These days if you're having friends over, they'll probably ask to log
into your Wi-Fi network before asking for a drink. But if you've
forgotten your password, it can be quite hard to find, since most
devices obscure the characters with asterisks.
But it honestly
doesn't take much technical know-how to find a lost Wi-Fi password, as
long as you have access to the router or at least one device connected
to the network. So below, I'll go over the easiest ways to find your
lost Wi-Fi password with Windows, Mac, or Android, as well as a pair of
additional methods that don't require a connected device. Note
that there is no way to view saved Wi-Fi passwords on an iPhone, unless
you're jailbroken, then you can use a Cydia app like NetworkList, which works for iOS 6 and higher.
Windows Method
If you've connected a
Windows PC to the same Wi-Fi network in the past, it should be fairly
simple to find the Wi-Fi password. To begin, open the Start menu (or
press the Windows button on your keyboard), then type "View network
connections" and hit enter.
From here, find the connection labeled "Wi-Fi" in the following menu. Right-click this entry, then choose the "Status" option.
On the menu that pops up next, simply click the "Wireless Properties" button.
From here, another window will pop up. Head over to the Security
tab in this window, then tick the box next to "Show characters." Once
you've done that, the Wi-Fi network's password will be visible plain as
day.
Mac OS X Method
If you have a MacBook
or any other Apple computer and it's currently connected to this Wi-Fi
network, finding the saved password is easy. First, open the Finder app, then click the Applications entry in the left-hand pane. From here, open the Utilities folder in the main window.
Next, launch the "Keychain Access.app" utility, which has an icon that looks like a set of keys.
From
here, make sure "System" is selected and "Passwords" is highlighted as
the category in the left-hand pane. Next, simply locate your router in
the list, then double-click the entry.
In
the window that pops up next, tick the box next to "Show password," and
your Wi-Fi password will be displayed. You will probably have to input
your admin username and password in order to unlock it.
Android Method
Android doesn't allow you to view saved passwords natively, but if you're a rooted user, a simple and effective app will get around this issue in a few simple taps. The app is called WiFi Key Recovery, and I've covered it in detail with a full tutorial, so head to the link below for more information.
Router Method
If you have a router
from your internet provider, chances are it has the default network name
and password printed right on the router's label somewhere (look for
SSID or ESSID, and WPA, WPA2, etc.). This only works if you haven't
changed the default login information (which you should have!), so skip
below for a way to get your Wi-Fi password.
Router Logon Method
For this next
method to work, your computer will need to be connected directly to your
router with an Ethernet cable if you're not already connected to it via
Wi-Fi. Once you've taken care of that, if necessary, simply enter your
router's IP address into any web browser. For all common router brands,
one of the following 3 addresses should work, but note that if you've
manually changed your router's default IP address, you'll have to enter
that instead:
192.168.0.1 (Netgear, D-Link, Belkin, and more)
192.168.1.1 (Netgear, D-Link, Linksys, Actiontec, and more)
192.168.2.1 (Linksys and more)
Once
you've typed in your router's address, you'll be prompted to enter the
user name and password. If you already know this information, go ahead
and type in in now.
If
you're not sure about your router's login information, chances are it's
still set to the default. For most routers, you can find the default
login information printed on a sticker on the bottom or side of the
unit. Look for "user name" and "password," and don't confuse it with the
network name and password, if that's on it, like mentioned in the
section above. Type this information into the popup on your browser to
log in.
Once
you've logged into your router, you'll be greeted by a pretty
straightforward interface. This interface will vary depending on your
router, though, so you may have to poke around a bit to find the
information you're looking for.
With most routers, there should be
an entry labeled either "Wireless" or "Wi-Fi." Click this entry, then
you should see your Wi-Fi network's password (or "passphrase") listed in
plain text.
Router Reset Method
If you're not
able to log into your router for any reason, a last resort method for
connecting to your Wi-Fi network would be to reset your router to its
factory settings. Keep in mind, though, that getting your router and
Wi-Fi network set up again after resetting may require that you have a
computer physically connected to the router via Ethernet.
To reset
your router, look for a small button labeled "Reset" or "Restore
Factory Settings." In some cases, you may need a paper clip or safety
pin to access this button if it is recessed. Press and hold this button
for 5 seconds, then release.
Next,
give your router up to 5 minutes to restore its factory settings. When
it's done with this process, you should be able to log into your router
with any computer that is connected via Ethernet, which will allow you
to enter a new Wi-Fi password of your choosing. For more information on
logging into your router, see the "Router Logon Method" section above.
Which of these methods ended up working for you? Let us know in the comment section below.
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