# Can I find, or recover, my wifi router password? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 23, 2012, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-find-or-recover-my-wifi-router-password/638665 "2012-10-23T21:07:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-find-or-recover-my-wifi-router-password/638665/1 "2012-10-23T21:07:38Z")
My laptop computer has it memorized, so I am using my router without problem right now. BUT… a friend just gave me a gift of a Kindle, and though I thought I had it, it seems I have the password for my previous router (I had to upgrade about a year ago). So, is there a way to look into some file on my laptop to find the password so I can re-type in into my Kindle? FYI – I have Windows 7. I have a Motorola SB4200 router, if either piece of data is useful to you. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-find-or-recover-my-wifi-router-password/638665/2 "2012-10-23T21:11:20Z")
Not exactly what you’re requesting, but … Some (many? most?) routers have a “re-initialize” button\* on the back. Typically, you press and hold this for a little while, and it causes all router settings to return to their factory defaults. So if it’s not possible to find your password by more convenient methods, this is a way to be allowed to re-set it to whatever you choose. \*Could be one of those “Stick a bent paperclip in this hole” type of arrangements. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-find-or-recover-my-wifi-router-password/638665/3 "2012-10-23T21:14:51Z")
Like Xema said, you can reset your router, but before you do that, I’d suggest checking your router to see if it’ll show you the password (unhidden, mine does) or let you use WPS to set up your Kindle. Though I’m not sure the Kindle can use WPS. Do you have your router password? ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-find-or-recover-my-wifi-router-password/638665/4 "2012-10-23T21:15:38Z")
Start\>Control Panel\>Network and Sharing Center\>Manage Wireless Connections\>Select your WiFi network\>Properties\>Security\>uncheck the hide characters checkbox under the password. If you haven’t changed your router password since you set it up, they usually stamp them on the underside of the router. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-find-or-recover-my-wifi-router-password/638665/5 "2012-10-23T21:26:43Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Start\>Control Panel\>Network and Sharing Center\>Manage Wireless Connections\>Select your WiFi network\>Properties\>Security\>uncheck the hide characters checkbox under the password. > > If you haven’t changed your router password since you set it up, they usually stamp them on the underside of the router. Thank you! The commands were slightly different, but this worked! ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-find-or-recover-my-wifi-router-password/638665/6 "2012-10-23T21:36:14Z")
Sorry, I tried to do it from memory as my work computer is wired. I had faith, though, that you could figure it out! ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-find-or-recover-my-wifi-router-password/638665/7 "2012-10-23T22:25:44Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Sorry, I tried to do it from memory as my work computer is wired. I had faith, though, that you could figure it out! That’s fine, it was enough to get me into the right neighborhood, which is all I needed, and you certainly don’t need to apologize. Now, if any folks are willing and able to offer any more Kindle help, [I started an IMHO thread with questions about it](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=669767). ---
**Author:** ![BobArrgh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobarrgh/32/2881_2.png) [@BobArrgh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobArrgh)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-find-or-recover-my-wifi-router-password/638665/8 "2012-10-24T01:46:44Z")
I’m pretty paranoid about password security, and never write down a password. However, about the only exception I have made to this rule is my router password (and any other routers I have set up for home use). I typically tape the password to the bottom of the router. My logic is that if an unauthorized person has physical access to the router in your home, you have bigger problems than password security to worry about. Of course, YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-find-or-recover-my-wifi-router-password/638665/9 "2012-10-24T02:24:35Z")
> [@BobArrgh](#): > > I’m pretty paranoid about password security, and never write down a password. However, about the only exception I have made to this rule is my router password (and any other routers I have set up for home use). I typically tape the password to the bottom of the router. My logic is that if an unauthorized person has physical access to the router in your home, you have bigger problems than password security to worry about. > > Of course, YMMV. Then get a password safe. I use [KeePass](http://keepass.info/).