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Mastering the Use of Wi-Fi Network Security Keys

They might look intimidating, but they're not difficult to work with

By Bradley Mitchell Bradley Mitchell Writer Massachusetts Institute of Technology University of Illinois An MIT graduate who brings years of technical experience to articles on SEO, computers, and wireless networking. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on March 27, 2020 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Home Networking Wi-Fi & Wireless The Wireless Connection Routers & Firewalls Network Hubs ISP Broadband Ethernet Installing & Upgrading One essential aspect of setting up a Wi-Fi connection is enabling security with the correct settings. If these settings are misconfigured, Wi-Fi devices can fail to connect to the local network. When settings are left at the defaults or not configured at all, a network won't be protected against unwanted connections. Of the steps involved in configuring security on a Wi-Fi network, the management of wireless keys is the most important. A wireless network security key is a digital password that users of devices on a network must enter to connect to the network and with each other. All devices on a local Wi-Fi network share a common key. Wireless keys are a combination of letters and digits in sequences called strings.

Wi-Fi Keys Types and Options

Setting up security on a Wi-Fi network router, wireless hotspot, or client device involves choosing from a list of security options, then entering a key string that the device stores. Wi-Fi security keys exist in two basic forms: ASCII: a sequence of letters and/or decimal numbers. Hex: a sequence of hexadecimal numbers. Hex keys (strings like 0FA76401DB) are the standard format for Wi-Fi devices. ASCII keys are also called passphrases because people often choose easy-to-remember words and phrases for their keys — for example, ilovewifi and hispeed1234. Wi-Fi devices convert both ASCII and hex keys into binary numbers that become the actual key value used by the Wi-Fi hardware to encrypt data sent over the wireless link. Some Wi-Fi devices support only hex keys and disallow entering passphrase characters or report an error when you're trying to save a passphrase. The most common security options for home networking include: 64-bit and 128-bit WEP (wired equivalent privacy), neither of which is recommended because of its inferior level of protection. WPA (Wi-Fi protected access) and WPA2. Wi-Fi key restrictions depend on the options chosen as follows: 64-bit WEP: Passphrases must be exactly five ASCII characters; keys must be exactly 10 hexadecimal digits.128-bit WEP: Passphrases must be exactly 13 ASCII characters; keys must be exactly 26 hexadecimal digits.WPA and WPA2: Passphrases must be between eight and 63 ASCII characters; keys must be 64 hex digits. Additional rules apply to all of the above options when making Wi-Fi keys: Choose keys longer than the minimum, if possible. Longer keys are more secure, although they are also much more difficult to remember.Ensure that shared keys match exactly. All forms of Wi-Fi keys are case-sensitive.

Synchronize Keys Across Local Devices

To ensure all devices on a home or local network are configured correctly with the same Wi-Fi key first set a key for the router (or another access point), then systematically update each client one by one to use the matching string. Exact steps for applying a Wi-Fi key to a router or other device vary slightly depending on the specific hardware involved, but as a general rule: Enter keys into the router administration page for wireless settings.Enter keys into a client device through its Settings app or operating system control panel.

Find Keys for Routers and Hotspots

Because the sequence of numbers and letters in a Wi-Fi key can be long, mistyping and forgetting them is common. To find the key string currently in use for a wireless home network, log in to the local router as an administrator and look up the value from the appropriate console page. A device can't authenticate with the router unless it has the correct key, so you may have to connect your device to the router using an Ethernet cable. Some home routers come with Wi-Fi security options turned on and default keys pre-installed. Such a router typically has a sticker on the bottom showing the key string. Although these keys are private and generally safe to use within a home, the stickers enable anyone inside a home to see its network settings and connect additional client devices to the network without your knowledge. To avoid this risk, override the key on such a router with a different string when you first install it. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire What Is Network Encryption? How to Connect a Router to the Internet Can Two Routers Be Used on the Same Home Network? How to Use Chromecast Without Wi-Fi What Is a Network Security Key and How Do You Find It? How to Set Up a Router Can't Connect to the Internet? Try These 10 Tips When and How to Turn Off Wi-Fi on Your Devices How to Connect Chromecast to Hotel Wi-Fi How to Connect Two Routers on a Home Network An Overview of Wireless Protected Access 2 (WPA2) How to Encrypt Your Wireless Network How to Kick People off Your Wi-Fi What Is a Service Set Identifier (SSID)? What Is a WEP Key in Wi-Fi Networking? How to Fix it When Your Wi-Fi Network Is Not Showing Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies