How to Find Your Wi-Fi Password If You’ve Forgotten It

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If you did your home network setup a long time ago, chances are you don’t remember the password. The good news is, locating the correct password is pretty quick and easy, even if you’ve changed it from the default.

In this article, we’ll walk you through how to find your Wi-Fi password on a number of operating systems, including Mac, without having the hassle of sending away for computer repairs. Let’s get started.

Check Your Router’s Default Password First

If you’ve forgotten your Wi-Fi password, the first thing to do is check your router. The default password is usually printed on a sticker somewhere on the router itself.

The sticker will look something like this – it shows your router’s “SSID” or “Network” name and password or “Wireless Key”, which is usually a random collection of lower and upper-case letters and numbers.

If you can’t locate the default password on the router itself, look on the box the router came in, as well as any additional included documentation.

If you do successfully locate your router’s default password, give it a try. If it works, job done. We suggest changing the password from the default to keep your network secure. Store the new password in a password manager, so you don’t forget it again.

If it doesn’t work, you’ll have to try out the following methods:

How to Find Your Current Wi-Fi Password on Windows

If you are currently connected to the Wi-Fi network that you’d like the password for on a Windows desktop or laptop computer, these instructions are for you.

1. Head to the “Network and Sharing Centre” in the Control Panel. You can do this by right-clicking on the Wireless Network icon in the task bar, and selecting “Open Network and Sharing Centre”.
2. Click the name of the Wi-Fi network you are currently connected to.
3. A Wi-Fi Status window will pop up. Click “Wireless Properties”.
4. Navigate to the “Security” tab, then check “Show characters”.
5. The hidden password will then be revealed.

How to Find Your Wi-Fi Password for Network You’ve Connected to Previously

In addition to uncovering the Wi-Fi password for the network you’re currently connected to, you can find Wi-Fi passwords for networks you have previously connected to.

The instructions for this depend on what operating system you are using, and are a useful bit of computer maintenance to know.

Find Passwords for Previous Wi-Fi Networks in Windows 7 and Earlier

1. Head to “Network and Sharing Centre” in the Control Panel. You can do this by right-clicking on the Wireless Network icon in the task bar, and selecting “Open Network and Sharing Centre”.
2. Click “Manage wireless networks”.
3. You’ll now see a list of all the networks you’ve previously been connected to. Select the name of the network you’d like the password for.
4. A network properties window will appear. Navigate to the “Security” tab.
5. Check the “Show characters” box, and the password will appear.

Find Passwords for Previous Wi-Fi Networks in Windows 10 and 8

In Windows 10 and 8, you’ll need to use the command prompt to uncover a lost password.

1. Right-click the “Start” button, and open “Command Prompt”.
2. Type in the following command: netsh wlan show profiles
3. A list of all the networks you’ve previously been connected to will pop up.
4. Once you have spotted the network you’re interested in, type in the following command replacing ‘NAME’ with the name of the Wi-Fi network: netsh wlan show profile name=NAME key=clear
5. Look for the “Key Content” line. That will be the network’s password.

How to Find Your Wi-Fi Password on Mac

If you are currently connected to the Wi-Fi network that you’d like the password for on a Mac desktop or laptop computer, these instructions are for you.

1. Press Command and Space or click the magnifying glass in the top right-hand corner of your screen – this will open Spotlight search. Type the following: keychain access. Press enter.
2. Find or search for the name of the Wi-Fi network in question. Click it, and then click the info button – a small “i” at the bottom of the window.
3. Check the “Show Password” box. You’ll then be prompted to enter your password or use touch ID.
4. The password will then appear.

How to Find Your Wi-Fi Password from the Router’s Web Interface

If you are able to access your router’s web interface, you can see and change the password from there.

1. Access your router’s web interface, and sign in.
2. Locate a “Wi-Fi” or similarly labelled section.
3. From there, you’ll see the network’s password. You will also be able to change the password.

No Luck? Reset Your Router

If you’ve had no luck whatsoever with the above instructions, you can reset your router to the default password, i.e. the password located on the sticker on the router.

1. Locate a small “reset” button on your router. These are usually pinhole buttons that require a bent paperclip, sharp pencil, skewer, or other small object to press.
2. Hold down the button for about 10 seconds.
3. All of your router settings will be erased, and the password will be back to the default.