Are you wondering whether you have changed the default password to your Wi-Fi network? Or do you just want to know what the password is? Finding your Wi-Fi password is a pretty simple task. Maybe you even misplaced your home network’s password, and you want to connect a new device, or you’re visiting a friend, and you want to connect to their Wi-Fi (a second time), but you’ve forgotten the password and don’t want to ask. You can easily look up any Wi-Fi password you need from a Mac or Windows PC. Here’s how to find your password.
What is a Wi-Fi password?
The Wi-Fi password is the password that the devices on the network has to provide in order to get connected to your network. Instead of connecting devices using the traditional LAN cables, Wi-Fi can be used to share internet across devices. To make it secure, we put a password so that only those who know the password will be able to join the network. It is just like any other passwords that are implemented to enhance the security of Wi-Fi networks. Based on the model of the router, and other similar factors, you can set different types of Wi-Fi passwords such as WEP, WPA, WPA 2, WPA 3, etc.
What is a network password?
A network password is a password that protects your network from external access. If you use Wi-Fi to share internet across devices, and build a home or office network using it, your Wi-Fi password is your network password. The network password is also known as the network security key. Because they are similar, you can change your network password just like you are changing the Wi-Fi password based on the router model.
How to find your router’s default password
You can easily find your Wi-Fi password by checking the router if it is still using the default name and password. If you’re using a modern Wi-Fi router, it comes with a default password consisting of random characters. Many people do not change this default password, because they feel it is a bit secure leaving it as random characters. If you haven’t changed yours, you can locate the password on a sticker on the back of your router. This sticker contains both the network name and the password. So, you can use that to connect ab new device to the router.
However, not all devices come with wifi routers. If the sticker on your router doesn’t display the password, check the documentation that came with the router. If you don’t also have the manual and guide, you may be able to get the right password by guessing the common username and password combinations such as ‘admin’. You can also check RouterPasswords.com to find common admin and password names. If you successfully log in, make sure you store your password in a password manager, so you don’t forget it.
Find router password by checking the web interface
If you can access the web interface of your router, you will also be able to find your Wi-Fi password there. You can only do this if your router is still using its default username and password. Login to the web portal using your credentials. Check for the Wi-Fi section. When you find it, you’ll see the Wi-Fi password displayed on the screen.
How to find network password on Windows
You can easily find a password on a Windows PC if you have connected that PC to the Wi-Fi network before. Windows remembers the network’s password. So, whether the PC is currently connected to the network or was connected to it previously, you can get the password from it. How do you go about it?
To get your password from your connected Windows PC, go over to the Network and Sharing Center in the Control Panel. The fastest way to get to this page is by bypassing the normal control panel route. Click the Wireless Network Icon in the taskbar as if you want to connect to a new network. Then, open the Network and Sharing Center. If you’re using Windows 10, open Network and Internet Settings. Then, when the window comes up, click on Network and Sharing Center.
In the network and sharing center:
- Click on the name of the Wi-Fi connection you want to view.
- Select Wireless Properties below the button in the Wi-Fi Status window.
- Click on the Security tab. You’ll see the security type, encryption type, and network security key.
- Mark the Show characters checkbox.
The Wi-Fi password will then appear on your screen under the Network security key. You can use this password to log in to new devices to your network.
How to find password of a network you previously connected to on Windows
Just like we mentioned earlier, Windows stores the password of any network you connect to. So, in the scenario above, if you’ve connected to a friend’s Wi-Fi previously, and you visit, you can still reconnect to the Wi-Fi without asking for the password from your friend. If you’re using Windows 7 or earlier versions of Windows, you can easily find the password in the Network and Sharing Center. But, if you are using Windows 8 and Windows 10, you’ll have to use the command prompt to find this password.
Steps to find old Wi-Fi passwords on Windows 7 and older versions
- Head over to the Network and Sharing Center on your PC.
- Click on the Manage wireless networks on the left panel. You’ll see a list of all the networks you’ve connected to.
- Select the network you want by double-clicking.
- Head over to the Security tab when the wireless network properties pop up on the screen.
- Click on Show Characters to view the network’s password.
How to find old Wi-Fi passwords on Windows 8 and 10
You will not be able to use the Network and Sharing Center to find your password on these versions of Windows. To access the command prompt, right-click on the Start Button. Then, select the command prompt. Type the following command in the command prompt:
netsh wlan show profile name=profilename key=clearThen, look for the Key Content line. You’ll see the Wi-Fi password sitting there.
How to find Wi-Fi password on Mac
If you’re not using a Windows PC, you can also find your Wi-Fi password on a Mac computer with present or previous connections. These are the steps to find Wi-Fi password on Mac –
- Press Command + Space to bring up the Spotlight search dialog.
- Type in Keychain Access and press Enter to open the Keychain Access App.
- Find the network you’re looking for on the list that pops up.
- Click on your Network name.
- Click the info button that looks like an ‘I’ at the bottom of your screen.
- Select the Show Password checkbox.
You won’t be granted access to the password immediately. You’ll have to verify that you own the PC by inputting your Mac account’s username and password. Only an administrator account can do this. So, if your Mac account is not an administrator account, you won’t be able to see the password.
How to find Wi-Fi password on a rooted Android device
Unlike PCs, you cannot see the password of the Wi-Fi router you are connected to on your Android or iOS device. The only way you can do it is by rooting your device or using Android Wi-Fi apps. First, download one of the most popular root-enabled file explorer, ES File Explorer. When you open the app, hit the Menu button. You’ll see the Root Explorer option when you scroll down. Switch it on. When asked about Superuser’s request, grant it.
In the menu on the left, click on Local, then select Device. Look for data/misc/wifi and open the wpa_supplicant.conf file in the HTML Viewer or file explorer. To find the password on that page, scroll down or search for the SSID. It is next to the term psk.
How to find a Wi-Fi password on jailbroken iPhone or iPad
Just like rooting your Samsung device, your iPhone won’t find the network password except you jailbreak the device. After jailbreaking, open the Cydia store, and look for Wi-Fi Passwords tweak. Install this on your phone. After installing it, you’ll see the list of all the Wi-Fi networks you’ve connected to on the app, along with the passwords.
What to do if you want to reset your Wi-Fi router’s password?
This is the final option to try if everything else fails. To force your router to change the Wi-Fi password and use the Wi-Fi passphrase inscribed on the sticker, press down the reset button on the router for about 10 seconds. This button is like a pinhole button, so you’ll easily find it. This act erases all the data and settings on your router, so you’ll start afresh. Make sure that you use a strong, secure password. Our guide on the best Wi-Fi passwords will give you some ideas.