How to view your network's WiFi password from a PC connected by cable (Windows and router)
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matrrox ·
Staff note (2026-11-01):This topic is kept only for recovering the WiFi password of a network you own or one you administer with authorization (for example, your home network, or your workplace's with the responsible person's permission). The original query, from 2014, refers to someone else's network: at Underc0de we do not provide help to obtain keys of third-party networks without authorization. In that case, the right thing to do is to ask the network administrator for the key. Replies that request or offer access to networks belonging to others will be moderated. The summary with the methods for your own network is at the end of this message.
Hi, this is my first post and I'd like to know if some of you could solve a question for me:
can I find out the WiFi password a network uses if I'm connected to that network with a computer but by cable? If it's possible, I'd like you to explain how, since I've searched on my own but haven't found anything. The computer has Windows XP
the network obviously isn't mine, but I do have full access on the computer, since it's the classroom one and I'd like to know the WiFi password to connect my phone to it :P
I hope my grades don't get too harmed ;D ;D
Staff summary: how to view your own network's WiFi password from a PC connected by cable Added by the Underc0de staff on 2026-11-01. Only for networks you own or with the network administrator's authorization.
1) From the router panel (the most direct if the PC is connected by cable)
[*]On the cable-connected PC, open the browser and go to the router's address. The most common ones are 192.168.0.1 and 192.168.1.1. [*]If none respond, look up the router's address. In Windows, run Código: text
ipconfig
and look at "Default gateway". In Linux, run Código: text
ip route
and look at the IP that appears after "default via". [*]Log in with the router's administration username and password. If they were never changed, they are usually on the device's label (bottom or back), often together with the factory WiFi key. [*]Look for the "Wireless", "WLAN", "WiFi" or "Wireless network" section and then "Security". The key may appear as "Pre-shared key", "WPA Key", "Passphrase" or "PSK". On some models you have to check "Show password". [*]If the router belongs to your internet provider and you don't have the credentials, ask the provider for them or use their official app, which in many cases allows you to view and change the WiFi key. [*]If the router is yours and you don't remember the credentials, you can reset it to factory settings with the Reset button. Careful: that erases all the configuration (network name, WiFi key and, on some devices, the provider's connection data). [/list]
2) In Windows (only if that PC already connected to the network by WiFi before) A PC that only uses cable normally does not have the WiFi key saved. This method only works if the device has a WiFi card and connected to that network at some point, because Windows saves the profile.
[*]Open the Command Prompt (if the key doesn't appear afterwards, open it as administrator) and list the saved networks: Código: text
netsh wlan show profiles
[*]Show the key of the network you want, replacing NAME with the exact name of your network: Código: text
netsh wlan show profile name="NOMBRE" key=clear
[*]The key appears in "Security settings", on the line "Key Content". [/list]
3) In Linux with NetworkManager (same condition: the network must be saved on the device)
[*]List the saved connections: Código: text
nmcli connection show
[*]Show the network's key, replacing NAME with the connection name (it may ask for administrator permissions): Código: text
nmcli -s -g 802-11-wireless-security.psk connection show "NOMBRE"
[*]On most desktops it can also be seen from the WiFi settings: options of the saved network, "Security" tab, "Show password". [/list]
Important: these methods only show keys of a router you administer or that your own device already has saved. They do not work to obtain the key of someone else's network, and doing so without authorization may be a crime depending on the country.
As far as the little I know, it would only be possible if you accessed the router's configuration, which is usually (by default) an IP like 192.168.(0|1).(1|254)<br /><br />Of course, that configuration is usually protected by a password; if it hasn't been changed you can easily find out what it is by searching for the default keys, but if it was changed then you can't do much.
ANTRAX ·
Exactly, just as Y3C says, you have to enter the router.<br />In the windows console type: ipconfig<br />It will give you 3 ips... <br /><br />Machine IP<br />Subnet mask<br />Gateway<br /><br />The gateway is the router's; you put it in the browser and you'll enter the router panel where you'll be able to see the configuration.<br /><br />If it asks for user and pass, it's usually: <br /><br />admin<br />admin<br /><br />or <br /><br />admin<br />1234<br /><br />Regards!<br />ANTRAX
matrrox ·
Thanks, I'll try to see, although honestly I don't think it will work.
<br />If you don't make an effort then surely it won't work out :)<br /><br />In the end there are several ways to extract a Wi-Fi network's password, and the truth is that if you already have cable access to it you have an advantage.
rush ·
I think it would be better for you to try to get the password directly from the wireless network, without so many complications; as you say there are clients connected to that network so you could get the handshake quickly and depending on the network's security you could extract it faster.
MYokai ·
As said above, if you're connected by cable, the fastest thing is to enter the router, as long as they haven't changed the pass.<br />Anyway, if you're all connected by cable, there has to be a switch, which goes connected to the router. Don't you have physical access to the router??. That way, you could check if it's written on it, or if they changed the router access pass, you could reset it.<br />If not, as rush says, extract it wirelessly.<br />You have several options.<br /><br />Sent from my HUAWEI G510-0200 via Tapatalk<br /><br />
matrrox ·
No, there's no way to access the router since it's in another room under lock and key. I'll try to get the handshake, but the problem is that I have little time to access the computer so I might plan something to speed up the process with some other friend.
NyxKazuya ·
the vast majority of routers use the MAC, an example<br /><br />MAC:6C-F0-49-95-B3-B5<br />PASS WOULD BE: F06C9549B5B3<br /><br />try it and tell us :D
OnTheCore ·
Cita de: Y3K en Noviembre 17, 2014, 03:36:39 PM<br />As far as the little I know, it would only be possible if you accessed the router's configuration, which is usually (by default) an IP like 192.168.(0|1).(1|254)<br /><br />Of course, that configuration is usually protected by a password; if it hasn't been changed you can easily find out what it is by searching for the default keys, but if it was changed then you can't do much.<br />
<br />It's wrong to assume what the router's ip is.<br />You have to run ipconfig (or the equivalent command) and there you have the IP of the gateways you are connected to.
Y3K ·
Cita de: OnTheCore en Noviembre 18, 2014, 11:53:47 AM<br />It's wrong to assume what the router's ip is.<br />You have to run ipconfig (or the equivalent command) and there you have the IP of the gateways you are connected to.<br />
<br /><br />Well, if you read carefully I mentioned which were the most common IPs by default. I never told him it would be one of those.
