Wi-Fi
Forgotten Wi-Fi Password on an ISP-Managed Router
Losing track of your Wi-Fi password is one of the most common home-network issues -- and usually one of the easiest to fix, without needing to reset anything.
Check the router label first
Most routers ship with a default Wi-Fi name and password printed on a sticker on the underside or back of the device. If nobody has changed it since installation, this is almost always your current password.
Check a device that's already connected
- Windows: Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi → Manage known networks → select your network → Properties, then reveal the saved password.
- Mac: Open Keychain Access, search for your Wi-Fi network name, and view the password (you'll need your Mac login password to reveal it).
- Android/iPhone: some phones let you view a saved Wi-Fi password directly via a QR code or share option in Wi-Fi settings, depending on the device.
Log into the router's admin settings
Every router has an admin page (commonly reached by typing an address like 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 into a browser while connected to it) where the current Wi-Fi password is shown or can be changed. You'll need the router's admin login (different from the Wi-Fi password itself) -- this is also usually on the router's label, unless it was changed.
Last resort: factory reset
If none of the above work, a factory reset will return the Wi-Fi network name and password to the defaults on the router's label -- but it also erases any other custom settings. See our full restart and reset guide before doing this.
Was this guide helpful?