For some people, it can be quite challenging trying to find the password to their Wi-Fi network. It shouldn’t be something that should be difficult for you to find. You can also check the Wi-Fi password of a network you previously connected to, either from Windows PC or Mac.
You can find the password to a previously connected Wi-Fi network if you’ve misplaced it. The case might be that you connected to someone else’s network before and wouldn’t want to disturb them to give you the password again.
How to Check Your Router’s Default Password
- Check your router’s default password, usually printed on a sticker on the router.
- In Windows, head to Network and Sharing Center, click on your Wi-Fi network, and head to Wireless Properties > Security to see your Network Security Key.
- On a Mac, open Keychain Access and search for your Wi-Fi network name.
If your router is still making use of the default username and password, it shouldn’t be difficult to find. The modern Wi-Fi router and the combined router/modem units offered by many Internet service providers usually come with a default Wi-Fi network name and password. Each router has its own default password, which is often random.
In order to find the default password, your Wi-Fi router should be found and examined. You should be able to identify a sticker somewhere on it that contains both the “SSID”–the wireless network name–and the password. You can use that password to connect to the router, that’s if you haven’t changed the default password yet.
If you couldn’t find the default password printed on the router, you should check the manual that came with the router for any useful information you can find.
In a situation where you don’t have the manual or the password isn’t on the sticker. We explained in our guide to resetting your router’s password, that you might be able to find the password by using the common username and password combinations (e.g., “admin” for the username and “admin” for the password) or visit RouterPasswords.com, where you can find popular routers’ default logins.
Once your router is connected using the default password, ensure that you change the password and store it in your password manager to ensure your router is secure.
How to Find your Current Wi-Fi Network’s Password on Windows
Windows will remember the Wi-Fi network’s password if you’ve connected before from a Windows laptop or desktop PC. The Wi-Fi password on any Windows computer that it is connected, or previously connected to that Wi-Fi network can be checked.
If you desire to know the password of the Wi-Fi network you’re currently connected to on Windows, go to the Network and Sharing Center in the Control Panel. To do this quickly: Right-click on the Wireless Network icon in the taskbar and click “Open Network and Sharing Center.”
Things to have in mind:This has changed for recent windows 10 updates. Click the “Open Network & Internet Settings” option that appears in the context menu instead. When the Settings window appears, scroll down and click “Network and Sharing Center.” You can also just head to Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center.
- Click the name of the current Wi-Fi connection.
- Click the “Wireless Properties” button in the Wi-Fi Status window that appears.
- Click the “Security” tab and activate the “Show characters” checkbox to view the hidden password.
How to Find Passwords for Wi-Fi Networks You’ve Connected to Previously
Windows also stores the Wi-Fi password of networks you’ve connected to previously. In Windows 7 and earlier, you can find these from the Network and Sharing Center, but in Windows 8 and Windows 10, you’ll need to use the command prompt.
How to Find Passwords for Other Wi-Fi Networks in Windows 7 and Earlier
To begin, click the “Manage wireless networks” link in the left menu of the Network and Sharing Center.
You’ll see a list of the previous networks you’ve connected to. Double-click a network name to open the network’s properties.
In the network properties window, go to the Security tab and “check” the box next to “Show characters” to see the Wi-Fi password in the “Network security key” field.
How to Find Passwords for Other Wi-Fi Networks in Windows 8 and 10
In Windows 10 and 8.1, you’ll make use of the command prompt to find the password of a previous network. Right-click the Start button and select “Command Prompt” to open it.
Then type in the following command:
>netshwlan show profiles
You’ll see a list of the Wi-Fi networks you’ve accessed before.
To find the password for one of the profiles, type in the following, replacing profile name with the name of the profile:
>netshwlan show profile name=profilename key=clear
Locate the “Key Content” line to find the Wi-Fi password for that Wi-Fi network.
How to Find the Password for Current or Previous Wi-Fi Networks on a Mac
You can also look up the password for the Wi-Fi network on a Mac that’s connected, has been previously connected.
To find the Wi-Fi password on your Mac, press Command+Space to open the Spotlight search dialog, type “Keychain Access” without the quotes, and press Enter to launch the Keychain Access app.
Look for the name of your Wi-Fi network in the list, click it, and then click the “info” button, it looks like an “i” at the bottom of the window.
Click the “Show Password” checkbox in the window that pops up. You’ll need to enter your username and password to gain access to the password. You’ll also need an administrator account for this, if your Mac account is an administrator account, just type your account’s username and password.
When you do this, your Mac will show you the Wi-Fi network’s password.
How to Find a Wi-Fi Network’s Password on a Rooted Android Device
It may be difficult to find the password for a Wi-Fi network on Android or iOS, but it is not such that is impossible. For this, your Android device would be rooted.
First, download an alternative root-enabled file explorer, such as ES File Explorer. Launch the app and tap the menu button in the upper left-hand corner. Scroll down and slide the “Root Explorer” switch to “On”.
- Grant it superuser access when prompted.
- Then, in the left menu, go to Local > Device.
- From there, browse to data/misc/wifi and open the conf file in the file explorer’s text/HTML viewer.
- Scroll down or search for the SSID to find the password for it, next to the term “psk”.
How to Find a Wi-Fi Network’s Password on a Jailbroken iPhone or iPad
To find a Wi-Fi network’s password on iOS you will need to jailbreak your device first.
Open up the Cydia store and search for the WiFi Passwords tweak. Tap the Install button to install it. It’s compatible with iOS 6, 7, 8, and 9.
When you’ve installed it, open the app and you’ll see a list of every Wi-Fi network you’ve connected to, along with their passwords. You can search for the network you’re looking for or scroll down to it.
How to Find a Wi-Fi Network’s Password from the Router’s Web Interface
You can look up the password on the router’s web interface if you have access to it. It is assumed that the router is either using its default username and password so you can log in or that you probably know the current username and password for the router.
Go to your router’s web interface and sign in with the current username and password your router requires. Look through the router’s interface for a “Wi-Fi” or similarly labeled section. You’ll see the current Wi-Fi password displayed on this screen, and you can also choose to change it to anything you want from here.
How to Reset Your Router to Its Default Wi-Fi Password
If you can’t find the Wi-Fi network’s password and don’t have access to your router’s web interface, or you don’t want to go through the stress. Your router can be reset and forced to use the default Wi-Fi passphrase on the router again.
You should lookout for a small “reset” button on the router. It’s most often a pinhole button that you’ll have to press with a bent paperclip or any similar small object. Press the button down for ten seconds or so and your router’s 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.
Just in case you’re not sure what your router’s Wi-Fi network name or SSID is? Check out the Wi-Fi settings on any device connected to the Wi-Fi network and you’ll see the network name. If there are no devices are connected yet, you should see this information printed on the router itself or in the router’s documentation.
How to FindWiFi password on your laptop (Windows)
To find your Wifi password on your PC (personal computer or desktop) follow the below guide;
- Right-click the WiFi network icon on the toolbar and select “Open Network and Sharing Center”.
- Click “Change adapter settings”.
- Look for the WiFi network, right-click on it and select “Status” on the drop-down menu.
- In the new pop-up window, select “Wireless Properties”.
- Click on the Security tab and check the box beside “Show Characters”.
How to Find Wifi Password on MacBook
Instructions are simple and easy to follow;
- Open Spotlight searches and type “Keychain Access” without the quotes into the search bar.
- In the Keychain Access window, click on the Passwords category in the left sidebar.
- Type the name of the wireless network you want the password for in the search bar.
- Double-click on the network to open it.
- Click on the checkbox next to the Show password text box and confirm your admin username and password.
- The password you’re looking for should appear in the Show password text box.
How Do I change My Wifi Password?
Here are a few steps to take to change your Wifi Password;
- To change the wi-fi password you have to first go to the router’s configuration page. the page IP depends on the make and model of the router. it is usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.2.1
- You will be asked to provide your login details of the router, if you haven’t changed then it is probably set to default one. you can try the following combinations.
Username: Admin
Password: Admin
- From here you will have to find the “Wireless Settings” option which should be in the line of sight in some menu.
- Set the security option to WPA2-PSK if available and specify the new password in the paraphrase field.
- Click “Apply Changes” and you are done.