Forgot Wi-Fi password? Here’s how to find it

Have you ever forgotten the Wi-Fi password of your home network connection and left with no other option than resetting the Wi-Fi router? Most of the time we realise this while connecting to a new device to the Wi-Fi network or when a friend or family visits your place and ask for the password. Well, there’s a way to find out the password of the router without resetting it. Wondering how? Here’s our how-to guide on how to find the Wi-Fi password.

First things first:

There are several ways users can look for the password -- using Windows and Mac device or by accessing the router’s settings page. But for both the methods to work, there should be at least one device that should be connected to the Wi-Fi network.

In case users don't have any device connected to the Wi-Fi network, they can connect it using WPS push button from the back of the router or can use Ethernet cable to connect and access the router’s settings page.

What’s the password to your Wi-Fi network, anyway? Whether you’ve changed the default password or not, it’s simple to find your Wi-Fi password. You can also look up any Wi-Fi network password if you’ve previously connected to that network from a Windows PC or Mac.

Case 1: When Wi-Fi is connected to any of the Windows or Mac device.

1.For Windows device

- Right-click on Windows Wi-Fi option from the taskbar

- Select the option ‘Open Network and Sharing center’

- At the next screen, click on the option ‘Change adapter settings’

- Double-click on the ‘Wi-Fi’ option

- At the Wi-Fi status page, select the option ‘Wireless Properties’

- Click on the ‘Security’ tab from the top and hit the ‘Show password’ option to view the password.

2.For Macintosh device

- Click on the Wi-Fi icon at the top

- Choose the option ‘Open Network Preference’

- At the next screen, click on the ‘Show Password’ option to see the password.

Case 2: When Wi-Fi is not connected to the device

1.Use Ethernet cable and connect it to a Windows device

- Connect the RJ45 cable to the Windows PC and open the router’s configuration page

- Enter the login information (by default admin is both ID and password in most of the routers. However, for more details refer to the router’s user manual)

- Once logged in, click on the Wi-Fi option of the router and look for the password or security option

- Hit ‘Show password’ option to view the password.

2.Use the WPS button to connect any device

WPS allows users to connect to the Wi-Fi network without the need of the password. Users need to press the WPS button located at the back of the router (in most case) and connect their device. Once connected, users can either access their router’s setup page or use the Case 1 method to know the password.