As soon as the computer connects to a Wi-Fi network, it will no longer ask for a password from it. And most users safely forget this password, especially if it was written down on some piece of paper. This is not a problem exactly until you need to connect another device to the same Wi-Fi - for example, a phone or tablet.

I will show you several proven ways to see the password that are suitable for any popular operating system (Windows 7, 8, 10).

The easiest way to find out your wifi password

one . Click the left mouse button on this tray icon.

It is located in the lower right corner of the screen, between the alphabet and the clock. Sometimes this icon is hidden under a small arrow.

2. In the window that appears, right-click on the network from which you want to find out the password, and select "Properties".

3 . We put a tick in "Display entered characters" and the computer shows the wifi password in the "Network security key" field.

Another easy way

This option is a little more complicated, but it shows all the wireless networks that the computer has connected to, and not just the active ones.

one . Right-click on the tray icon and select "Network and Sharing Center".

2. A window will open, on the left side of which we select "Wireless Network Management".

3 . Right-click on the desired network and select "Properties".

four . Go to the "Security" tab and put a bird next to "Display input characters."

If there is no “Wireless Network Management” item, then click on “Change adapter settings”, right-click on the desired connection and select “Status”. In the window, click on the "Wireless Properties" button, go to the "Security" tab and check the box next to "Display input characters."

We pull out the password through the program

There is such a wonderful free program WirelessKeyView. Thanks to it, you can see the passwords from all the points to which the computer was connected. You do not need to install it: just download from the official site, unpack and run the program file. If wifi hotspots do not appear immediately, click on the icon

That's all :)

Of the minuses, it should be noted that some antiviruses swear at it, as the program climbs into the settings (my Kaspersky, for example, made a panic). If that doesn't bother you, use it.

We look at the password from our Wi-Fi in the router settings

This method is good because only thanks to it you can find out the password, which the computer does not know at all. For example, Windows was reinstalled, but you don’t remember the password for your Wi-Fi and now you can’t connect. So in this case, the router will help.

Router - this is the thing that "distributes" the Internet. It looks something like this:

In its settings, among other things, the password is stored. To find it, you need to connect the router to the computer via a network cable (usually it comes with the kit).

If the computer remembers the password and connects to the network, then you can not do this.

one . We open the browser (program for the Internet), in the address bar we type 192.168.1.1 and press the Enter button on the keyboard.

Most often, after this, a login / password request appears. If this does not happen, try other addresses: 192.168.0.0, 192.168.0.1, or 192.168.1.0. But if they don’t fit either, then take the router, turn it over and find its IP address on the sticker.

For example, I didn’t even have an address on the sticker. Then I copied the router model from it (in my case, Huawei HG8245A) and entered the query “huawei hg8245a ip address” into the search engine. It turned out that the default address is different, as, in fact, the login with the password.

2. In the window that appears, enter the login admin and the password admin.

Usually these data are suitable (if no one specifically changed them). But there may be other options, such as root or user. They are usually written on the router itself - on a sticker on the other side.

3 . Open the tab Wireless (Wireless mode) or WLAN and look for the password there. Often it is located in the item Wireless Security (Security Settings or Wireless Protection).

As a rule, the password is written in the column where there is the word Key, Password or Password. Often, to see it, you need to uncheck it.

By the way, it happens that it is written immediately when you open the router settings.

If it didn't help

Then you can reset all router settings to factory settings. But in this case, you will have to configure it yourself: specify the Internet connection settings, network name and password.

To reset the settings on the router, there is a small, deeply hidden Reset button (usually located on the back).

We clamp it with some sharp object for ten seconds. After that, all settings will be reset, and the router will be as good as new - all that remains is to configure it.

Today, perhaps, you will no longer meet a person who does not use a computer or does not have a PC at home. In addition, more and more services, programs necessary for work and leisure work when connected to the Internet.

Also, recently, the situation has become more and more popular when in an apartment, house or office there is not one device, but several (PCs, tablets, communicators, smartphones, etc.), each of which requires its own separate connection to the network.

The ability to connect multiple devices to the internet, while having one point of input signal from the provider, is currently carried out using a router or router.

Photo - Networking with multiple paired devices

The router itself is a network device, the purpose of which is to transfer packet data between devices paired with it and an access point - a service provider. In addition, more expensive routers are equipped with a number of additional features, including:

• the ability to set restrictions on access to sites potentially dangerous for the software;
• the ability to connect a firewall;
• the ability to encrypt network access and traffic distribution;
• orderly distribution of traffic across access points, etc.

A standard router, which can often be found both in a private house and in a company office, public places, is a small piece of equipment, consisting of a hardware unit, an antenna for transmitting a Wi-Fi signal, a power supply for connecting to the mains, patch cords (patch cords).

Photo - Complete set and connection of the router

A standard router is able to organize a network by connecting 4 PCs to it via a wired connection, as well as 5-10 devices for which Wi-Fi signal channels will be allocated. However, experts do not recommend fully loading the router, especially if it is not an expensive model of this device. Otherwise, the router may freeze, unable to withstand heavy loads.

Some router models may be equipped with USB ports for connecting a flash drive or hard drive to them. This feature will allow you to use the equipment as a file server, print server, etc. In addition, some models can also boast support for 3G modems.

What you should pay attention to

When choosing a router, you should consider the following features, operating parameters of this equipment:

• to organize a home connection or a network for a small office, an ordinary (non-professional) router from the average price range will be enough;
• device must support IEEE 802.11g and IEEE 802.11n will provide data transfer speed via Wi-Fi up to 600 Mbps;
• installation must support PPTP or L2TP, which will provide access to Internet communications from almost any provider.

The principle of operation of a wireless wi-fi router

The principle of operation of the equipment is based on receiving and converting the recipient's address, which is "registered" in the header of the information packet for its transmission, then the path to which the information is addressed is determined by means of the routing table. In the event that the routing table does not provide any address, the information is not accepted, it is discarded.

Photo - An example of the operation of a network of users with a router

In practice, there are some other systems for transmitting data to devices paired with a router. For example, the use of the sender's address or the protocols of the upper levels of the headers. There are also cases when the basis of the router operation is the transfer of addresses of both the sender and the recipient, as well as filtering the transit flow of transmitted data.

How to install a Wi-Fi router: step by step instructions

In order to independently connect and configure the router, you must do the following:

1. The first thing they do to install the equipment is to connect all communications from the router to the PC and to the Internet signal transmission unit from the provider. To do this, insert an Internet cable into the connector called WAN, and insert the cable that comes with the router into one of the remaining ports, its other end is intended for the Ethernet connector on the back of the PC. After that, turn on the power of the device.
2. Next, go to setting up the router software. Hardware setup is not typical and may differ depending on the router model and connection settings from the provider. Configuration can be carried out through any browser installed on the computer (Google Chrome, Opera, Internet Explorer, etc.). To do this, you need to go to the administrative interface of the device by entering a combination of numbers in the address bar of the browser: 192.168.1.1. After pressing the "Enter" key, the equipment administration window should pop up. If this does not happen, then you should check the cable connection, make sure that the connection is running, then try again.
3. The next step is to directly set up a Wi-Fi connection. If the router is equipped with a quick setup function, then you need to start the "Quick Setup" service and follow the prompts of the installation wizard. Among the configuration steps there will be a choice of the following parameters: — type of preferred connection;

   — type of Internet connection;

4. Next, you need to connect the Wi-Fi module itself directly. To do this, the installation wizard offers the following menu.

Photo - Wi-Fi signal connection module

After the steps have been taken, the Internet connection should already work. However, if the Internet speed is too low or there are constant signal losses, experts recommend choosing a specific channel (from 1 to 13), saving the settings. You should also take care of the password for accessing the signal of the connected router. Otherwise, unauthorized connections are possible, which will also underestimate traffic and make the router work slower.

After the router is connected and configured, all that remains is to connect the network card to a PC or laptop and use the device to work with the internet. On a laptop, you need to make sure that a special key is pressed that turns on Wi-Fi mode. If this operation is completed, then you need to connect the device to the network.

Photo - Network operation indicator

To do this, right-click on the network icon on the desktop toolbar, select the name of the installed network from the menu that opens, and click the "Connect" button.

Photo - Context menu with installed Internet networks on the device

The connection is made in a similar way for Windows 8; for other systems, the device is turned on in a similar way.

How much does a computer router cost

Today, the electronics and computer equipment market offers its customers a wide selection of routers that differ from each other both by the manufacturer and by some functional features of the device. These can be routers for a home network with a few paired devices or industrial equipment to provide Internet access for public places, large offices. Accordingly, taking into account the functionality of the device, the cost of devices will vary significantly. By visiting a store or an online store of electrical goods, the client can choose the appropriate equipment for himself, which will meet the requirements for him. At the same time, he will need to deposit an amount of money ranging from 1 thousand rubles. for a standard model up to more than 25 thousand rubles. for professional multifunction devices.

A router is a very complex device with many technical characteristics. We will focus on those that play an important role for the buyer.

WAN port type and connection protocols

The WAN (or Internet) connector is used to connect an Internet cable to the router. This is the first detail that you should pay attention to when buying a device. It depends on it whether the router will work with the provider.

A typical router has a WAN port in one of two formats:

1. DSL(ADSL, VDSL and other subtypes) - for connecting to the Internet via a telephone line.
2. ethernet- to connect through a special provider channel.

There are also universal devices that support several formats, including DSL and Ethernet. But they are much less common.

In fiber-optic networks that are now quite popular, access to the Internet is carried out through a GPON terminal, to which the router is connected. Some routers have a corresponding connector for connecting the provider's fiber optic cable directly. This allows you to get rid of the terminal, which often suffer from power surges and remove the extra link in the chain.

ISP Compatibility

ISPs use various technologies to connect subscribers. Some of them are massive and are supported by default in all routers, others are less common and not available everywhere.

For example, many service providers use the L2TP protocol, which does not work in every router. Therefore, before buying, it is advisable to check with the provider's support service whether their networks support the router you are interested in.

If instead of DSL and Ethernet, the provider uses specific connection technologies, which rarely happens, then it is better to trust the choice of equipment to specialists.

Number and type of LAN ports

Computers, consoles, TVs and other stationary equipment that needs stable wired access to the Web are connected to the LAN ports of the router. This connection always guarantees maximum speed, which is independent of distance and interference.

And the more such connectors in the router, the more devices can be connected to it via wire. Typically, routers are equipped with four LAN ports. But if this is not enough for you, choose a model with additional connectors.

The type of LAN ports determines the maximum speed of data exchange between the router and other devices connected to it via a wire.

There are two such types:

1. fast ethernet provides speeds up to 100 Mbps.
2. gigabit ethernet- up to 1 Gbps.

If your ISP offers Internet access at speeds greater than 100 Mbps, choose a router model with Gigabit Ethernet ports. So you will use your channel to the fullest.

WiFi standards

The maximum possible data exchange rate between the router and the fleet of devices connected to it wirelessly depends on the Wi-Fi standard. There are currently two standards in use:

1. 802.11n- a common, but already outdated version, which is supported by the vast majority of gadgets. Possible speed - up to 600 Mbps.
2. 802.11ac- the current standard, provides the highest speed - up to 6.77 Gbps.

But don't let the specs fool you: the values ​​shown are only theoretically possible within the technology. Actual speeds are much lower.

The speed indicated by the manufacturer is also most often unattainable in practice. This is only a possible value without taking into account distance and interference.

Thanks to backward compatibility, you can connect any gadgets via WI-Fi to a router with the 802.11ac standard. Even if they only support 802.11n and older versions. But to unlock the full potential of 802.11ac, both your router and every other device on your wireless network must support this standard.

Number of Wi-Fi bands

Some routers can operate simultaneously in different frequency bands. In this mode, the router is able to support not one, but several independent Wi-Fi networks at once.

Many popular models are able to distribute data transmission between two ranges. Thus, they create two networks at frequencies of 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, respectively.

1. Frequency 2.4 GHz ideal for connecting smartphones and office equipment.
2. Frequency 5 GHz provides a more stable and faster connection, and therefore is better suited for multimedia devices that work with video and other heavy content. So, if you do not want to connect a TV or set-top box through wires, you can use Wi-Fi at a frequency of 5 GHz.

These networks can operate in parallel without limiting each other. But again, their total speed will not exceed the limit set by the Internet provider.

In addition, not all gadgets support a 5 GHz network.

Number and type of antennas

In addition to the standard and frequency of Wi-Fi, the speed of a wireless network depends on the number of antennas in the router. The more of them, the faster the data exchange between the connected devices and the router.

The 802.11n Wi-Fi speed limit for the single antenna model is 150 Mbps. With two - 300 Mbps, with three - 450 Mbps. That is, with each antenna, the maximum possible speed increases by 150 Mbps. And in the 802.11ac standard - at 433 Mbps.

Recall that we are talking about theoretically possible speeds under ideal conditions. In reality, these figures are much lower. In addition, do not forget that the total speed of Internet access via Wi-Fi cannot exceed the provider's limit.

Antennas can be built-in or external. As practice shows, in a typical city apartment, the type of antennas is not so important. Contrary to popular myth, the difference is barely noticeable.

But for large rooms, it’s still worth choosing a router with external antennas so as not to have. In addition, if external antennas are removable, if necessary, they can be replaced with more powerful ones.

Availability of a USB port

By choosing a router with one or a pair of USB connectors, you can connect additional devices to it. For example, a USB drive will provide remote access to a shared file storage through any device on a Wi-Fi network. A wireless USB modem will be your backup way to get online if cable Internet stops working.

Brief selection guide

Let's go over the key points of the article again. This checklist will help you choose a good router.

1. Find out the provider's requirements for the router: WAN connector type and connection protocols. Only then choose a model.
2. For Internet speeds above 100 Mbps, buy a device with Gigabit Ethernet (1 Gbps) LAN ports. If the speed is lower, Fast Ethernet connectors (100 Mbps) will suffice.
3. If you need access to the Web only for browsing sites and working with documents, you can limit yourself to a router with one antenna and support for the 802.11n wireless standard.
4. But if you stream video, play online games, use a lot of wireless devices, download large files often, and don't get used to denying yourself, then choose a dual-band router with multiple antennas and support for 802.11ac.
5. If you wish, you can buy a model with a USB port to connect a drive or a wireless modem to it.

After the advent of computers and laptops in almost every home, the number of clients from providers has increased several dozen times, since in the modern world for many people life without the Internet is almost unthinkable.

To begin with, the usual protocol for transmitting information via telephone was used, then an increase in the amount of information transmitted required an improvement in quality and an increase in transmission speed. There are new ways to access the Internet.

However, as before, the usability of laptops was minimal due to the need to connect a cable from the modem. After that, a wireless method was invented for transmitting a large amount of data over a fairly long distance, which was called Wi-Fi. In the modern world, in many large cities, you can find Wi-Fi access points and anyone can do this if they have Internet access and a special router.

What is a wifi router for home

Smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktop computers can be used to receive large amounts of data. In the case of tablets and phones, the situation is complicated by the fact that it is impossible to connect to the Internet for software updates or other tasks via a WAN cable.

For the convenience of using the Internet at home, Wi-Fi routers began to be used. Such equipment differs from older versions in that it has a WI-Fi module that connects all devices in its signal field. The first models were equipped with an antenna, modern ones outwardly do not differ from the usual versions.

The principle of operation of this equipment is as follows:

1. The connection to the network is carried out through a telephone or connection created for the Internet, as before.
2. The built-in module, which is configured through a computer when you go to the IP address of the system, connects to the created network, evenly distributes the maximum speed between the connected devices.

The router acts as a distributor of information.

What are routers

The choice of a router should be approached thoroughly, since the features of the created wireless network will depend on it. Conventionally, all Wi-Fi routers can be divided into the following groups:

1. ADSL– a wireless router that connects via ADSL. It is used if there is a WAN port for a telephone connector. It is quite popular, as in many cities the Internet connection is via telephone cable.
2. FTTB- the most popular version, which is connected via twisted pair.
3. CPON/CEPON/PON- a recently appeared version of the design, which allows you to maintain the maximum allowable speed of connection and information transfer. You can use such a router only if you have the necessary connection to the provider, which is called passive optical networks.
4. 3G- routers that are capable of distributing when connected to the Internet via a cellular connection. In this case, there are no ports, there is a place to install a SIM card.
5. The most expensive and popular version is universal. It provides for combining several types of connection.

When considering this issue, we note that in 99% of cases routers are issued by providers, since they must be correctly configured according to their connection protocol.

Recently, Wi-Fi routers are being installed more and more often, as they eliminate the need for a long fuss with laying a cable to the required place.

Given the rather large operating radius and the fact that the signal passes through the walls, the router can stand anywhere.

The only catch is that a computer or other device must have a receiver. All modern laptops have a built-in receiver for such a wireless network, but desktop computers do not have one as standard.

There are several options for solving the problem with the lack of a Wi-Fi receiver on a desktop computer:

1. Using an external device that can be connected via USB or WLAN port. It should be borne in mind here that the USB connection has a certain limitation on the speed of information transfer. Therefore, if the router has a high-speed connection (due to the characteristics of the provider's services), this method of organizing a home network is not recommended. The WLAN port does not have such a hard limit.
2. If the motherboard provides for the possibility of installing an internal network reception unit, then the system unit can be upgraded. However, this can be much more expensive than setting up a wired home network.

As a rule, the master who comes to connect the Internet will recommend the most suitable connection option.

How to choose

Although a representative from the provider will recommend the most suitable version of the router, in some cases you have to choose on your own. When choosing, you should pay attention to the following nuances:

1. Price- the spread of this indicator for equipment that is intended for use at home is very large. At the same time, the price corresponds to the filling: a weak signal level, low reliability, a small coverage range, and so on. However, there is no point in taking a very expensive version for the home.
2. Presence of certain ports. In most cases, it is enough to have a set of FastEthernet ports. Ports that are designed to connect a gigabyte connection are often not needed, since the speed provided by the provider is often much lower. The only case is the creation of an extensive home network, but this is extremely rare in domestic needs.
3. The features of a Wi-Fi antenna are very important. There are two types of antenna placement: indoor and outdoor. It is recommended to purchase with an external antenna, as it is possible to replace it with a more powerful version if necessary. It is also worth considering that in order to achieve a high transmission rate, the antenna must operate using the 802.11n protocol. Some manufacturers, to reduce the cost of construction, install other types of antennas that operate at very low speeds. The frequency of operation determines the coverage radius.
4. Hardware stuffing- an important indicator that few people pay attention to. The type of hardware filling affects the operation of the home network in the same way as the installed hardware on the system unit.
5. Additional features for such equipment are very limited. Often these are additional connectors, as well as built-in servers for certain programs.
6. Brand. As for the brand, there is practically nothing to say here - all manufacturers have terrible and good models. For example, TP-Link and Netgear have many models with good performance. Asus rarely crashes. But all manufacturers have models that often bring big problems. Often this is a line of budget options, since all manufacturers save as much as they can on their manufacture.

Also, when choosing, you can see the options that are installed with friends and ask them about problems with the Internet.

How to use correctly

You can install the router anywhere. At the same time, it should not stand in a damp room, the temperature should be at room temperature, exposure to direct rays from the sun is excluded. Installing this equipment is quite simple: you just need to connect the cable from the wired network and that's it. But with the setting everything is more complicated.

The creation of an access point is carried out through a computer, but the features of connecting to the Internet depend on the work of the provider. The setup requires an administrator login and password, and the provider does not provide this information to protect their servers.

Overview of the best models

The following models can be distinguished:

1. TP-LINK TL-WR740N- an inexpensive version that has a powerful antenna. The transfer rate is 150 Mbps. For most users, this speed should be sufficient. The cost is about 2500 rubles.
2. TP-LINK TL-WR841N- a more productive option, which has a speed of about 300 Mbps. Two powerful antennas are installed. The cost is within 4000 rubles.

In conclusion, we note that making Wi-Fi at home without a special router is possible only if you have a device with a built-in module that is capable of distributing, and not just receiving a signal. Modern models of many laptops can become an access point, and if the computer has Internet access, access will become visible to all devices. In some cases, a smartphone or tablet can become an access point.

Hypothetically, if we could see all the digital signals that surround us, what would they be like? If we could physically see the WiFi footprint, what would it be? That's exactly what photographer and artist Luis Hernan is exploring in his latest series, Creative Exploration of Wireless Spectra.

Obsessed with the invisible wave infrastructure that holds our wireless world together, Luis set out to capture the landscape of electromagnetic waves in a series of amazing color photographs. The pictures quickly gained popularity, which prompted the author to further research in this area.

Using a long exposure camera and RSSI sensors to visualize WiFi networks, he was able to create these vivid pictures. The result is a beautiful collection of surreal images that are both active and static at the same time. People often misuse technology without even thinking about its nature. But thanks to Luis Hernan, you can now imagine what Wi-Fi looks like in your home!


This project aims to demonstrate the nature of the electromagnetic wave space and prove that high technology can be visualized. If the human eye does not see something, it does not mean that it does not exist. And the author of these pictures clearly demonstrated this by making wi-fi waves temporarily available for perception.


The Digital Ethereal project is a progressive creative research project that explores the materiality of wireless protocols. As part of this work, these impressive photographs were taken.