Network Password - Where do I find it?

Question

Level 1

4 points

Network Password - Where do I find it?

I just upgraded from the original Airport to the Airport Extreme. In the past, I had no problem connecting my Dell computer from work to my wireless network, but now I am being asked for the network or WPA key. Where do I find that? I have looked through the Airport Utility, but I really don't know what type of sequence of numbers or letters that I am looking for nor do I know anything about this. If you can, please explain simple step by step instructions. Thank you.

iMac Intel, Mac OS X (10.5.8), Airport Extreme

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 8:18 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Tesserax

Level 10

148,351 points

Feb 17, 2010 8:30 PM in response to cabillings

If you don't remember the password, you can retrieve it from your Keychain as follows:
o Run the Keychain Access utility found in \Applications\Utilities
o In the category column (on the left side of the utilities' window), select "All Items."
o In the right column look for your Network Name. It will have a "Kind" of "AirPort network password."
o Double-click on your network name listing.
o Click on "Show password."
o Enter your Mac's administrator's password
o Your wireless network's password should now be displayed.

Reply

Answer 2

cabillings Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 17, 2010 8:40 PM in response to Tesserax

I know my password. The message that I'm getting is:

"The network "my network name" requires a network key (also called a WEP key or WPA key). A network key helps prevent unknown intruders from connecting to this network.
Type the key, and then click Connect."

There are two boxes. If I enter my password, the message then says:
"The network password needs to be 40bits or 104 bits depending on your network configuration. This can be entered as 5 or 13 ascii characters or 10 or 26 hexadecimal characters."

My understanding is that Windows doesn't understand the Mac password, so I need something that starts with BAC or similar.

Reply

Answer 3

Feb 18, 2010 5:50 AM in response to cabillings

Open AirPort Utility, click Manual Setup
Look for the Base Station menu at the uppermost top of your screen near the Apple icon (+not the base station tab in the center+)
Click the Base Station menu item
Click Equivalent Network Password

Your "key" will be revealed.

Reply

Answer 4

jsunem

Level 2

417 points

May 15, 2010 12:35 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Bob Timmons wrote:
Open AirPort Utility, click Manual Setup
Look for the Base Station menu at the uppermost top of your screen near the Apple icon (+not the base station tab in the center+)
Click the Base Station menu item
Click Equivalent Network Password

Your "key" will be revealed.

Thank you for this guide to finding the Equivalent Network Password.

I'm attempting to setup a wireless printer and its asking me for the following:

+Selected Wireless network is protected with encryption.+
+Enter a Network Key for wireless network connection.+
+Contact the Network Administrator if you don't know the Network Key.+
+WPA-Personal Network Key should be alphanumeric and the length should be between 8 to 63 characters long.+
+Network Key must match with your wireless network+

The key I pull up through your instructions is two lines of 32 characters. Neither line works (alone) which leads me to believe its just one line of 64 characters. But as you see above, it says 8-63 characters. Am I comparing apples and oranges here? Am I using the wrong encryption standard

Reply

Answer 5

May 15, 2010 1:51 PM in response to jsunem

Since the printer instructions you posted are talking about WPA password protection, check using AirPort Utility to see what type of security you have selected for your network. The only compatible setting with your printer is probably WPA/WPA2 Personal. Your "normal" password should work with WPA encryption...you should not need to use the key.

Reply