Applies to
Surface RT, Surface 2, Surface Pro, Surface Pro 2, Windows 8.1, Windows RT 8.1.
How to find your wireless network password
Surface has built-in Wi-Fi that you can use to connect to a wireless network. If you don’t know your wireless network password, use the info below to find it.
Find your password on your hardware
Some wireless router manufacturers set a default security key or password which may be on the bottom of your router or in the router’s documentation. Look for the following terms:
- Security Key
- Wireless Key
- WPA Key
- WPA2 Key
- WEP Key
Find your password on a Windows PC
If you have a computer running Windows that is connected to your wireless network, you can find the password by doing the following:
Windows 8.1: Find your password
| Step 1: | Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and tap Settings. (If you're using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer up, and then click Settings.) |
| Step 2: | Tap or click the network icon (  or  )for the network you want to connect to, and then tap or click Connect |
| Step 3: | Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and tap or click Search. |
| Step 4: | In the search box, enter view network connections, and in the search results tap or click View network connections. |
| Step 5: | In the Network Connections window, press and hold or right-click the network name, and then tap or click Status. |
| Step 6: | Tap or click the Wireless Properties button. |
| Step 7: | Tap or click the Security tab, and tap or click the Show characters check box. |
| Step 8: | The password for the wireless network is displayed in the Network security key field. |
Windows 7: Find your password
| Step 1: | Click the wireless network icon on the taskbar (lower-right corner). |
| Step 2: | Right-click your wireless network name, and then select Properties. |
| Step 3: | Select Show characters to see the wireless network password. |
Windows 8: Find your password
| Step 1: | From the Start screen, swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and tap or click Settings. (If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, and then click Settings.) |
| Step 2: | Tap or click the wireless network icon . |
| Step 3: | Tap and hold or right click on a wireless network name, and then choose View connection properties. |
| Step 4: | Select Show characters to see the wireless network password. |
Find your password on your router’s configuration webpage
If you have a computer that can connect to the Internet, you can find the password by doing the following:
| Step 1: | Open a web browser. |
| Step 2: | Enter the IP address for your wireless router into the search bar (for example, 192.168.1.1). Look for your router’s default IP address in your router documentation or online. |
| Step 3: | Enter the user name and password to open your router’s configuration webpage. Most router documentation includes the default user name and password. |
| Step 4: | On the configuration webpage, look for a wireless or wireless settings option. |
| Step 5: | Now, look for a security or wireless encryption setting. The security key (sometimes called a network key, a passphrase, or a network password) should be listed nearby. |
Connect to a wireless network without a password
If your router supports Windows Connect Now (WCN) or Wi Fi Protected Setup (WPS), you can connect to your wireless network without entering a password. Here’s how:
| Step 1: | From the Start screen, swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and tap or click Settings. (If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, and then click Settings.) |
| Step 2: | Tap or click the wireless network icon . |
| Step 3: | Tap or click the network you want to connect to, and then tap or click Connect. |
| Step 4: | Press the Wi Fi Protected Setup (WPS) button on the router. The router will automatically set up Surface to connect to the network and apply the network's security settings (you won’t be prompted for wireless network password). |
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Oops! We are currently experiencing technical difficulties. Please call us for help at 1-800-Microsoft (1-800-642-7676).
