Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Find a Lost Wi-Fi Password

Our Wi-Fi connects automatically now, meaning we do not have to enter a password each time we want to connect.  However, once we get it set up on all our devices, it is easy to forget what that password is.  Fortunately, whether you need to connect a new device or give the password to a visitor, all is not lost!  It is still possible to recover the password.  Here are three ways to get the job done:

1) Check Your Devices - All of your connected devices connect automatically because they have the password saved.  Now, it is your job to find it!  The process is simple in Windows, OS X, and iOS.  You can also obtain the password on Android devices, but this requires root access, which may or may not be something you want to do.

2) Check Your Router - Many routers now come with a random password preset.  If you are using that password, it is probably written somewhere on your router.  If your router has a password printed on it, it is worth trying out first.

If that does not work, you can check your router's control panel.  The exact process for accessing the control panel will vary based on the router brand and model, so check your user manual or look online.  You will need to know a separate password needed for accessing the router, but you can usually get in with the default password unless you changed it.

3) Reset Your Router - If you can't get into your router control panel because you don't remember that password either, you can reset your router back to its default settings.  On the back of your router should be a reset button hidden inside of a small hole.  Stick a pen or paperclip inside the hole and push that button for about 30 seconds or until you see lights flashing.  This will set all the settings on the router back to default.

This means that if you have a preprogrammed password printed on your router, that password should work again.  If you do not, you can set a new password and connection name by accessing the router control panel using the default access password.

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