How to Find or Change Wireless Network Name and Password

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Checking the wireless network name and password is important when you are connected with the wireless network.

The wireless network name is also called SSID, which is set default by your ISP or kept when setting up a wireless network.

Also, you need to understand that a wireless network password is different from a router password.

The wireless network password is used to connect devices to a wireless network, whereas the router password is used to login to the router’s web interface.

We will look into the different ways to get the wireless network name and password.

How to change your wireless network name and password using a router?

Login to your router’s web interface

Step 1: To launch your router’s web interface, you have to look for the default gateway IP address or router IP address.

The most common router IP addresses are:

  • http://192.168.1.1
  • http://192.168.0.1
  • http://192.168.0.254
  • http://192.168.1.254
  • http://www.routerlogin.net
  • http://www.routerlogin.com

If it still doesn’t work, then refer to your Wi-Fi modem or router user manual.

Enter default gateway IP address

Step 2: Enter your router or modem login credentials. The most common default username and passwords are admin and password.

If the above login doesn’t work, then refer to your router owner’s manual.

Step 3: The router’s web interface will look different for a different model of your router. Here, we have taken Linksys router example.

In Linksys router, you have to click on the “Setup” page and then click on “Wireless.

Linksys setup page

Step 4: In the wireless section, set the “configuration view” to “manual” to view your wireless network’s current settings.

Here, you can note down Network Name (SSID) and keep the “SSID broadcastEnabled so that your wireless device can detect the router in a network.

SSID in linksys router

Step 5: For wireless password, you need to click on “Wireless Security,” then look for “Security Mode” for wireless security type and the “Passphrase” for wireless password.

Select wireless security linksys

Select security mode WPA mixed mode

select security mode WPA2 personal

How to change your wireless network name in the computer’s operating system?

Checking network name and password in Windows 10

Step 1: Press Windows key + S and search for “Control Panel,” and then click to open it.

Open Control panel in Windows 10

Step 2: In the control panel, click on “View network status and tasks,” it will open “Network and Sharing Center.

View network status and tasks

Step 3: In-network and sharing center window, click on “Change adapter settings” and then double-click on Wi-Fi to open “Wi-Fi Status.

Change adapter settings in windows 10

Wi Fi in windows 10

Step 4: In the open window, click on “Wireless Properties.” In the wireless network properties window, you have to look for “Network Name” or “SSID” in the “connection” tab and wireless password in the “Security” tab.

You can check the box to show characters and note it down.

Wi Fi status window in windows 10

Connection tab in wireless network properties in windows 10

Security tab in wireless network properties in windows 10

Finding network name in Windows 8/8.1

Step 1: Right-click on the “Wireless Network Connection” icon located right to your taskbar. After that, click on “Open Network and Sharing Center.

Open network and sharing center in Windows 8 8.1

Step 2: On the “Network and Sharing Center” page, click on “Change adapter settings” on the right pane.

Change adapter settings in windows 8

Step 3: Now, right-click on the wireless connection and then click on “Status.” In the Wi-Fi Status window, look for SSID for “Network Name.” After that, click on “Wireless Properties.

Wireless connection status windows 8

wireless properties windows 8

Step 4: In the wireless network properties, click on the “security” tab and then check the box for show characters. It will show the network security key (network password or passphrase).

Network password windows 8

How to find network name and password in Windows 7/Vista?

Step 1: You have to click on “Wireless Network Connection,” located at the bottom of your screen.

Wireless network connection in windows 7

Step 2: Now, right-click on the network name and then click on “Properties.”

right click on network name in windows 7

Step 3: In the “properties” window, click on the “security” tab and then check the box to show characters to display “Network Security Key.

How to check network name and password in Mac OS

You can check for the wireless password in two ways:

  • Using keychain Access to retrieve the wireless password
  • Using network utility to retrieve the wireless authentication

Moreover, the screens may look different for different versions of Mac OS.

Using keychain Access to retrieve the wireless password

Step 1: You have to click on “Go” and then click on “Utilities.” In utilities, double-click on “Keychain Access.

Keychain access Mac OS

Step 2: Under keychains, you have to click on “all items” for Mac OS X v10.5.x users or click on “log in” for Mac OS X v10.6.x and above to locate your Network from the list.

If your network is not listed, then click on “Passwords” or “System” to locate your Network from the list.

Step 3: Now, look for Network Name (SSID) and double-click on it to open another box. Here, click on the “Attributes” tab and then check the box next to “show password.

Utilities show password in Mac OS

Step 4: It will prompt another dialog box to enter the Mac administrator’s password or keychain password and then click “Allow.

Mac administrative password

Step 5: Now, you can note down the displayed password required to connect to the internet.

Show password in Mac OS

Using network utility to retrieve wireless authentication type in Mac OS

Step 1: In the menu bar, you have to click on Wi-Fi or AirPort. After that, click on “Open Network Preferences.” Now, click on the correct network connection.

Open network preferences in Mac OS

Step 2: Here, you have to confirm the Network Name and then click on the “Advanced” button.

Network name and advanced button in Mac OS

Step 3: In the Wi-Fi tab, look for the network name and security type on the preferred networks section.

Preferred network section in Mac OS