Once connected Windows Operating system have the capability to remember your internet WiFi password and you will not need to enter it each time the system is powered on. In this article, I will be showing you how to Prevent Users from Seeing Wi-Fi Password on Windows. Please see “The differences between Private and Public networks in Windows to VPN?“, and How to enable or disable Firefox Network Captive Portal Service.
Through Network and Internet settings you can access the properties of the network adapter, when you click Wireless Properties you will see the Network Security Key. But there is security issue of exposing your WiFi Key or Password to a third-party person who is not suppose to have access to your secret key.
You can further read how to Reveal the WiFi password of the Network you are connected to in Windows, Fix Wi-Fi not connecting on Windows 11, Enable or Disable Firefox Network Captive Portal Service, Set Network Adapter Priority on Windows 11 What can you do when you are Unable to connect to Eduroam WLAN.
Steps to Disable Users Seeing Wi-Fi Password on Windows
1. Search Registry. Right-click and select Run as administrator.
Back-up Registry File
2. After the registry editor opens, the next step is to back-up the specific registry before going ahead because if there is an issue along the way you can easily revert back to status-quo with the back-up file. Navigate to this location:
Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppID\{86F80216-5DD6-4F43-953B-35EF40A35AEE}
3. Right-click the registry key and select Export. Give the file a name and keep in a save location. This process will help you create a backup of the registry on your computer.
Set Permissions
4. Right-click the registry key and select and then click on Permissions.
6. In the Permissions window, click on Advanced to modify the advanced settings.
7. Click on Change to modify the ownership of the file.
8. In the Select Groups window type Administrators in the space for ‘Enter the object names to select. Click on Check Names to check if the name exists or correct.
9. Click on OK to add administrators to the list of permitted users.
Remove Permissions Entries
10. On the Advanced Security Settings window, under Permission tab click on the Permission entries one after the other by clicking Remove.
11. Click on “Apply” and then click on “OK” to save the changes on your computer.
12. Close the Registry Editor. You will need to confirm if the new configuration will work. Type Network in the search box, click on the View network connections in that search result.
13. On the Network Connections window. Double-click the Wi-Fi Adapter.
14. On the Wi-Fi Status window click on Wireless Properties. On the Wireless Network Properties click on the Security tab.
You will notice that when you select the Show characters check box the Network security key is no longer visible.
What this mean is that no one can view and collect the Wi-Fi Password or Security key from your Windows computer again.
FAQs on how to Prevent Users from Seeing WiFi Passwords
Inside Network Connections window, double click on your Wi-Fi Network Adapter. Click Wireless Properties button. In Wireless Network Properties, select the Security tab, then click the Show characters check box. Your Wi-Fi network password or network security key will be displayed.
Yes. If you connect to an unsecure Wi-Fi. That is the reason it is not safe to always connect to an unknown Wi-Fi connection or the one we cannot guaranty the security in terms of our data exposure.
I hope you found this blog post on how to Prevent Users from Seeing Wi-Fi Password on Windows Interesting and helpful. Do not hesitate to ask any questions in the comment section.
