How to Find a Lost WiFi Password? | Retrieve WiFi Password

A compact security of the network devices in your home is an essential part of the entire wireless network. When you set a password or passphrase in your router, it is only for your network and data security. A situation might occur when you accidentally lost your WiFi password. This type of situation is troublesome and you need to take care of it as soon as possible. 

To retrieve WiFi password, you can check the network settings of your computer. If all is well, then check the router settings by accessing the device’s home page. When all the verifying and checking procedure is over, you have to follow a few instructions that are given below. 

How Do I Find My Wifi Password?

To find your WiFi password, you will need to follow some of the important instructions that are given below. These will be helpful for you to get your WiFi password successfully. They are here as follows.

Find your Default Router Password

Apart from assigning your password, the network device has its password that comes with the factory settings. In addition to that, it also has a default network name too. Check out the brand label at the bottom or side of the device. You will be able to see the brand name, SSID (network name) and password. Apply that password to connect the router. If this step doesn’t work, then you can proceed and check the next one. 

Search the Current Network Password

Whenever you lost or forget the network password, you can easily find it out in your system. Your PC Operating System has the password stored in it and that is why you can access the internet from the computer. To find the current network password in Windows, Macintosh OS, mobile devices and router’s web interface, go through all the points that are given here. 

Windows

When you forgot the wifi password, click on the “Start” button and go to the “Control Panel” home. After that, select the “Network and Sharing Center” to open it. There is a recent change in Windows 10 which is “Network and Internet Settings”. When the network window opens, click on WiFi and the status window will pop up. You will be able to see the “Wireless Properties” button, click on it and you will see the network security key. For security purposes, it is denoted as dots. Tick on the checkbox present right below to see the password. 

Macintosh

Apart from Windows, if you use the Macintosh Operating System, then then you can find the WiFi password easily. Just press “Command” + ”Space” and the “Spotlight” search box will open. Now type “Keychain Access” and press Enter. This will launch the keychain application. 

Now search for the name of your WiFi. After that click on the “info” button present at the bottom of the window. Hit on “Show password” checkbox and you will be able to see the username and password of the WiFi network. 

Mobile Devices (Rooted)

Finding the network password on mobile devices is not that simple as the other procedures given above. Fortunately, you can do it downloading a third-party root enabled file explorer software on your mobile phone. After downloading and installing the application, grant the root access and browse the configuration system file “wpa_supplicant.conf”. Tap to open the file, scroll down and you will find the network username and its password. 

Find password In Router’s Web Interface

To open the router’s webpage or interface, open your default browser and type the router’s IP address in the address bar. Press Enter and the log-in page will appear. Enter the default login ID and the web interface will open. Click on the “Network Settings” and open “System Status”. There you will see the password under the “WPA-PSK Key” menu. 

What if all the above Retrieval Process Fails?

When you cannot retrieve the password with all the above processes, the last thing you have to do is to reset the router. Hold the device and you will be able to see the reset button present at the back-side of the router. Take a straightened pin and press the button, hold it for near about ten seconds. 

After that, release the button and the router will roll back to its factory settings with default SSID and password. Gather all the network credentials and reconfigure the router. You can also set a new WiFi name and password. Make sure you note it down somewhere for future references. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the passwords saved in the Android smartphone?

Ans: Access the “Saved passwords” section in the file explorer’s WiFi folder. You must have the root access to your phone. There you will find a system configuration file, open it and you will be able to see all the saved passwords in your mobile device. 

Does Google save your WiFi passwords?

Ans: In the web browser, there is an option called “Back up my data”. You will find it in most of the computers as well as Android phones. This allows you to save all of your important passwords in the Google server along with other settings too. 

How can you access the modem settings?

Ans: If you have a modem along with a router, then you can easily access the settings of your modem by logging in the router webpage. After reaching the web interface, click on “Modem Settings” and you will be able to access all of its configuration pages. 

What to do when you cannot log in to your router?

Ans: In case if you cannot log-in to your router, there must be some issues in the setup function. In addition to that, browser cache files are also responsible for these types of problems. All you need to do is to clean up all the cache files from the system as well as the browser. After that reconfigure the router once again.