What Is a Network Security Key? How to Find Yours on Any Device

Where to find your network security key

Network security key, WiFi password, wireless key, WPA key, and passphrase usually mean the same thing. Manufacturers and operating systems simply use different labels.

There is one important exception. Your router admin password is not your network security key. The WiFi password lets devices join the network. The administrator password lets somebody change the router’s settings.

Keep both secure.

Find the network security key on your router

The router label is the best place to start, particularly if nobody has changed the original WiFi password.

1. Look at the back or underside of the router.
2. Find the label showing the wireless network details.
3. Look for WiFi Password, Wireless Key, WPA Key, Network Key, or Passphrase.
4. Check that the network name on the label matches the network you are trying to join.

Broadband providers use slightly different wording. You may see:

• Sky: WiFi Password
• BT: Wireless Key
• Virgin Media: WiFi Password or Security Key
• TalkTalk: Wireless Password or Network Key
• Plusnet: Wireless Key or Wireless Password

If somebody has changed the WiFi password since the router was installed, the value printed on the label will no longer work. Use a connected device or sign in to the router settings instead.

Leaving systems on forgotten or poorly understood default settings is one of the most common security mistakes UK businesses make. That does not mean every unique password printed on a modern router is automatically weak. It does mean somebody should know how the router is configured and who is responsible for it.

Find the network security key on Windows 11

If your Windows 11 computer is already connected to the network:

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Network & internet.
3. Select WiFi.
4. Open the properties for the WiFi network you are using.
5. Select Show beside the WiFi network password.
6. Confirm your identity if Windows asks you to.

The password shown is the network security key.

Alternative Windows method

On Windows 10, older Windows 11 versions, or where the Show option is unavailable:

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Select Network and Internet.
3. Select Network and Sharing Centre.
4. Select the name of your WiFi connection.
5. Select Wireless Properties.
6. Open the Security tab.
7. Tick Show characters.

Find the network security key on a Mac

On a current version of macOS, saved WiFi passwords are available in the Passwords app:

1. Open the Passwords app.
2. Unlock it using your Mac password or Touch ID.
3. Select WiFi in the sidebar.
4. Select the network.
5. Reveal or copy the password.

You can also open System Settings, select WiFi, and open the list of known networks. Use the menu beside a saved network to copy its password where that option is available.

On an older Mac, open Keychain Access, search for the network name, open it, and select Show password.

Find the network security key on an iPhone or iPad

On recent versions of iOS and iPadOS:

1. Open the Passwords app.
2. Unlock it with Face ID, Touch ID, or your device passcode.
3. Select WiFi.
4. Select the network whose password you need.
5. Tap the password field to reveal or copy it.

You can also find the password for the network currently in use through Settings:

1. Open Settings.
2. Select WiFi.
3. Tap the information button beside the connected network.
4. Tap Password.
5. Confirm your identity.

Older devices may not offer either option. In that case, check the router or use another connected device.

Find the network security key on Android

Android menus vary slightly between Google, Samsung, and other manufacturers, but the route is normally similar:

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Network & internet, Connections, or a similar option.
3. Select Internet or WiFi.
4. Select the connected network.
5. Tap Share or the QR code button.
6. Confirm your fingerprint, face, PIN, or passcode.

The phone will normally show a QR code that another device can scan. Many Android devices also display the password beneath it, although this depends on the manufacturer and Android version.

Find the key through your router settings

You can view or change the WiFi password through the router’s administration page.

1. Use a device already connected to the router, or connect with an Ethernet cable.
2. Open a web browser.
3. Enter the router’s management address. Check the router label or provider documentation rather than assuming it will use a particular address.
4. Sign in with the router administrator password.
5. Open Wireless, WiFi, or Security settings.
6. Look for WiFi Password, Passphrase, Pre-Shared Key, or WPA Key.

Is a network security key the same as a WiFi password?

For an ordinary home or small-business wireless network, yes.

The password is one part of the network’s access control. It decides which devices are allowed to join, while the router’s security protocol protects traffic moving between those devices and the wireless access point.

What are WPA2 and WPA3?

WPA2 and WPA3 are WiFi security standards. They determine how your network authenticates devices and protects wireless traffic.

If you are buying a new router, choose one that supports WPA3. Older devices may still require WPA2, which is why many routers offer a mixed mode.

The NCSC guidance on network security provides wider advice on secure network design and access.

How to fix a network security key mismatch

A network security key mismatch normally means the password stored on the device does not match the password configured on the router.

Start with the simple causes:

1. Check that you selected the correct WiFi network.
2. Enter the password again, paying attention to capital letters.
3. Check similar-looking characters such as O and 0, I and 1, or S and 5.
4. Forget the network on the device, then reconnect.
5. Restart the device and router.
6. Check whether somebody recently changed or reset the router.

If the router was restored to factory settings, it may have returned to the original network name and password printed on its label.

What if an older device will not connect?

An older phone, printer, television, or smart device may not support the security mode used by a newer router.

Before weakening the security of the main network, check whether the device has a software update. Replacing an obsolete device is usually better than downgrading the security of everything else to accommodate it.

A separate guest or isolated network can sometimes help, but it should not give the older device unnecessary access to computers, storage, cameras, or other sensitive systems.

Should you change the password printed on the router?

Not automatically.

Many modern routers are supplied with a long, unique WiFi password. That is very different from every router leaving the factory with “admin” or “password123”.

Change the WiFi password when:

• The existing password is short, predictable, or shared with too many people.
• You do not know who currently has it.
• A former employee, tenant, contractor, or visitor should no longer have access.
• The router uses a shared manufacturer default rather than a unique value.
• You suspect the password has been exposed.

Do not replace a long, unique password with something shorter merely because it is easier to remember.

How to change your network security key

The exact process depends on the router, but the general route is:

1. Connect to the router using WiFi or Ethernet.
2. Open its administration page or provider app.
3. Sign in using the router administrator account.
4. Open the WiFi or Wireless settings.
5. Find Password, Passphrase, WPA Key, or Pre-Shared Key.
6. Enter a new, unique password.
7. Save the change.

Every connected device will then need the new password.

For a home network, a long password made from several unrelated words is easier to type and remember than a short jumble of symbols. For a business network, shared WiFi passwords may not be enough on their own. Managed identities, separate staff and guest networks, device controls, and proper monitoring may be more appropriate.

Why the network security key matters

A WiFi password stops unauthorised devices from casually joining your network. That matters because anything connected may consume bandwidth, probe other devices, attempt to reach shared services, or use your internet connection for activity that appears to come from you.

It is not your entire network security strategy.

Secure WiFi also depends on:

• A supported and updated router
• WPA2 or WPA3 security
• A separate, protected router administrator account
• Sensible guest access
• Removal of unknown or obsolete devices
• Secure configuration of connected systems

Research into UK router practices is available through the Broadband Genie router security survey. The broader business threat picture is covered by the UK Government Cyber Security Breaches Survey.

In a business, wireless and network security also form part of the controls considered during Cyber Essentials certification.