{"id":24509,"date":"2022-12-19T19:21:28","date_gmt":"2022-12-19T19:21:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2022\/12\/19\/how-to-find-your-wi-fi-password\/"},"modified":"2022-12-19T19:21:28","modified_gmt":"2022-12-19T19:21:28","slug":"how-to-find-your-wi-fi-password","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2022\/12\/19\/how-to-find-your-wi-fi-password\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Find Your Wi-Fi Password"},"content":{"rendered":"

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antstang\/Shutterstock.com<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

You can often find your a Wi-Fi router’s default password printed on the router itself. You can also view the password on a Windows PC, Mac, Android device, iPhone, or iPad that’s previously connected to the network.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the password to your Wi-Fi network, anyway? Whether you\u2019ve changed the default password or not, it\u2019s simple to find your Wi-Fi password. You can also look up any Wi-Fi network password if you\u2019ve previously connected to that network from a Windows PC or Mac.<\/p>\n

This is essential for hooking up new devices to a network. Whether you\u2019ve misplaced your home network\u2019s password, or you\u2019re visiting someone and don\u2019t want to ask them for the password a second time, here\u2019s how you can find it.<\/p>\n

First: Check Your Router\u2019s Default Password<\/h2>\n

If your router is still using the default username and password, it should be easy to find. Modern Wi-Fi routers<\/a> \u2014 and the combined router\/modem units offered by many Internet service providers \u2014 come with a default Wi-Fi network name and password. Each router has its own default password, which is often random.<\/p>\n

To find the default password, find your Wi-Fi router and examine it. You should see a sticker somewhere on it that contains both the \u201cSSID\u201d \u2014 the wireless network name \u2014 and the password. If you haven\u2019t changed the default password yet, you can use that password to connect to the router.<\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t see a default password printed on the router itself, try looking at the documentation that came with the router for more information.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

What if you don\u2019t have the manual or the password isn\u2019t on the router sticker? As we mentioned in our guide to resetting your router\u2019s password<\/a>, you might be able to find the password by using common username and password combinations (e.g., \u201cadmin\u201d for the username and \u201cadmin\u201d for the password) or consulting RouterPasswords.com<\/a>, a database of popular routers\u2019 default logins.<\/p>\n

Once you\u2019ve connected to your router using the default password, make sure you change it and store the password in your password manager so your router is secure.<\/p>\n

How to Find the Current Wi-Fi Network\u2019s Password on Windows<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019ve connected to a Wi-Fi network from a Windows laptop or desktop PC, Windows will remember that Wi-Fi network\u2019s password. You can look up the Wi-Fi password on any Windows computer that\u2019s currently connected to \u2014 or has previously connected to \u2014 that Wi-Fi network.<\/p>\n

Right-click the Wi-Fi icon on your taskbar, then click the \u201cOpen Network & Internet Settings\u201d option that appears in the context menu.<\/p>\n

Note:<\/strong> The procedure for seeing your Wi-Fi password on Windows 11<\/a> is basically the same as on Windows 10, shown here, but the user interface is fairly different.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

RELATED:<\/strong> How to See Your Wi-Fi Password on Windows 11<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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Scroll down to the \u201cAdvanced Network Settings\u201d section, then click \u201cNetwork and Sharing Center.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Click the name of the current Wi-Fi connection next to \u201cConnections.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Click the \u201cWireless Properties\u201d button in the Wi-Fi Status window that appears.<\/p>\n

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Click the \u201cSecurity\u201d tab and activate the \u201cShow characters\u201d checkbox to view the hidden password.<\/p>\n

\"Open<\/p>\n

How to Find Passwords for Wi-Fi Networks You\u2019ve Connected to Previously<\/h2>\n

Windows also stores the Wi-Fi password of networks you\u2019ve connected to previously. In Windows 7 and earlier, you can find these from the Network and Sharing Center, but in Windows 8, Windows 10, and Windows 11, you\u2019ll need to use the command prompt.<\/p>\n

Find Passwords for Other Wi-Fi Networks in Windows 7 and Earlier<\/h3>\n

To get started, click the \u201cManage wireless networks\u201d link in the left menu of the Network and Sharing Center.<\/p>\n

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You\u2019ll see a list of the previous networks you\u2019ve connected to. Double-click a network name to open the network\u2019s properties.<\/p>\n

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In the network properties window, go to the Security tab and check the box next to \u201cShow characters\u201d to see the Wi-Fi password in the \u201cNetwork security key\u201d field.<\/p>\n

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Find Passwords for Other Wi-Fi Networks in Windows 8, 10, or 11<\/h3>\n

In Windows 11, 10, 8.1, you\u2019ll have to use the command prompt to find a previous network\u2019s password. Right-click the Start button and select \u201cCommand Prompt,\u201d \u201cPowerShell,\u201d or \u201cWindows Terminal\u201d to quickly open it<\/p>\n

Then type in the following command:<\/p>\n

netsh wlan show profiles<\/pre>\n
\"Run<\/p>\n
You\u2019ll get a list of the Wi-Fi networks you\u2019ve accessed before.<\/p>\n
To find the password for one of the profiles, type in the following, replacing profilename with the name of the profile:<\/p>\n
netsh wlan show profile name=profilename key=clear<\/pre>\n
Look for the \u201cKey Content\u201d line to find the Wi-Fi password for that Wi-Fi network.<\/p>\n
\"Run<\/p>\n
How to Find the Password for Current or Previous Wi-Fi Networks on a Mac<\/h2>\n
If you have a Mac that\u2019s currently connected to the Wi-Fi network or previously connected to it, you can also look up the password on that Mac.<\/p>\n
To find the Wi-Fi password on your Mac, press Command+Space to open the Spotlight search dialog, type \u201cKeychain Access\u201d without the quotes, and press Enter to launch the Keychain Access app.<\/p>\n
\"Press<\/p>\n
Select \u201cSystem\u201d on the left, pick the \u201cPasswords\u201d tab, then double-click your Wi-Fi network in the list to view the details of the network.<\/p>\n
Note:<\/strong> You can also click the \u201ci\u201d icon near the top of the window to display the Wi-Fi network\u2019s details.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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Click the \u201cShow Password\u201d checkbox in the window that appears.<\/p>\n
\"Check<\/p>\n
You\u2019ll have to enter your username and password to gain access to the password, or use TouchID. You\u2019ll need an administrator account for this. Assuming your Mac account is an administrator account, just type your account\u2019s username and password.<\/p>\n
After you do, your Mac will show you the Wi-Fi network\u2019s password.<\/p>\n
\"The<\/p>\n
How to Find a Wi-Fi Network\u2019s Password on an Android Device<\/h2>\n
Android has a convenient way to view your password built in. You need to get to the Network settings menu \u2014 you can do that by navigating to Settings, then tapping \u201cNetwork and Internet\u201d or by long-holding \u201cInternet\u201d in the swipe-down menu.<\/p>\n
\"Tap<\/p>\n
Tap the name of the Wi-Fi network that you\u2019re currently connected to \u2014 in this case, it is \u201cExample Network.\u201d<\/p>\n
\"Tap<\/p>\n
If you want to view a Wi-Fi network you\u2019ve connected to in the past, tap \u201cSaved Networks,\u201d which is down the page a bit.<\/p>\n
\"Tap<\/p>\n
Once you select the network you want to view \u2014 either from the Saved Networks list or your current network \u2014 you\u2019ll see a \u201cNetwork Details\u201d screen. Tap \u201cShare\u201d to display the password for the network.<\/p>\n
\"\"<\/p>\n
The plaintext password is displayed under the QR code.<\/p>\n
\"The<\/p>\n
How to Find a Wi-Fi Network\u2019s Password on\u00a0an iPhone or iPad<\/h2>\n
The only way to find a Wi-Fi network\u2019s password on an iPhone or iPad running a version of iOS older than iOS 16 is to\u00a0jailbreak your device<\/a>\u00a0first. Talk about a headache.<\/p>\n
RELATED:<\/strong> How to View Saved Wi-Fi Passwords on iPhone or iPad<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n
Starting in iOS 16, the process is much simpler. You can find the password for any Wi-Fi network<\/a> you\u2019ve previously connected to by going to the Settings app, then tap the \u201cWi-Fi\u201d option.<\/p>\n
\"Open<\/p>\n
Tap the \u201ci\u201d icon to view the network details.<\/p>\n
\"\"<\/p>\n
Tap the obfuscated password to reveal your password. You can hit the \u201cCopy\u201d button to copy the password to your clipboard, then paste it wherever you\u2019d like.<\/p>\n
\"Tap<\/p>\n
If you want to view the password of a Wi-Fi network you\u2019ve connected to previously, tap the \u201cEdit\u201d button instead of the \u201ci\u201d icon.<\/p>\n
\"\"<\/p>\n
All of the networks you\u2019ve connected to previously are saved and available in a list.\u00a0 Tap the \u201ci\u201d button next to the network to view the details.<\/p>\n
\"\"<\/p>\n
Tap the password field to view your current password in plaintext.<\/p>\n
\"Once<\/p>\n
How to Find a Wi-Fi Network\u2019s Password from\u00a0the Router\u2019s Web Interface<\/h2>\n
RELATED:<\/strong> 10 Useful Options You Can Configure In Your Router’s Web Interface<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n
If you have access to the router\u2019s web interface, you can also attempt to look it up there. This assumes that the router is either using its default username and password so you can log in, or that you know the current username and password for the router.<\/p>\n
Go to your router\u2019s web interface<\/a> and sign in with the current username and password your router requires. Look through the router\u2019s interface for a \u201cWi-Fi\u201d or similarly labeled section. You\u2019ll see the current Wi-Fi password displayed on this screen, and you can also choose to change it to anything you want from here.<\/p>\n
\"A<\/p>\n
If All Else Fails: Reset Your Router to Its Default Wi-Fi Password<\/h2>\n
RELATED:<\/strong> How to Access Your Router If You Forget the Password<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n
Can\u2019t find your Wi-Fi network\u2019s password and don\u2019t have access to your router\u2019s web interface \u2014 or just don\u2019t want to bother? Don\u2019t worry. You can reset your router<\/a> and force it to use the default Wi-Fi passphrase printed on the router once again.<\/p>\n
Look for a small \u201creset\u201d button on the router. It\u2019s often a pinhole button you\u2019ll have to press with a bent paperclip or a similarly small object. Press the button down for ten seconds or so and your router\u2019s settings will be completely erased and reset to their defaults. The Wi-Fi network name and password will be restored to the default ones on the router.<\/p>\n
\"The<\/p>\n
Not sure what your router\u2019s Wi-Fi network name \u2014 or SSID \u2014 is? Just look at the Wi-Fi settings on any device connected to the Wi-Fi network and you\u2019ll see the network name. If no devices are connected yet, you should see this information printed on the router itself or in the router\u2019s documentation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n