How to Find Forgotten WiFi Password

This article shows you how to find a forgotten Wi-Fi password using a Windows or Mac computer. You can do this using your computer's settings or by visiting your router's settings page. If neither method works, reset your Wi-Fi router's settings to restore the device's default password. However, you cannot find the wireless network password on your mobile device.

Use the Wi-Fi router's default password

Picture 1 of How to Find Forgotten WiFi Password

Determine whether you use the Wi-Fi router's default password. If you used the Wi-Fi router's existing password during the first installation, you can find the password by checking the device or related documents.

If you changed your Wi-Fi router's password at some point while using your device, you'll need to use a different method.

Picture 2 of How to Find Forgotten WiFi Password

Check your Wi-Fi router to find the password. Most manufacturers print the Wi-Fi router password on a sticker on the back or bottom of the device.

The password is usually near the "SSID" heading.

In most cases, the password will be a long series of numbers and upper and lower case letters.

Picture 3 of How to Find Forgotten WiFi Password

Find the password in the manual or box that came with the Wi-Fi router. In case you still have the Wi-Fi router's box and manual, you can find the login information on a sticker inside the box, in the manual (or on the back of it), or on the A separate card comes with the device. This step is only necessary when you cannot find the default password on the Wi-Fi router.

However, you cannot find the Wi-Fi transmitter's documentation online because the password is set specifically for each product.

Picture 4 of How to Find Forgotten WiFi Password

Try using the bypass password option to connect. Most Wi-Fi routers allow you to connect by pressing the "WPS" button on the back of the device and then selecting the network on your computer, mobile device, receiver or entertainment device. As long as you select the network within about 30 seconds, you will be allowed to connect your computer (or other device) to the network without a password.

Not all Wi-Fi transmitters have this mode, you need to check the device's paper (or online) documentation to see if it has WPS mode (short for 'Wi-Fi Protected Setup' - Security Settings). Wi-Fi password) or not.

This step will not help you find out the Wi-Fi password, but allows you to connect to the Internet on a previously connected device, helping you find the password using one of the following methods.

Find passwords on Windows machines

Picture 5 of How to Find Forgotten WiFi Password

Click the Wi-Fi icon on the far right side of the taskbar just below the screen. This will bring up the Wi-Fi menu.

This method only works when you are connecting to a Wi-Fi network whose password you have forgotten.

If you see a computer screen icon next to a cable, you're connected to your Wi-Fi router via Ethernet. You cannot use an Ethernet connection to find the Wi-Fi password.

Picture 6 of How to Find Forgotten WiFi Password

Click the Network & Internet settings link . It's at the bottom of the Wi-Fi menu.

Picture 7 of How to Find Forgotten WiFi Password

Click the Wi-Fi tab on the left side of the Settings window.

Picture 8 of How to Find Forgotten WiFi Password

Click Change adapter options . This link is in the top right corner of the Wi-Fi page, just below the "Related settings" heading. After you click, the screen will display the Control Panel page.

Picture 9 of How to Find Forgotten WiFi Password

Click on your current Wi-Fi network. You'll see a desktop icon next to the green bars on this page; This is your current network.

Picture 10 of How to Find Forgotten WiFi Password

Click View status of this connection . It's an option below the address bar at the top of the Network Connections window.

Picture 11 of How to Find Forgotten WiFi Password

Click Wireless Properties . It's in the middle of the window.

Picture 12 of How to Find Forgotten WiFi Password

Click the Security tab . It's at the top of the window. This will open a page with a "Network security key" field near the middle of the page; This is where your password is saved.

Picture 13 of How to Find Forgotten WiFi Password

Check the "Show characters" box below the "Network security key" field. The black dots in the "Network security key" field have now turned into your Wi-Fi password.

Find passwords on Mac

Picture 14 of How to Find Forgotten WiFi Password

Open Finder. Click the Finder app with the blue face icon in your Mac's Dock.

On your Mac, you don't need to be connected to a Wi-Fi network to find your Wi-Fi password.

Picture 15 of How to Find Forgotten WiFi Password

Click Go in the row of options in the upper-left corner of your Mac screen.

Picture 16 of How to Find Forgotten WiFi Password

Click Utilities in the Go menu that appears.

Picture 17 of How to Find Forgotten WiFi Password

Double-click the Keychain Access app with the key icon in the Utilities folder.

Picture 18 of How to Find Forgotten WiFi Password

Find and double-click the network name. This is the name you see when your Mac connects to a Wi-Fi network.

You can filter the Keychain list alphabetically by clicking the Name group near the top of the Keychain window.

Picture 19 of How to Find Forgotten WiFi Password

Check the "Show password" box near the bottom of the network window.

Picture 20 of How to Find Forgotten WiFi Password

Enter the administrator's password when prompted. This is the password you use to log into your Mac. Just enter the correct administrator password and the Wi-Fi network password will appear in the password field.

Use your Wi-Fi router's setup page

Picture 21 of How to Find Forgotten WiFi Password

Connect the computer to the Wi-Fi router via Ethernet . If you don't know your Wi-Fi password and your computer isn't connected to the Internet, Ethernet is the only way you can connect.

On your Mac, you'll need to purchase an Ethernet to USB-C (or Thunderbolt 3) adapter before you can connect an Ethernet cable.

If the Ethernet option doesn't work, you must reset the Wi-Fi router to restore default settings.

Picture 22 of How to Find Forgotten WiFi Password

Find the IP address of your Wi-Fi router. To access the Wi-Fi router's settings page, you must know the device's IP address:

Windows - Open Start , click the Settings gear icon , select Network & Internet , then View your network properties and look at the address next to " Default gateway" (Default gateway).

Mac - Open the Apple menu , click System Preferences , select Network , select Advanced , select the TCP/IP tab , and find the number to the right of "Router:" -Fi):.

Common addresses for Wi-Fi transmitters are usually 192.168.0.1, 192.168.1.1, 192.168.2.1and 10.0.0.1Apple Wi-Fi transmitters.

With some Wi-Fi transmitters, the IP address is often found on a sticker on the side of the device.

Picture 23 of How to Find Forgotten WiFi Password

Go to the Wi-Fi router's settings page. Open your favorite web browser and enter your device's IP address in the address bar.

You can use any web browser to perform this step.

Picture 24 of How to Find Forgotten WiFi Password

Entering the Wi-Fi router's settings page. After entering the correct address, you may be asked to enter your username and password; If so, use your device's credentials. This information is different from the information you use to connect to a Wi-Fi network.

The default login name is usually adminand the default password is admin, password, or left blank. Most users will change this information after setting up the Wi-Fi router; however, if you can't remember your username and password, you'll need to reset your Wi-Fi router.

If you don't change the default login information, you'll find it in the documentation that came with your device or on the device.

Picture 25 of How to Find Forgotten WiFi Password

Go to the "Wireless" section. Once you're logged into your Wi-Fi router's settings page, look for the "Wireless" or "Wi-Fi" section. This step is usually done by clicking the tab at the top of the page or looking in the menu.

The interface of each Wi-Fi router's settings page may be different, so you may want to browse through a few different menus first.

The router's password may also be displayed at the top of the router's settings page.

Picture 26 of How to Find Forgotten WiFi Password

Find password. On the "Wireless" page, you'll see your wireless network name (SSID) and the type of security or encryption (such as WEP, WPA, WPA2, or WPA/WPA2). Near the security options, you'll see a "Passphrase" or "Password" field. This is your wireless network password field.

Reset the Wi-Fi router

Picture 27 of How to Find Forgotten WiFi Password

Know when to use this method. If you cannot retrieve your Wi-Fi router's password using the methods described in this article, your Wi-Fi password cannot be recovered and you need to reset your Wi-Fi router.

Resetting the Wi-Fi transmitter does not help you retrieve the current password, but the Wi-Fi transmitter will reset to the default password printed on the bottom or back of the device.

Resetting the Wi-Fi router will also disconnect the devices from the wireless network. For this reason, you should only reset your Wi-Fi router when you have exhausted all options.

Picture 28 of How to Find Forgotten WiFi Password

Find your Wi-Fi router's "Reset" button. This button is usually on the back of the device. You will probably need a paper clip or needle to push the "Reset" button.

Picture 29 of How to Find Forgotten WiFi Password

Press and hold the "Reset" button for at least 30 seconds to ensure the Wi-Fi router is completely reset.

The light on the Wi-Fi router will flash or turn off momentarily when the device is reset.

Picture 30 of How to Find Forgotten WiFi Password

Find your Wi-Fi router's default credentials. This information is usually found on the bottom of the device and includes:

Network name or SSID — The default name of the network you'll see in the Wi-Fi menu.

Password or Key — The network's default password.

Picture 31 of How to Find Forgotten WiFi Password

Network connections. When entering the password, you will use the default password printed below the Wi-Fi transmitter.

You can change the password before connecting to the Internet.

Update 11 November 2023
Category

System

Mac OS X

Hardware

Game

Tech info

Technology

Science

Life

Application

Electric

Program

Mobile