WPA Key

What is my WPA key? How do I find the WPA key for my computer? How can I get the WPA key for Xbox live? If these are the questions lurking in your mind, this article is surely going to help you find the answers. But for those who do not have any idea what this WPA key is, here is a little information on what is a WPA key and how to find it.

A Brief Overview on WPA Key

WPA stands for Wi-Fi protected access. It is a password that is used to access an encrypted wireless network. It is a network security key that protects the wireless network from outside intruders. Prior to the use of WPA, Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) was used to secure the wireless computer networks. However, WEP had several security issues and this gave entry to the new advancement in the form of WPA. It is a standard security protocol that is implemented by the Wi-Fi alliance and provides greater security than WEP. When your wireless router is encrypted with WPA, it is impossible to access the network or make any changes to the network settings without this key. Only authorized users will be able to access the network.

How to Find WPA Key?

Step 1
Open any web browser such as Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox. In the address bar, type http://192.168.1.1 and press the ENTER key. This is the default address of your wireless modem or the router to which you are connected.

Step 2
A window appears on the screen that prompts you to enter your username and password. Do as directed, however, if you do not know your username and password, type 'admin' as the username. This is the default username for most systems. Leave the password space blank and hit ENTER.

Step 3
If the username and password typed are correct, you will be redirected to the routers setting page. If it fails to redirect you to the wireless settings page, you may have to reset the modem or the router. In that case, you will not find any key, but will have to manually assign one.

Step 4
Now, in the settings page, locate the wireless option. Click the wireless link and then look for a security or wireless security tab. When you open this tab, you will find network authentication and different options will be available under it, such as WEP, WPA, WPA2, etc. Select WPA or WPA2, and your key will be displayed.

Once you get the key, copy and paste it in a safe document. Make sure it is visible only to those who are allowed to access your wireless network. You can use the same key to connect your cellular phone, Notebook or other devices to the wireless network. The same key can be used to connect your console to the wireless network and go to Xbox live. This key can be of different sizes: 64 bits, 160 bits, 504 bits and custom sized. The maximum security WPA key contains 63 characters and the lightest security key, that is, the 64 bit key, has only 8 characters. The custom sized key must contain 8 to 63 characters. The security of your network depends on the number of characters the key contains. The longer the key, the better!

The steps given above for finding your computer's WPA key work for most routers. However, check your router or modem's manual to find the wireless security option.