# Connecting a new computer to my home wifi network **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 12, 2019, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/connecting-a-new-computer-to-my-home-wifi-network/836989 "2019-07-12T22:34:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/connecting-a-new-computer-to-my-home-wifi-network/836989/1 "2019-07-12T22:34:46Z")
I’ve already got three computers happily using my home wifi network. I just bought a new laptop. It can see my router, but asks for the network password before allowing Internet access. I thought I’d written down this password, but apparently something is wrong, since the password doesn’t work. Can I get a computer already connected to reveal the password? If so, how? Thanks for your help! ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/connecting-a-new-computer-to-my-home-wifi-network/836989/2 "2019-07-12T22:38:40Z")
As always, what OS are you using? ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/connecting-a-new-computer-to-my-home-wifi-network/836989/3 "2019-07-12T22:39:10Z")
It’s not the computers where you should be looking; the easiest place to find your settings including the WEP or WPA key (“password”) is the router. Which may itself have a login password, hopefully you have that, then just navigate to the the wireless settings. ETA: And the router itself is usually accessed through its web service at a specific local IP address, often something like 192.168.1.1, but different brands and models differ. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/connecting-a-new-computer-to-my-home-wifi-network/836989/4 "2019-07-12T22:39:32Z")
Windows 10 ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/connecting-a-new-computer-to-my-home-wifi-network/836989/5 "2019-07-12T22:46:23Z")
> [@glee](#): > > Windows 10 On Windows you can use one of your connected machines to find the password, see instructions here: > **[Find your Wi-Fi network password in Windows - Microsoft Support](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/find-your-wi-fi-network-password-in-windows-2ec74b2e-d9ec-ade1-cc9b-bef1429cb678)** > > Find your Wi-Fi network password in Windows, so you can connect to your Wi-Fi network on other devices. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/connecting-a-new-computer-to-my-home-wifi-network/836989/6 "2019-07-12T23:07:44Z")
Write the password on a piece of tape and afix to the bottom of the router once you figure it out. If you can’t determine the the existing password, there’s usually a reset button to knock the router settings back to factory default. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2019, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/connecting-a-new-computer-to-my-home-wifi-network/836989/7 "2019-07-13T12:00:57Z")
Thanks posters, I found my password. 🙂 I used an older computer on the Network. I had to go through ‘Control Panel’ to find ‘Network + Sharing Centre’, but then ‘Security’ led me to the password. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2019, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/connecting-a-new-computer-to-my-home-wifi-network/836989/8 "2019-07-13T12:02:02Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > Write the password on a piece of tape and afix to the bottom of the router once you figure it out. If you can’t determine the the existing password, there’s usually a reset button to knock the router settings back to factory default. Yes, it’s a good idea to have passwords attached to devices at home! ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2019, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/connecting-a-new-computer-to-my-home-wifi-network/836989/9 "2019-07-13T12:45:59Z")
Most current routers also should support WPS, so that you don’t need to enter a password at all. When the password prompt appears, you can instead just push the WPS button on the router (depending on the model, a couple of seconds or until some light flashes or similar), and the connection will be set up automatically. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2019, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/connecting-a-new-computer-to-my-home-wifi-network/836989/10 "2019-07-13T13:22:36Z")
> [@glee](#): > > Yes, it’s a good idea to have passwords attached to devices at home! It’s not like writing your PIN on your debit card. Anyone that has access to the bottom of your wifi router is already deep inside your house. And don’t you share your wifi with guests already? ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2019, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/connecting-a-new-computer-to-my-home-wifi-network/836989/11 "2019-07-13T14:02:01Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > It’s not like writing your PIN on your debit card. Anyone that has access to the bottom of your wifi router is already deep inside your house. And don’t you share your wifi with guests already? I didn’t think glee was being sarcastic. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2019, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/connecting-a-new-computer-to-my-home-wifi-network/836989/12 "2019-07-13T14:03:46Z")
Some routers include a small, hard-to-press button that will reset the router to its factory default SSID and password (e.g. “admin”), which are typically noted on its label, or can be found via an online search of the router model ID. Note that using this scheme will require resetting devices that are currently connecting using the now-forgotten password. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2019, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/connecting-a-new-computer-to-my-home-wifi-network/836989/13 "2019-07-13T14:12:48Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > Some routers include a small, hard-to-press button that will reset the router to its factory default SSID and password (e.g. “admin”), which are typically noted on its label, or can be found via an online search of the router model ID. > > Note that using this scheme will require resetting devices that are currently connecting using the now-forgotten password. I’m pretty sure _all_ wifi routers have this ability. Though it might be more complicated than just pressing the button any time - google with the specific model number + “factory reset”. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2019, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/connecting-a-new-computer-to-my-home-wifi-network/836989/14 "2019-07-14T13:10:26Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > It’s not like writing your PIN on your debit card. Anyone that has access to the bottom of your wifi router is already deep inside your house. And don’t you share your wifi with guests already? > [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > I didn’t think glee was being sarcastic. Sorry if I gave the wrong impression. :o I agree that within my house it’s vital for me to know my passwords - hackers aren’t going to see what I’ve written on paper. Thanks again to all who replied. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2019, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/connecting-a-new-computer-to-my-home-wifi-network/836989/15 "2019-07-14T15:26:26Z")
> [@glee](#): > > Sorry if I gave the wrong impression. :o I’m sorry for my negative misinterpretation and glad everything is up and running.