In this article, we’re going to answer the “where is network security key on router?” question as well as other related questions. Many people acknowledge the network security key as the wi-fi password. Most of us know the password when someone (the wi-fi owner, the company’s representative who installs the wi-fi, etc) is telling us. Yet, there is a way to locate the wi-fi password without asking for help from anyone.
The Different Types of Network Security Keys
Wi-Fi passwords are not only a series of unique numbers, alphabets, and characters (!, @, *, &, and so on). Instead, there are three different network security key types according to the ways they encrypt the passwords as follows:
- WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy): This network security key’s minimum and maximum character length range is around 10, 26, or 58 characters long. They don’t typically include special characters like !, (, ), {, }, and on.
So, hackers and crackers can find it easy to decode the wi-fi password. This makes many routers today not support WEP encryption.
- WPA/WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access (2)): This network security key type has been the most frequently-used password encryption technology since 2018 up until now. It is because the WPA and WPA2 use a temporary key (TKIP) that has the dynamic characteristics for every distinct packet.
The higher the WPA number, the more likely the TKIP changes to secure the network connection. Even though both WPA and WPA2 may not work with access points, these network security keys are more secure and challenging to crack compared to the WEPs.
There may even be the WPA3 sometimes in the future, with more layers of safety. The pre-shared key (PSK) authentication may even be more complex. It may start for enterprise uses first before it goes for public individual uses.
The 2 Ways You Can Use to Find the Network Security Keys
There are two ways you can use it to locate the network security keys or the password to your wi-fi. The first way is through the right-click on your device’s home page, and the second way is through the router.
In general, you can locate the password of your wi-fi through the right-click on your Windows OS-based devices. It works well no matter if you’re using Windows 10 or the version below it. You can even do the same for Mac OS-based devices. Both Windows versions locate the network security keys in the Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center menu in the Control Panel.
Then, the Security Type and the Encryption Type will be visible through the Wireless Network Properties menu. The same menu will also display the network security key by checking the “Show Characters” box.
Mac has even more convenient access to locate the network security key. After clicking on the magnifying glass picture (the Search button), you need to search for the top-right corner area of the Keychain Access. Then, double-click that part and select the Show Password checkbox. Nonetheless, the Security Type and Encryption Type can not be easily seen for Mac users.
There is also another answer to the question “Where is network security key on router?”. Looking at the sticker label on the bottom or on the back of the router is the most convenient way to observe the network security key’s location. The password is usually below the SSID or the Wi-Fi name.
However, asking yourself the question, “Where is network security key on router?” is only effective when it is your first time knowing the wi-fi. Or, you can also use it the same way if you haven’t changed your network security key at all.
Things can change once you have set up your wi-fi password through 192.168.1.1 or any other means. Then, you should manually type and print (or handwrite) your password and attach the writings somewhere on your router. So, you wouldn’t need to ask yourself, “Where is network security key on router?” every time you forgot your newly-set passwords.
How Do You Change Your Wi-Fi Password?
You need to change your wi-fi password if you get any new routers or access points. There are also times when your wi-fi is in danger, such as signs of hacking or using keyloggers.
The Command Prompt (or the CMD menu) is useful in such times. It is through the Ipconfig menu that you can find your IP. You may have different IP addresses than some of the common ones, like 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1.
By locating the default gateway, you can locate the all-about of your Wireless Network. The safety aspect is only one of the many elements your Wi-Fi has. From there, you can change your Wi-Fi password.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why would we need to change our password if locating the network security key will be more challenging?
A: It all depends on the situation we’re in. For instance, changing the Wi-Fi password becomes a necessary thing to do if we’re in danger. Consequently, we have to set reminders to update the Wi-Fi password signs on our routers every time we change them.
Q: I found a mismatch error on my network security key. Does it relate to the matters of locating the network security key? How do I fix it?
A: Yes. A mismatch error means you have entered an incorrect wi-fi password. Such things can result in the failure to locate or read the correct network security key on the router.
Yet, there are times when the system keeps on saying you entered the incorrect password despite your confidence that you’ve entered the correct ones. In such cases, you may want to restart the router. At some points, resetting the whole device is also a crucial step.
Conclusion
A network security key is not only defined as the “Wi-Fi password”. Instead, there are different types of network security keys, such as WPA and WPA2. Some are safer because of their encryption methods, and some are not only unsafe but also no longer supported. Liked our article? Great! Please comment below and feel free to share this article around! 🙂