Don't rush to reset your router's WiFi password: Three ways to recover it, the last trick 90% of people don't know

guests came to his home and asked for the WiFi password, but he couldn't remember it himself. At this point, don't hold down the reset key—if you forget your broadband account password, you'll have to find a technician to fix it again, and after a long process, it's all gone. Actually, there are three ways to recover it, from easy to difficult; in most cases, the first move is enough.

First trick: Use a connected device to check the password

Windows Computer (the most convenient)

tap the WiFi icon at the bottom right → Network and Internet Settings → Advanced Network Settings → Network and Sharing Center → Tap the currently connected WLAN, then in the pop-up window select "Wireless Properties" → Security tab → check "Show Characters," and the password will be clearly displayed.

you think it's too deep, open the command prompt as administrator and type a line:

netsh wlan show profile name="Your WiFi name" key=clear

after entering, find the line where "key content" is the password.

Android phones

Android 10 and later, the system will directly send a sharing password: set → WLAN → tap Current Network → Share / QR code. This QR code itself can be scanned by other devices. If you want to see plaintext, take a screenshot of the QR code and use WeChat to "Scan" and select this image from your album. The selected string will be P: followed by the password.

MIUI / Surge OS is: Set → WLAN → the arrow to the right of the connected network → Share password.

iPhone

iPhone Can't see the plaintext of the WiFi you connected to, but after iOS 16 you can: Set → WLAN → the (i) → password next to the connected network. After Face ID verification, it will be displayed directly. For older systems, find an Android or computer to search faster.

Tip 2: Log in to the router background and change a new password

you can't find plaintext on your device (for example, all are old iPhones), just go straight to the backend and set it up again.

your phone connects to this WiFi, enter the management address in the browser's address bar. Common brand comparisons:

in, find "Wireless Settings / WiFi Settings," enter a new password to save, and reconnect all devices. Note that the management password and the WiFi password are two different things: the management password is used for backend login, while the WiFi password is used for wireless connections. Don't change it incorrectly.

forgot your backend login password too? Check the label on the back of the router; many machines have default management passwords; If it's not on the tag, the one you set up the pop-up for the first time is the one you set yourself. I really can't remember, but this step is when it's time to reset (press and hold reset for 5-10 seconds). After changing it, first take photos of your broadband account password and WiFi name and password before moving anything else.

Tip 3: WPS / QR Code Stickers (Niche but Effective)

some routers have a QR code printed on the sticker on the body, allowing new devices to scan and connect directly, without needing to enter a password. It's especially practical for setting up internet for your parents' home—just take a photo and save it on your phone, and later customers can just scan the code.

Another example is the QR code generated by the "Share WiFi" feature in the Xiaomi Router app, which is valid for a long time and can be printed and stuck on the refrigerator. Customers scan the code to access the network automatically, so you don't have to repeatedly report your password.

do three things right while you're at it, and won't be blind in the future

1. password, take a photo and store it on the cloud drive. after changing the password, you can casually take a screenshot of the backend and save it to a cloud drive or photo album encrypted album—it's more reliable than memorizing it in your mind.
2. password, don't be too mysterious. WPA2/WPA3 Length matters more than complexity; at least 14 characters in case + number are enough. No one at home can crack it specifically.
3. turn off the WPS button function. old router's WPS PIN code has a vulnerability; turning it off in the background does not affect normal use.

frequently asked questions

changed the password and the old device can't connect? "forget the network" on the WiFi on the device, reconnect it, and enter a new password. Some old devices stubbornly insist on rebooting once.

2. Should the passwords for 4G and 5G be set to the same? just one is fine; nowadays, phones automatically select frequency bands. Split selection only requires an extra manual selection when switching, so it's unnecessary.

how do you kick others off the internet? block unfamiliar devices in the backend "Device Management" and casually change the WiFi broadcast name to something harder to guess, which is more effective than simply changing the password.