How to Find Your Network Security Key?
Your network security key is also referred to as your Wi-Fi password and it helps you secure access to your internet connection. After installing a router at home, the Wi-Fi signal can be seen by anyone in the area whose Wi-Fi is on, so to prevent unauthorized access to it you would need a strong network security key.
Table of Content
1 . How to Find Your Network Security Key?
2. Changing Your Wi-Fi Password
3. Network Security Key Mismatch
There are three types of network keys and your home router would be protected by one of them;
- WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy)
- WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access)
- WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 2)
After the installation of your network, the protection would be made of a complex string of numbers and letters. It’s a strong password and like most, it’s easy to forget. Read on to find out all you need to know about your network security key.
How to Find Your Network Security Key?
You can find it on your router itself as it’s usually on the exterior printed on a small sticker. If you can’t find it on the router itself, check in the box or manual it came with. If you want to give out the password to someone else, you can ask them to search for it on the router or in the manual but in most cases, the router is installed out of everyone’s way.
You can easily get the password from your computer if it’s already connected to Wi-Fi. This is because your computer would connect automatically once it’s within the signal range.
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Finding The Network Security Key On Your Router
The terminology used by the ISP and manufacturer might get you confused as each one has their way of writing it. So even if you are looking at it, you may not know what it is. Its probably going to be written in any of these forms:
- Password
- Wireless password
- WPA key
- Network key
Once you have found and identified this, you can connect to your router and share the network security key with those you want to.
Finding Your Network Key Though Windows 10
If you can’t find your network key but you have connected to the router with your computer, you can easily gain access to the saved login data. For Windows 10 user, you can find your network key through the following steps:
- Click on “Start”
- Click “Network connections”
- Click on “Network and Sharing Center”
- Click on the wireless network icon
- Click on “Wireless Properties”
- Open the Security tab
- Click on show characters so the network key can be visible
Finding Your Network Key Through Mac
Finding your network key if you are a mac user is also a simple process. As long as you know the name of your Wi-Fi network you are good to go.
- Open search function
- Type in “keychain access” in the search box
- In the keychain access screen, type in your Wi-Fi network to search for it
- Click on your network
- Check show password so the network security key can be made visible
- Input your Mac password to confirm
Changing Your Wi-Fi Password
The default password for your router would be a strong one but difficult to remember as it will be a random string of numbers and letters. If you are uncomfortable with this, you can change the Wi-Fi password yourself with a few easy steps.
It’s also important for you to change it if you feel the password is likely to be compromised. By keeping your home Wi-Fi under good security, you can save yourself from Wi-Fi eavesdropping and other forms of malicious attacks.
Network Security Key Mismatch
Network security key mismatch is a common occurrence especially when you are connecting your network security key for the first time. It can also happen even after you have connected and is most likely due to any of the following reasons:
1 . Your Device Is Not Compatible
If you keep getting a mismatch error during your first login attempt, then it may be because your device is out of date. Routers are being updated, and if your device is not in par with your router’s version then the two would be incompatible. The issue can be resolved if you update your device but if it still doesn’t work, then you will have to contact your router or device’s manufacturer customer service team.
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2. Your Password Is Wrong
Sometimes we make mistakes and believe it or not, typing in those complicated characters hardly goes without making a mistake. In some cases, the login details are case sensitive so to avoid error due to the wrong password, use lower case and upper case in the appropriate places.
3. The Router Has Crashed
Sometimes your password can be correct and your device up to date, but you will still get the network security key mismatch error. It could be because your router has crashed and it happens more often than you know. You will confirm this by a flashing or unusual light on the router. Turning your router on and off again would fix the issue.
Conclusion
At LimeVPN we are all about online security and privacy, and we try to prevent any forms of leaks or loopholes that may exist. Your router could be a means through which you are hacked if you don’t improve your security. This is by changing the default network security key to something no one else can have access to. You won’t only save yourself from eavesdropping, but will also save yourself from forgetting the complex password. With this guide, finding and changing your network security key won’t be a problem anymore.
