How Do I Find My Network Security Key? (Simple Steps!)

To find your network security key, also known as a Wi-Fi password, you can follow these steps:

Check your router or modem: The network security key is often printed on a label on your router or modem. Look for a label that says “Network Key,” “Wireless Key,” or “Security Key.”
Check your device’s saved Wi-Fi networks: If you have previously connected to your Wi-Fi network on a device, the network security key may be saved on that device. You can check your device’s Wi-Fi settings to see if the network security key is saved.
Check your router’s web interface: If you have access to your router’s web interface, you can find the network security key in the wireless settings. To access the web interface, enter your router’s IP address into a web browser and log in with your router’s username and password.

If you are still unable to find your network security key, you may need to reset your router to its default settings and set up your Wi-Fi network again with a new network security key.

Read on for more details and instructions:

Mục Lục

What Is A Network Security Key?

best place to put a router in

Your network security key is the password that connects you to your network. Each router comes with a network security key that is preset, but you can change it to something different through the device’s settings page.

Most preset network passwords (security keys) read like a lot of mumbo-jumbo that makes no sense, but this is good because it makes it difficult for anyone trying to access your network to guess what your password might be.

It can be pretty common to forget your security key code for your network because most people may only enter them once or twice per year at most.

While it can make sense to change your network security key to something more memorable that makes sense to you, remember that you don’t want to change it to something too simple or easy for anyone else to guess.

Related: Reset End-to-End Encrypted Data – Follow These Steps

The Different Types Of Network Security Keys

find your router key

There are several different network security keys in use to protect your network. These include:

WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy)

WEP keys are among the older codes used to connect wireless networks. These key codes consist of a 40-bit key for encrypting the data passing between your router and your computer.

Although WEP codes are still in use with people running old tech equipment, they should be updated because the encryptions can be easily hacked. These days most modern routers and access points no longer support WEP encryption.

Related: Local Network Access iPhone – Learn How to Set it Up

WPA: (Wi-Fi Protected Access)

WPA2 and WPA3 codes are used to protect our wireless networks. Passcodes encrypted with WPA2 are much more secure than WEP keys and are harder to crack. This is helpful because the WPA protocol is run using temporary keys that are changed with every packet.

Finding Your Network Security Key

You may look for your network security key if you have just bought a new router or access point, or you may want to add another device to your existing network but have long forgotten the security key that allows you to do this.

If you want to add a new device to your existing network, you can find the network security key within the network settings. Each time you add a device to your network, it will store the network key so it can connect and reconnect once the network is in range.

Finding The Security Key Code On A Router

When you purchase a brand-new router or access point, it can be pretty easy to find your network security key because most manufacturers will print this on a label attached to either the bottom or back of the device.

The labels can be confusing and can contain different codes and serial numbers, so look for codes that are labeled as:

• Password (key)• Wireless password• WPA key

Finding the Network Security Key on Windows 10

wifi security code

Finding your network security key can be pretty straightforward if you are already running your network on Windows 10. Follow these steps in Windows 10:

Right-click on the Start Menu
Click on Network Connections
Scroll down and click on Network and Sharing Centre
Click on your Wireless network
Click on the Wireless Properties button
Go to the Security Tab where you will see that your password is masked
Select the ‘Show characters’ checkbox, and this will reveal your network security key

Finding the Network Security Key on Windows 7

For those of you still running Windows 7, you can find your network security key by following these steps:

Click the Start button
Click Control Panel
Under ‘Network and Internet’ click ‘View network status and tasks’
On the left-hand menu, click ‘Manage Wireless Networks’, then locate your wireless network on the new menu
Right-click on your wireless network and select Properties
Click on the Security tab
Check the box that says ‘Show characters’ (if it is not already checked)
The Network security key box will display your key. You can use this same key to connect devices to your network, such as new laptops and tablets.

Finding Your Network Security Key on a Mac

Woman on Mac

For those people running Mac computers, you can find your wireless network security key by following these steps:

On the top of the screen, select ‘Go.’
Now select ‘Utilities.’
Double-click on ‘Keychain Access’ and then click on your network from the list provided.
Check the box that says ‘Show password’ (you may need to enter your Mac’s Administrator password to access this. Enter this and click ‘Allow’ to do this).
Your network security key will display your access code. You can use this same key code to connect other devices to your network.

Hopefully, these tips we have shared will help you quickly find your network security key when needed.

Remember, though, that if you choose to reset your security key to something more memorable, try to make it difficult for other people to guess easily. Most people may use a combination of family names and birth dates, but this information can be relatively easy for hackers to find.

It also makes sense to change your Wi-Fi password on your home network regularly. If you have never changed it from the default password, you should change it asap. The default wifi passwords used by most internet providers are well-known by criminals, and they will easily be able to gain access to your network by using these codes.

Doing this will give you more control over who is using your network. Changing your password to control how many devices are connected to your networks, such as family smartphones, laptops, and tablets, can also be good housekeeping.

We suggest you go away and try resetting your wifi password every year to ensure your network security is in good shape. Most wifi security fields these days are coded with best practices in mind, so you would be prompted to recheck passwords if the network security key mismatch occurs. A little housekeeping on your wifi password and enabling wifi protected access (so only devices you want can connect to it), can go a long way in protecting your wireless network.