How to quickly find your router's Wi-Fi access point: all the methods from A to Z

Have you just bought a new router, moved into a rented apartment, or forgotten the name of your Wi-Fi network after a factory reset? Here are some situations when you need to find out urgently. access point (aka SSID — the name of the wireless network) happen more often than you might think. Without this name, you won't be able to connect any gadget—be it a smartphone, laptop, or smart speaker. And if guests were connecting to the network, the name might change to something like "DIR-300-5G_guest" or "Xiaomi_ABCD", which is difficult to remember.

In this article we will look at All possible ways to determine a Wi-Fi router's access point — from viewing the sticker on the device to using the command line and mobile apps. We'll pay special attention to cases where the router is already configured, but you don't remember the network name or password. This material is suitable for all models: TP-Link Archer C6, ASUS RT-AX55, Keenetic Giga, Xiaomi Mi Router 4A and others. You'll also learn how to distinguish your main network from your guest network and why the access point name can sometimes be hidden.

1. The easiest way: look at the router sticker

If the router is new or its settings have never been changed, the access point name (SSID) and the factory password are indicated on the sticker, which is usually located:

• 📦 On the bottom panel of the case (on most models) TP-Link, D-Link, Zyxel)
• 🖼️ On the back wall (typical for ASUS And Netgear)
• 📄 Complete with documents (found in MikroTik and some Ubiquiti)
• 🔄 Under a removable cover (for example, Xiaomi Mi Router)

The network name most often begins with the router model: TP-Link_1234, ASUS_5G_789 or Keenetic-9876If the sticker has worn off or been painted over, try shining a flashlight at an angle—this can sometimes help make out the symbols. Important: The factory password on the sticker is only valid until the first router reset!

⚠️ Attention: On some routers (for example, Huawei WS5200) the sticker may contain two SSIDs — for the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. They are usually distinguished by a suffix _5G or _Plus.

2. How to find out the access point through connected devices

If at least one device (laptop, smartphone, tablet) is already connected to Wi-Fi, you can see the network name in its settings. Let's look at this step-by-step for different operating systems.

🖥️ On Windows 10/11

Open Start → Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi. In the section Current Connections the network name will be displayed (SSID) to which you are connected. If you need to find out the password:

1. Click Managing known networks.
2. Select your network and click Properties.
3. In the field Network password click Show symbols (You will need to enter your Windows administrator password).

📱 On Android

Path: Settings → Wi-Fi (or Network and Internet → Wi-Fi). The name of the current network is displayed here. To view the password:

• Click on the network name → Share (or QR code).
• The system will ask for a PIN or fingerprint for confirmation.
• A text password will appear under the QR code.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware (for example, MIUI on Xiaomi) the path may differ: Settings → Wi-Fi → Advanced → Manage networks.

🍎 On iPhone or iPad

iOS doesn't show the password for the connected network in Settings, but you can:

1. Go to Settings → Wi-Fi — the network name will be marked with a check mark.
2. To find out the password, you need to use a workaround: connect to a Mac (if you have one) or use instructions for macOS below.

💻 On macOS

Open System Preferences → Network → Wi-Fi → Advanced. In the list Preferred Networks select yours and click Show password (you will need to enter the administrator password).

3. Viewing the access point through the router's web interface

If you don't remember the network name but have access to the router via cable or another connected device, access its web interface. To do this:

1. Find out Router IP address:
   • On Windows: Run the command ipconfig V Command line and find the line Main gateway.
   • On Android: Settings → Wi-Fi → [your network] → Advanced (field Gateway).

Enter this IP into the address bar of your browser (usually it is 192.168.0.1, 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.8.1).

Enter your login and password (by default it is often admin/admin or admin/password from sticker).

The further path depends on the router model:

• 🌐 TP-Link: Wireless → Wireless Settings (field Network name (SSID)).
• 🖧 ASUS: Wireless Network → General.
• 📡 Keenetic: Wi-Fi → Hotspot.
• 🤖 Xiaomi: Wi-Fi → Basic Settings.

⚠️ Attention: On some routers (for example, MikroTikThe interface can be confusing for beginners. If you're unsure, consider using the other methods in this article.

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4. Using the command line (for advanced users)

If you prefer console commands, you can find out the access point name via Command line (Windows) or Terminal (macOS/Linux).

🖥️ For Windows:

1. Open Command line (Win + R → enter cmd).
2. Run the command:

   netsh wlan show interfaces

3. Find the line SSID - this is the name of your network.

🐧 For macOS/Linux:

1. Open Terminal.
2. Run the command:

   networksetup -getairportnetwork en0

   (replace en0 on en1, if it didn't work).

To see password via command line on Windows:

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

In the block Security parameters find the line Key content.

What to do if the command doesn't work?

If netsh wlan show interfaces returns the error "No wireless LAN connections", check:

1. Is the Wi-Fi adapter connected (on laptops it is sometimes disabled by a hardware button).

2. Do you have administrator rights (run the command prompt as administrator).

3. Is the "WLAN Auto Configuration" service disabled?services.msc → find and turn it on).

5. Mobile apps for finding access points

If you don't have access to a computer but have a smartphone, use specialized apps. They will not only show your network name but also help you analyze the signal.

• 📱 WiFi Analyzer (Android) - Shows all available networks, their channels, and signal strength. Your network will be marked as Connected.
• 🍎 Network Analyzer (iOS) - similarly displays the SSID of the current connection.
• 🛠️ Fing (Android/iOS) - identifies not only the network name, but also connected devices, which is useful for diagnostics.

These apps will come in handy if:

• You forgot the network name, but remember the password (you can connect again).
• Want to check if there are any unauthorized devices connected to your network?
• You need to find the least congested channel to improve your Wi-Fi speed.

⚠️ Note: Some applications (eg. WiFi Map) offer to "hack" other people's networks - this is illegal! Use them only for analysis. his own networks.

6. Hidden access points: how to find them

Some routers are configured so that do not broadcast the network name (SSID) Over the air. This is done for security reasons, but it creates difficulties when connecting new devices. If your network is hidden, here's how to discover it:

🔍 On Windows:

1. Open Control Panel → Network and Internet → Network and Sharing Center.
2. Click Setting up a new connection → Connecting to a wireless network manually.
3. Enter the network name (if you know it) or try connecting to a hidden network by entering the SSID and password.

📱 On Android:

In the Wi-Fi menu, tap Add a network and enter the name manually. If you don't know the SSID, try the standard names for your router model (e.g. TP-Link_XXXX).

🛠️ Via the router's web interface:

Go to your router settings (see Section 3) and check the parameter Hide SSID (or Hide SSID). If it is enabled, disable it temporarily to connect new devices.

7. What to do if nothing helps

If you've tried all the methods but still haven't found an access point, there are some drastic measures left:

• 🔄 Resetting the router to factory settings: press and hold the button Reset (It's usually recessed and requires a paperclip) for 10-15 seconds. After this, the network name and password will be reset to the factory defaults (see sticker). Attention: All settings, including passwords and guest networks, will be erased!
• 📞 Contact your provider: if the router was issued by the Internet provider (for example, Rostelecom or Beeline), call support - they know the SSID from the MAC address of the device.
• 🔧 Connect the router to another device: sometimes the network name is displayed on the screen of a Smart TV, game console (PlayStation, Xbox) or even a smart speaker (Yandex Station, Amazon Echo).

If you rent a router from a provider, resetting it may block internet access until you reactivate it. In this case, it's best to check with technical support first.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about Wi-Fi Hotspots

Is it possible to find out the access point of someone else's router?

Technically yes, with the help of specialized programs like Wireshark or Airodump-ng, but this violates the law on personal data (Federal Law No. 152) and may be classified as unauthorized access (Article 272 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). Use such tools only for analysis. his own networks.

Why is my network showing up with a suffix? _5G or _Plus?

This means that the router broadcasts two networks simultaneously:

• Without suffix or _2.4G — network in the 2.4 GHz range (longer range, but lower speed).
• _5G or _Plus — 5 GHz network (higher speed, but smaller coverage area).

Both names can be changed in the router settings (see Section 3).

How to distinguish your network from neighbors with the same name?

If your neighbors have a router of the same model (for example, TP-Link TL-WR841N), their networks may have similar names. To identify yours:

1. Take a look MAC address router (indicated on the sticker).
2. In the provider's web interface or mobile application, find the section Status or Device Information - there will be MAC.
3. Compare with the MAC address of the network in the list of available connections (on Android this is visible in Wi-Fi → Additional).

Is it possible to change the access point name to Cyrillic or emoji?

Technically yes, but it is not recommended:

• 🚫 Some devices (especially older printers or smart light bulbs) do not support Unicode in the SSID.
• ⚠️ Symbols like #, ! or spaces may cause connection errors.
• 🔍 If the name is too long (more than 32 characters), it will be truncated.

The best option: Latin letters, numbers and hyphens (for example, Ivanov-Home-5G).

Why do some devices fail to connect after changing the network name?

Devices remember network name (SSID) and its parameters (encryption type, channel). If the SSID changes, they "don't recognize" the network. Solutions:

• 🔄 Forget the network on your device and reconnect.
• 📱 On Android: Settings → Wi-Fi → [network] → Delete.
• 🖥️ On Windows: Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi → Manage known networks → delete the old network.