How to find your Wi-Fi password if you're connected via Ethernet

Are you connected to the internet via a network cable, but have forgotten your Wi-Fi password? This situation is familiar to many: you set up your router a long time ago, wrote the password down on a piece of paper that has since disappeared, and now you need to connect a new device. Luckily, if your computer or laptop is connected to the router via EthernetThere are several ways to restore access to your wireless network—without resetting settings or losing your connection.

In this article we will look at 5 working methodsHow to find out your Wi-Fi password via a cable connection: from viewing saved networks in the system to logging into the router's web interface. We'll describe the nuances for different operating systems (Windows 10/11, macOS, Linux), and we'll also explain what to do if standard methods don't work. Important: All methods are legal and designed to restore access to his own networks.

Before you begin, make sure that your computer is actually connected to the router via cable - in the lower right corner of the screen (in Windows) should display a network connection icon without an exclamation point. If the indicator is red or yellow, first check the physical cable connection to the port. LAN on the router and PC network card.

1. Viewing a saved password in Windows

If your computer or laptop has previously connected to this Wi-Fi network, the password may have been saved in the system. Windows 10 And 11 It can be extracted without additional programs.

Open Control Panel (click Win + R, enter control and press Enter). Go to the section Network and Internet → Network and Sharing Center. On the left, select Managing wireless networks (V Windows 11 the path may differ: Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi → Manage known networks).

Find your network name in the list (SSID), right-click on it and select PropertiesIn the window that opens, go to the tab Security and put a check mark next to Show entered characters. The password will be displayed in the field. Network security key.

  • 🔍 If the network is not in the list: this means that the computer has never connected to it via Wi-Fi, and this method will not work.
  • 🛡️ Administrator rights required: without them the system will not show the password.
  • 📝 Alternative route: through Command line (more on this below).
📊 Which OS do you use to recover your password?
Windows 10/11
macOS
Linux
Other

2. Extracting the password via the command line (Windows)

A more versatile way to Windows - usage Command line (CMD). It works even if the network is not displayed in the graphical interface, but was connected previously.

Open CMD as administrator (click Win + X and select Terminal (Administrator) or Command Prompt (Administrator)). Enter the command:

netsh wlan show profiles

Find your network name in the list (SSID) and run:

netsh wlan show profile name="NETWORK_NAME" key=clear

In the section Security parameters find the line Key content — this is the password. If the command returned an error "Failed to execute command", check:

  • 🔄 Correct spelling SSID (case important!).
  • 👑 Is it running? CMD on behalf of the administrator.
  • 🖥️ Is your computer connected to the router via cable (without this, the command may not display up-to-date data).

3. Password recovery via the router's web interface

The most reliable way is to access your router settings through a browser. To do this:

  1. Make sure your computer is connected to the router Ethernet cable.
  2. Open your browser and enter in the address bar 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 (less often - 192.168.8.1 or 10.0.0.1).
  3. Enter your username and password to log in. The default information is usually found on the router's sticker (e.g. admin/admin or admin/password).

If the default data doesn't work, it's because it's been modified. In this case:

  • 🔧 Try to restore access via resetting the router (press and hold the button Reset for 10 seconds), but this will delete all settings, including the Wi-Fi password.
  • 📞 Contact your provider - some operators (eg. Rostelecom, Beeline) block access to router settings and provide a password upon request.

After logging into the router interface, go to the section Wi-Fi (or Wireless, Wireless network) and find the tab Security (Security). Here in the field Password (Password, Key, Passphrase) the current network key will be displayed. In some models (for example, TP-Link or ASUS) The password may be hidden behind asterisks - click on the eye icon or the check mark Show password.

What should I do if my router displays an "Incorrect Password" error?

Try:

1. Enter the password from the sticker on the router (sometimes it differs from the standard one) admin).

2. Use the browser in incognito mode (sometimes the cache interferes with authorization).

3. Connect to the router from another device (for example, a phone via Wi-Fi, if the password is known).

4. Check if the router's IP address has changed (using the command ipconfig V CMD find Main gateway).

⚠️ Attention: If the router is rented from a provider (for example, MTS or Megaphone), its web interface may be blocked. In this case, please contact support—they will provide the Wi-Fi password using your contract number.

4. Methods for macOS and Linux

On MacBook or a computer with macOS The password for a saved Wi-Fi network can be viewed through Connected Keychain:

  1. Open Spotlight (Cmd + Space) and enter Bunch of keys (Keychain Access).
  2. In the left menu, select System and in the search bar enter the name of your network (SSID).
  3. Double-click on the found entry and check the box. Show password and enter your account password Mac.

For Linux (For example, Ubuntu, Debian) use the terminal. Run the command:

sudo grep psk= /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/*

Find the line in the output psk=YOUR_PASSWORDIf the network is not found, try:

sudo cat /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/NETWORKNAME.nmconnection | grep psk
⚠️ Attention: In some distributions Linux Passwords are stored in encrypted form. To decrypt them, you may need additional software, such as Wireshark or aircrack-ng, but this requires deep knowledge and does not guarantee results.

5. Alternative methods (if nothing helps)

If standard methods don't work, try:

  • 📱 Use the phone: if your smartphone (Android or iPhone) connected to this Wi-Fi network, extract the password through applications like WiFi Password Viewer (For Android with root rights) or Keychain (For iOS with jailbreak).
  • 🔄 Reset the router: press the button Reset for 10-15 seconds to restore factory settings. The Wi-Fi password will be reset to the default (indicated on the router sticker), but all personal settings (including PPPoE, IPTV) will have to be configured again.
  • 📞 Contact your provider: If the router is provided by an Internet provider, its support can reset the password remotely or provide it over the phone (you will need to provide your contract details).

If you rent a router from a provider (for example, DOM.RU or Third Transport Ring), resetting the settings may disrupt internet operation. In this case:

  1. Call support and ask send an SMS with the Wi-Fi password.
  2. Check if you can access the router's web interface (sometimes providers block it for clients).

Download a backup copy of your settings (if the web interface has this feature)

Write down the data for connecting to the provider (PPPoE login/password, VLAN ID)

Make sure there are no important devices connected to the network (IP cameras, smart home)

Prepare instructions for setting up the router (if you have set it up yourself before)-->

6. Table: Comparison of password recovery methods

Method OS Required rights Complexity Does it work without connecting to a router?
View in Windows settings Windows 10/11 Administrator ⭐ No
Command line (netsh) Windows Administrator ⭐⭐ No
Router web interface Any Router login details ⭐⭐ Yes (if you know the IP and login/password)
Connected Keychain macOS User password ⭐ No
Linux terminal Linux Root or sudo ⭐⭐⭐ No

If your router supports WPS, you can connect a new device without entering a password. Simply press the WPS button on the router and then select the network on the device within 2 minutes. However, this method will not reveal the password itself; it will only allow the connection.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

Is it possible to find out the Wi-Fi password if I'm not connected to the router via cable or over the air?

No, it's impossible to extract the password without a physical connection to the network (via cable or Wi-Fi). The exception is if you know the router's web interface login details (IP, username, password) and can access it remotely (for example, via TeamViewer (On another connected device). Otherwise, you'll need to reset the router or access a device that's already connected to the network.

I reset my router, but the default password on the sticker doesn't work. What should I do?

Possible reasons:

  • The sticker has worn off or the data on it is out of date (for example, the router has already been reset).
  • The provider changed the router firmware (applicable to rented devices).
  • You entered your password incorrectly (case sensitive!).

Try:

  • Enter the standard login/password for your router model (for example, for TP-Link this is often admin/admin, For Zyxel Keenetic — admin/1234).
  • Contact your provider's support team—they can configure your router remotely.

Is it possible to find out my neighbor's Wi-Fi password?

Technically, this is only possible with physical access to his router or a device connected to his network. However, Unauthorized access to someone else's network is a violation of the law (Article 272 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation "Unauthorized access to computer information"). Use only legal methods to restore access to his own networks.

After resetting my router, my internet connection disappeared. What should I do?

The reset returned the router to factory settings, so you'll need to reconfigure your connection to your ISP. You'll need:

  • Login details (PPPoE, L2TP, Dynamic IP — depends on the provider).
  • Settings VLAN ID (if used).
  • Data for IPTV (if the TV is connected).

This information can be found in your contract with your provider or by contacting their support team. If the router is rented, resetting it may block access. Contact your provider for reactivation.

How to protect your Wi-Fi from hacking after recovering your password?

After restoring access, we recommend:

  • Change your password to a complex one (at least 12 characters, with numbers, letters and special characters).
  • Disable WPS (vulnerable to brute-force attacks).
  • Use encryption WPA3 (or WPA2-AES, If WPA3 (not supported).
  • Hide SSID (Disable network name broadcasting) - this won't protect you from experienced hackers, but it will reduce the number of connection attempts.
  • Update your router firmware to the latest version (patches known vulnerabilities).

📖 Read also

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