could really use some help with this issue, before I end up in the nut house!” From Microsoft Community
There are some users have this problem. For this reason, we collated some of the most useful information and hence, have tailored this post specifically to make users understand where are passwords stored in windows 10/11 and how to find passwords on windows 10/11! So stay glued to the article and you’ll get the answers yourself.
- Part 1: Where Are Windows Passwords Stored
- Part 2: How to Reset Windows 10/11 Administrator Password
Basically, all your password or credentials are stored in Credentials Manager application of Windows 10. They are generally store in an encrypted form. Now, if in case, you require to view the saved passwords of websites, you surely can do that but it will require your identity verification. You’ll be asked to put in the Administrator password to achieve this. Please remember, you cannot change passwords of the existing user accounts from here except the guest account’s password (if any).
Now, since you’ve got your answer to where are passwords stored in windows 10, it’s now time to understand how to find passwords on windows 10. Here is the detailed step by step procedure to know where your Windows passwords are stored:
Method 1: Find Windows 10/11 Password with Control Panel
Step 1: Hit the “Windows” key on your keyboard to launch the Start Menu and then punch in the “Credential Manager”. On the results, select Credential Manager or simply hit “Enter” button.
Step 2: Credential Manager will now crop up over your screen. Now, under the Manage your Credentials section, you’ll have to choices “Web Credentials” and “Windows Credentials”.
Step 3: Then, opt for the one as per your preference, let’s opt for “Web Credentials” first. You’ll now be able to see all stored passwords of websites right here. Hit on “downward arrow” besides any one of them, followed by “Show”. You’ll be asked to punch in the Administrator password and voila! The encrypted password is now decrypted and displayed as plain text!
Step 4: Now, if you opt for “Windows Credentials”, you’ll be surprised to see very few credentials here.
Method 2: Find Windows 10/11 Password with Command Prompt
Step 1: Hit the “Windows + R” key combination over your keyboard to launch the Run box. Now, punch in the “cmd” command to launch Command Prompt.
Step 2: Over the Command Prompt window, you need to punch in the following command line and execute it.
- rundll32.exe keymgr.dll,KRShowKeyMgr
Step 3: Stored User Names and Passwords window will now pop up over your screen. You can now add, remove or edit the passwords stored as per your preference. But remember, you do need an Admin password to perform the desired activity here.
Note: The View and Edit rule mentioned in the former part of this section, applies in this method too!
Method 3: Find Windows 10/11 Password in Registry
The Windows registry stores your administrator passwords, Where you can find your stored password on Windows 10/11.
Step 1:Open Windows Command Prompt and type regedit. Press Enter.
Step 2:When the Registry Editor window appears, navigate to the following:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon.
Step 3:Scroll down to DefaultPassword and double-click it.
Step 4:The default password will be displayed.
Note: There are some risks associated with this method. Tampering with the Windows registry can damage your operating system. If you are not familiar with this process, please choose a professional password manager.
Now that you know well about how to find passwords on windows 10, you must be wondering how you can edit the Windows User account password when you don’t remember the Admin password. Well hop on to the next step and you’ll have your solution!
Part 2: How to Reset Windows 10/11 Administrator Password
Since, you no longer remember the Administrator password, you’re simply locked out of performing any sort of activities that requires it. In such a case, you’re only left with resetting the Admin account password. For this purpose we would like to introduce, PassFab 4WinKey. This powerful tool is highly recommended for its success rate and the ability reset not only the Admin account password, but it also can reset or remove or change the Microsoft account or local account password. And that too, without the need of an old password, interesting, isn’t it? Let’s understand how to use this tool.
Step 1: Downloaded and install on your computer. Launch PassFab 4WinKey, plug in an empty CD/DVD or USB drive and click “Burn”.
Step 2: Once process completes, reboot your PC. On the first boot screen, hit “F12/Esc” button to launch Boot Menu followed by selecting boot media as the USB drive.
Step 3: PassFab 4Winkey will now crop up on your screen. Now, select the OS that has your Admin account and hit “Next”.
Step 4: Finally, select the required “Admin account” and hit on “Next” button. Upon completion, the password will be removed from your Admin account. Get your PC rebooted and you’re done.
Bottom Line
While moving towards the end of the topic where are passwords stored in windows 10/11 registry, we can conclude that with the aforementioned tutorials, you sure no longer have to look for how to find stored passwords on windows 10/11. Moreover, you also have a powerful solution at hand in case you require resetting, removing or changing Admin account password.
How do I find saved passwords in Windows 10? A large number of programs and websites usually prompt its users’ to save their passwords for later use in their PCs and mobile phones. This gets usually stored on software like Instant Messenger, Windows Live Messengers and popular browsers like Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Opera (for both PCs and smart-phones) also provide this password saving feature. This password is usually stored in the secondary memory and can be retrieved even when the system is turned off. Specifically, these usernames, as well as their associated passwords, get stored in the registry, within the Windows Vault or within credential files. All such credentials get accumulated in an encrypted format, but can easily be decrypted just by entering your Windows password.
A frequent task that comes into play for all end-users is to uncover all the stored passwords on his/her computer. This eventually helps in recovering lost or forgotten access details to any specific online service or application. This is an easy task but depends on some of the aspects like the OS that the user is using or the application someone is using. In this article, we will show you different tools that can help you view different hidden encrypted passwords in your system.
Table of Contents
Method 1: Using Windows Credential Manager
Let us first get to know about this tool. It is a built-in Credential Manager of Windows that allows users to store their confidential username and passwords as well as other credentials that are entered in when a user logs on to any website or network. Storing these credentials in a manageable manner can help you automatically log you on to that site. This eventually reduces the time and effort of a user as they don’t have to type their login credentials every time they use this site. To see these usernames and passwords stored in the Windows Credential Manager, you have to go through the following steps –
1. Search for “Credential Manager” in the Start menu search box. Click on the search result to open.
Note: You’ll notice there are 2 categories: Web Credentials & Windows Credentials. Here your entire web credentials, as well as any passwords from sites which you saved during browsing using different browsers will be listed here.
2. Choose and Expand the link to see the password by clicking on the arrow button under the Web Passwords option and click on the “Show” button.
3. It will now prompt you to type your Windows password for decrypting the password and show it to you.
4. Again, when you click on Windows Credentials next to the Web Credentials, you will most likely see lesser credentials stored there unless you’re into a corporate environment. These are application and network-level credentials as and when you connect to network shares or network devices like the NAS.
Recommended: Reveal Hidden Passwords behind asterisk without any software
Method 2: Find Saved Passwords using Command Prompt
1. Press Windows Key + S to bring up search. Type cmd then right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator.
2. Now type the following command into cmd and hit Enter:
rundll32.exe keymgr.dll,KRShowKeyMgr
3. Once you hit Enter, stored Usernames and Passwords window will open.
4. You can now add, remove or edit the stored passwords.
Method 3: Using third-party tools
There are other 3rd party tools available that will help you view your passwords stored in your system. These are:
a) CredentialsFileView
1. Once downloaded, right-click on the “CredentialsFileView” application and choose Run as Administrator.
2. You will see the main dialog which will pop up. You will have to type in your Windows password at the bottom side and then press “OK”.
Note: Now it will be possible for you to see the list of different credentials stored on your computer. If you are on a domain, you will also see a lot more data in the form of a database having Filename, version modified time etc.
b) VaultPasswordView
This has the same functionality as that of CredentialsFileView, but it will look inside the Windows Vault. This tool is essential particularly for Windows 8 & Windows 10 users as these 2 OS stores the passwords of different apps like Windows Mail, IE, and MS. Edge, in the Windows Vault.
c) EncryptedRegView
1. Run this program, a new dialog box will pop up where the ‘Run as administrator’ box will be checked, press the “OK” button.
2. The tool will automatically scan the registry & decrypt your existing passwords it will fetch from the registry.
Also read: How to Create a Password Reset Disk
Using any of the three methods you will be able to view or find the saved passwords on Windows 10, but if you still have questions or doubts regarding this tutorial then feel free to ask them in the comment section.
Passwords on Windows are stored in a few different locations, depending on the type of password and the version of Windows being used. Here are the most common locations where passwords can be stored:
1. SAM (Security Account Manager) database: In older versions of Windows, such as Windows XP and Windows Server 2003, the passwords are stored in the SAM database. The SAM database is a file located at %SystemRoot%\system32\config\SAM. It stores password hashes, which are encrypted representations of the passwords.
2. Local user accounts: For newer versions of Windows, like Windows 10, the passwords for local user accounts are stored in the Security Accounts Manager (SAM) registry hive. This is located at %SystemRoot%\System32\Config\SAM. Access to this file is restricted to the system and administrators by default.
3. Active Directory: In a domain environment, where Windows Server is being used, passwords for user accounts are typically stored in the Active Directory database. This database is managed by the domain controller and is not accessible directly. User passwords are not stored in clear text but rather as password hashes, similar to the SAM database.
It is worth noting that Windows passwords are not stored in plain text but are hashed or encrypted to enhance security. Hashing takes the user’s password, performs a one-way mathematical operation on it, and stores the result. When a user enters their password, it is hashed and compared to the stored hash to verify its correctness.
In conclusion, passwords on Windows are stored in the SAM database, Security Accounts Manager registry hive for local accounts, and in the Active Directory database for domain environments. It is important to keep in mind that password security is crucial, and Windows takes measures to store passwords in a secure manner.
Video Tutorial: Where do I find my saved passwords?
Does Microsoft have password manager?
Yes, Microsoft offers a password manager called Microsoft Authenticator. Here are the steps to set up and use Microsoft Authenticator as a password manager:
1. Download the Microsoft Authenticator app from the appropriate app store for your device (iOS or Android).
2. Open the app and sign in with your Microsoft account.
3. Once signed in, navigate to the «Passwords» section within the app.
4. You can choose to import passwords from your web browser or another existing password manager by following the provided instructions.
5. If you don’t have any passwords to import, you can start adding new passwords manually. Tap the «+» button or the «Add password» option and enter the necessary details for the website or service.
6. Microsoft Authenticator can generate strong and unique passwords for you. To use this feature, tap the key icon within the password field, and the app will generate a secure password.
7. The app will then save the password, and you can use it to log into websites or services directly from the app by tapping on the entry you want and selecting the «Copy password» option to paste it.
8. Additionally, Microsoft Authenticator provides autofill capabilities on compatible apps and websites. When you navigate to a login page, the app will present a suggestion to autofill your credentials for convenience.
Using Microsoft Authenticator allows you to securely store your passwords, generate strong ones, and autofill login details, providing an added layer of security to your online activities.
Please note that the steps outlined above were accurate as of the writing date (2023) and based on the information provided at that time. It’s always a good practice to refer to the official Microsoft Authenticator documentation or support channels for the most up-to-date instructions and features.
Where are passwords stored in Windows 10 registry?
In Windows 10, passwords are not typically stored in the registry. The operating system generally stores passwords in a more secure manner, such as using Credential Manager or by utilizing Protected Storage. However, it’s important to note that Windows 10 employs different methods for storing passwords depending on the type of account or application.
1. Local User Account Passwords: Windows stores local user account passwords as encrypted hash values in the Security Account Manager (SAM) database. The SAM database is typically located in the `%SystemRoot%\System32\Config` folder. It is worth mentioning that accessing and modifying the SAM database directly is not recommended and can lead to system instability.
2. Microsoft Account Passwords: If you are using a Microsoft account to log into Windows 10, the password is not stored locally on your system. Instead, the password is stored securely on Microsoft’s servers, and Windows 10 uses the Secure Account Manager (SAM) database to authenticate the user without storing the password locally.
3. Web Browser Passwords: Web browsers like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Edge store saved passwords within their respective settings or preference files. These files may be stored in different locations depending on the browser and user profile settings. For example, in Google Chrome, passwords are stored in an encrypted form in the browser’s profile directory, typically located at `%UserProfile%\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Login Data`.
It’s important to note that for security reasons, Windows 10 employs techniques to obfuscate and secure user passwords. The information provided is intended to give you a general understanding of where passwords may be stored in the Windows 10 ecosystem. However, accessing or modifying password-related files or databases without proper authorization or understanding could lead to system compromise or legal implications.
How do I open stored passwords?
To open stored passwords, follow these steps:
1. Launch the iOS Settings app on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
2. Scroll down and tap on «Passwords.«
3. You may need to authenticate using Face ID, Touch ID, or your device passcode.
4. Once authenticated, you’ll see a list of websites and apps for which you have stored passwords.
5. Tap on the website or app for which you want to view the stored password.
6. Authenticate again using Face ID, Touch ID, or your device passcode.
7. After successful authentication, you’ll be shown the stored password for that particular website or app.
Please note that for security reasons, Apple has implemented additional measures to protect stored passwords. If you are using iOS 16, the latest version of iOS, Apple has introduced the ability to use two-factor authentication passwords, which provide an additional layer of security. These passwords automatically fill in the verification code received through SMS or an authenticator app, making the login process more seamless and secure.
It’s important to keep in mind that accessing and sharing passwords should be done with caution to protect your personal data. Additionally, ensuring that your device is adequately secured by enabling features such as Face ID, Touch ID, and secure passcodes, as well as regularly updating your device and apps, will help maintain a secure digital environment.
How do I find my saved passwords on Windows?
As a tech blogger, I can provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to find your saved passwords on Windows without mentioning that I am an technical blogger. Please follow the steps below:
Step 1: Open the Windows Settings by either clicking on the Start menu and selecting the gear icon, or by using the keyboard shortcut «Windows key + I«.
Step 2: In the Windows Settings window, click on the «Accounts» option.
Step 3: Within the Accounts settings, click on «Sign-in options» from the left-hand menu.
Step 4: Scroll down on the right-hand side until you find the «Password» section. Underneath this section, you’ll see a link titled «Manage my Microsoft account.» Click on it.
Step 5: You’ll be redirected to your Microsoft account settings in a web browser. Here, sign in to your Microsoft account using your credentials.
Step 6: Once signed in, navigate to the «Security» tab or find a similar option that relates to security and account settings.
Step 7: Look for a section called «Password & security info.» This section may have a different label depending on the layout of your Microsoft account settings. Click on it.
Step 8: You’ll see a list of options related to password and security. Find the one that says «Passwords.» Click on it.
Step 9: You will now see a list of all your saved passwords associated with your Microsoft account. Make sure you are on a trusted device and take necessary precautions to protect your privacy while accessing these passwords.
Remember, this will only show your passwords associated with your Microsoft account, and not passwords saved in third-party applications or web browsers. For those, you will need to check within the respective applications or browser settings.
By following these steps, you should be able to find your saved passwords on Windows through your Microsoft account settings.
How do I find stored passwords in Windows 11?
As a tech blogger, I can guide you through the steps to find stored passwords in Windows 11. Here’s how:
1. Start by opening the Windows Settings. You can do this by clicking on the Start menu and selecting the gear-shaped Settings icon.
2. In the Settings window, click on the «Accounts» category.
3. On the left-hand side, choose the «Sign-in options» tab.
4. Scroll down until you find the «Password» section. Under this section, click on the «Manage» button.
5. A new window will open, titled «Windows Hello & security keys.» Look for the «Password Manager» section within this window.
6. Under «Password Manager,» you will find a list of saved passwords. To view the passwords, click on the «Review» button.
7. Windows 11 will prompt you to verify your identity, usually by using Windows Hello or the account password. Follow the authentication process.
8. After successfully verifying your identity, you will be presented with a list of stored passwords. You can view and manage them from this screen.
Please note that storing and accessing passwords should be done with caution and security in mind. It’s important to have a strong and unique password for each of your accounts and consider using a reputable password manager for enhanced security.
Remember, keeping your passwords secure is crucial, as they grant access to your personal information and accounts.