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Wi‑Fi basics

How to find your Wi‑Fi network name (SSID)

The SSID is simply the name of a Wi‑Fi network, the one you see in the Wi‑Fi list. On a phone or computer, open the Wi‑Fi settings: the network you are connected to is shown at the top. Your own router’s name is printed on a label on the router and can be changed in its settings.

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What “SSID” means

SSID stands for Service Set Identifier. It is the name a Wi‑Fi network broadcasts so devices can find it: “Home_5G”, “CoffeeHouse Guest”, “Hotel Marriott”. It is not a password, and it is not secret: anyone nearby can see it.

Two networks can have the same name. Hotels, cafés and airports often run several access points with one SSID, and an attacker can also copy a familiar name. That is why the name alone never proves you joined the right network.

On a phone or tablet

Your device shows the SSID of the network you are on, and every network in range.

  1. Android

    Open Settings, then Network & internet (or Connections), then Internet or Wi‑Fi. The connected network is at the top with “Connected” under it. Tap it for details such as the signal and the security type.

  2. iPhone and iPad

    Open Settings, then Wi‑Fi. The network with a tick next to it is the one you are using. Tap the small (i) next to it for its details.

  3. Chromebook

    Click the time in the corner, then the Wi‑Fi icon. The connected network is listed first; the name is the SSID.

On a computer

The same idea: the Wi‑Fi list shows the names, and the connected one is marked.

  1. Windows 11

    Select the Wi‑Fi icon in the taskbar, then the arrow next to it to open the list. The connected network says “Connected”. For more detail: Settings, Network & internet, Wi‑Fi, then the network’s properties.

  2. Mac

    Click the Wi‑Fi icon in the menu bar. The network with a tick is the one you are on. System Settings, Wi‑Fi shows the same list with details.

  3. Linux

    Click the network icon in the top bar (GNOME) or system tray (KDE). The connected network is listed first. The command “nmcli device wifi list” prints every network in range with its SSID.

Your own router

The router’s default network name and password are printed on a sticker on the router, usually underneath. If someone changed the name, sign in to the router’s admin page (the address is on the same sticker) and look under Wireless or Wi‑Fi settings.

Changing the default name is a good idea: a name like “TP-Link_4F2A” tells a stranger which router model you have. Pick a name that does not include your family name or flat number.

Hidden networks and “no SSID”

A network can be set not to broadcast its name. It still exists; you join it by typing the name and password yourself (Android: Add network; iPhone: Other…; Windows: Hidden network). Hiding the name is not a security feature: tools that scan Wi‑Fi still see the network, and your devices keep calling out for it wherever you go.

If a device says “no SSID” or cannot see any network, Wi‑Fi may be switched off, airplane mode may be on, or the router may be restarting. Toggle Wi‑Fi off and on, then move closer to the router.

The name tells you nothing about safety

“Airport Free Wi‑Fi” can be run by the airport or by the person at the next gate. Ask staff for the exact network name, prefer networks that ask for a password, and keep your device from auto-joining networks it has seen once.

On any network you do not control, a VPN keeps your traffic in an encrypted tunnel, so the network sees one encrypted connection instead of the sites you visit. Teal VPN does that in one tap and has a free plan with 500 MB every day.

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