Where do I go to find/ or change the password for my WiFi router?

If a Windows PC has previously connected to the router, reveal the saved Wi‑Fi network password in Windows before attempting a factory reset.

Find the Wi‑Fi password

Windows 11

1. Open Start → Settings.
2. Select Network & internet → Properties.
3. Next to Wi‑Fi network password, select Show.
4. Alternatively, open Network & internet → Wi‑Fi → Manage known networks, select the network, and choose Show next to Wi‑Fi network password. ^1^

Windows 10

1. Open Start → Settings → Network & Internet → Status.
2. Select Network and Sharing Center.
3. Next to Connections, select the Wi‑Fi network name.
4. Select Wireless Properties → Security.
5. Check Show characters. The password appears in the Network security key field. ^1^

If Windows does not have the password

Check the router’s label, setup card, or ISP paperwork for the default Wi‑Fi name and password. If those credentials were changed, access the router’s administration page or mobile app using the instructions supplied by the router manufacturer or ISP, then change the Wi‑Fi password in its wireless/security settings.

The Wi‑Fi password used to connect devices is different from the router’s administrator password, which protects its settings. Windows can display a saved Wi‑Fi password, but it cannot recover the router administrator password.

If the administrator password is also lost, consult the router’s manual or contact the manufacturer/ISP for that model’s recovery procedure. A factory reset may be required. A factory reset erases customized Wi‑Fi names, passwords, and other Internet settings and disconnects every device, so use the exact model-specific instructions and record the current configuration first where possible. Microsoft’s troubleshooting guidance likewise defers firmware and factory-reset procedures to the router documentation. ^2^

After changing or resetting the Wi‑Fi password, reconnect each device with the new password. If Windows keeps trying the old one, open Settings → Network & internet → Wi‑Fi → Manage known networks, select the network, choose Forget, and reconnect. ^2^

References

1. [Windows 11](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/experience/connectivity-networking/connect-to-a-wi-fi-network-in-windows#find-your-wi-fi-network-password-in-windows)
2. [Windows 10](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/experience/connectivity-networking/fix-wi-fi-connection-issues-in-windows#most-common-wi-fi-problems)