How to View and Change Your Wi-Fi Password

So, you’ve forgotten your Wi-Fi password and now you can’t binge Netflix, order ramen, or doom scroll through social media. It’s okay, it happens to all of us. We’ll get you back up and running in no time. Just follow these simple steps to find your Wi-Fi password (or reset it if you need to).

The easiest way to find your password is to use your computer. Here’s how to find your existing Wi-Fi password on Mac and Microsoft devices. Let’s start with Apple.

To find your password using a Mac computer, follow these steps:

1. Open the Keychain Access application.
2. Select System from the sidebar.
3. Select the Passwords option that’s at the top of the window.
4. Locate the Wi-Fi network name that you need to access.
5. Select the box next to Show Password, and enter your computer password (if prompted).

That should show you the password!

To see password for the Wi-Fi network that your Windows computer is currently connected to, just follow these steps:

1. Go to the Start Menu.
2. Select Control Panel.
3. Go to Network and Internet.
4. Click on Network and Sharing Center.
5. Find the Connections button and select it.
6. Find the Wi-Fi network name and click on it.
7. Select the Wireless Properties button.
8. Under the Security tab, you can check the box next to Show Characters.

You should see your Wi-Fi password right there!

If you can’t find your password using a device that’s connected to the network, then you may need to reset it (see below).

If you’re setting up a Wi-Fi network with a new router, or you never changed the default password that came with your router, then you may be able to find the password printed on the device itself.

Locate your Wi-Fi router (the blinking thing that’s connected to your modem or directly to the cable in the wall). Look for a sticker on the bottom that has an “SSID” and password. Try using that password to access your network.

Changing your Wi-Fi password is relatively simple, though the process can sometimes seem strange to those who aren’t super tech-savvy. But just follow these steps and you shouldn’t have an issue:

1. Open an internet browser on your computer.
2. Type your router’s default IP address into the address bar. (Usually, it’s 192.168.0.1, but if that doesn’t work, look for a sticker on the bottom of your Wi-Fi router with the IP address information.)
3. Log in using your username and password. Generally, both the username and the password are the same (try “UserAdmin” or just “Admin”). If you don’t know the username and password, check the stickers on the bottom of the router or contact the manufacturer.
4. You may need to enter the serial number on your router before you continue. Again, you can find this on the bottom of your device.
5. Once you’re logged in, look for a Wireless Security or WLAN option. There may be a Change Password option. While every router’s system will be a little bit different, generally there is an obvious place to change your password.
6. Look for a box that says Wi-Fi Password or Key and enter your new password into that box. You may need to enter it twice.
7. Then hit Done (or Save or Apply or Finish).

If you’re still having trouble changing your Wi-Fi password, then contact the manufacturer of your Wi-Fi router and they should be able to help you out.