5 ways to find out your Wi-Fi password

1. Look up the standard password on the router

This method is suitable for your personal router or any other router to which you have physical access. Most modern routers have a unique default network name and password. They are usually printed on a serial number and other service information label or on a special sticker.

You just have to get to the router and carefully examine its back side. If there is nothing there, try looking at the instructions or google the model of the router. You will surely find what you are looking for.

2. Find out the password from the Windows network settings

If you are (or used to be) connected to the network via Windows, it will kindly prompt you for a forgotten password. Depending on the version of Windows, the names of the menu items may differ, but the meaning is approximately the same.

wi-fi password in Windows network settings

You need to go to the "Network and Sharing Center" and get to the list of wireless networks. Then open the properties of the desired network and look at the password in the "Network Security Key" field, not forgetting to put a tick on "Show entered characters".

3. Look up the password in Keychain Access in OS X

It's the same with a Mac. OS X stores the password for any network you've ever connected to, and of course you can see it.

This is done in the "Keychain", where all your passwords are stored. Launch it through Spotlight or from the Applications folder and select the System section on the left sidebar. Next, find the desired network in the list and click on the "i" button on the panel below. We put a tick next to "Show password" and after entering the administrator password, we see our Wi-Fi password.

4. Find the password in the web interface of the router

If you have access to the web interface, then the router password can be viewed there. To do this, go to the browser at 192.168.0.1 (or 192.168.1.1) and enter your username and password. The menu structure is different for each manufacturer, but the point is to find the Wireless Network section, which has a Security item with security options. It contains our key, that is, the password for the wireless network.

wi-fi password in the web interface of the router

The menu we need looks like this. The password is hidden by default, and to display it you need to click on the Display password button or something like that.

5. Reset your password and set a new one

Nothing can stand against brute force. If the password cannot be obtained, then it must be hacked, that is, reset. This method is only suitable if you need a password from your home router, but it will work on absolutely any router, since each of them has a physical reset button. The only drawback is that if your ISP uses specific connection settings, you will have to configure it again.

So, we get the router out of the closet, from the mezzanine - or wherever you have it hidden there - and take a close look at the part of it where the ports and control buttons are located. Look for a small hole that says Reset. This is the reset button. You need to press it with a paper clip or a needle and hold it for a few seconds (if it doesn't help, then hold down reset and, without releasing the button, turn off the router for 30 seconds, and then, while continuing to hold the button, turn it on and release it after 30 seconds). After that, the settings of the router will be reset to standard and you can find out the password in one of the ways described above.