2023 Author: Gordon Kinson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-06-04 23:58
When we connect our device to a Wi-Fi network, we usually have to enter a password for it. This is a one-time operation, then the connection will be carried out automatically. As a result, over time, the password can be simply lost or forgotten. But it may be required at least to be used with new gadgets or to provide access to guests. And resetting the network settings or rearranging the system will force you to re-enter the Wi-Fi password. But even if it is forgotten, there are simple ways to recognize it.
How to find the password for the currently connected Wi-Fi network on a Windows computer
If your computer is currently already working on the desired network, the password for which is required to be learned, then this will not be difficult.
On the taskbar, find the network icon. It is usually found on the right side of the tray, next to the volume control, clock and language switch.
Right-click this item and select Open Network & Internet Settings.
In the Status section, select Configure adapter settings. You can get there by entering the ncpa command. cpl in the " Run " window (called by pressing the Win + R combination).
Highlight the current wireless connection.
Right-click on it and select "Status".
In the middle of the window that opens, click on the " Wireless Network Properties " button.
In the new window, go to the " Security " tab, where the desired Wi-Fi password will be hidden. One has only to put a check mark for the option "Display entered characters" so that the password is displayed in the form of text, and not black circles.
So it will be possible to reveal the password from the Wi-Fi network and with its help subsequently enter it with a new device. But it is best to warn the situation in advance, password managers will help with this. You can also write down the password on paper and store it in a safe place later.
How to find out the password for a Wi-Fi network to which the computer was previously connected
It may well happen that your computer is currently working on a different network. But you need to find the password from the network in which it worked earlier. This can also be done relatively easily, but in this case you will have to use the command line.
To run it, enter Command Prompt in the Windows search bar. In the search results, right-click on "Command Prompt" and select "Run as administrator".
In the opened "Command line" enter the command:
netsh wlan show profiles
and press Enter.
The system will give information about all Wi-Fi networks to which it was connected earlier. You need to find the SSID (name) of the required network, for example, in our case, "Yablyk-Public".
Now enter a new command with your information in it. It might look like this:
netsh wlan show profile name=Yablyk-Public key=clear
Replace "Yablyk-Public" with the name of your Wi-Fi network. In the given information, we need the " Key content " field. It is the password we need.
How to find out the password for a Wi-Fi network in a router (modem)
Even if the password is not on the computer or on a piece of paper, then it is definitely stored in the router, which creates the wireless network. This information can also be obtained directly from the device. But in the absence of access to his network, you will have to connect to him directly using a network cable. To do this, the computer must have an Ethernet port or, in its absence, a USB-Ethernet adapter.
When the connection is made, launch the browser and enter the address of the router (modem) in its address bar. Usually it is either 192.168.0.1, 192.168.1.1, 192.168.100.1, etc. These are standard LAN addresses, and in most cases they are used.
And then enter the login and password for your router. This data is usually set during device setup, and the factory settings are often indicated on a sticker on the bottom of the router. Quite often, the following pairs are used as the default login and password:
Login: admin
Password: admin
or
Login: admin
Password: 1234
or
Login: root
Password: 1234
Most router menus have roughly the same logic. We need to find the security settings of the wireless network. In this section, the password for connecting to it will be indicated, and in clear form.
Problems in this option will appear only if the password for the router is lost. In this case, you will have to reset it to factory settings, which will automatically reset the password from the Wi-Fi network.
How to find out the password for Wi-Fi using the free WirelessKeyView program
If you do not want to dig into the system settings, then the specialized WirelessKeyView program will help. It will just show all the passwords from wireless networks saved on the computer. Versions for both 32-bit systems and 64-bit systems are offered completely free of charge on the developer's official website. ZIP archive is password protected:
WKey4567#
WirelessKeyView does not require installation.
There are programs with similar functionality for detecting passwords for Android. But these applications will require root privileges for full system access.
See also:
- Windows computer freezes? Hotkeys to help solve the problem.
- How to disable Windows 10 login password: working ways.
- iCloud on a computer, or how to upload photos, videos from the cloud to Windows and vice versa.
