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VickieMyers's avatar
VickieMyers
Tutor
Jul 29, 2021
Solved

Pin number

I have a nighthawk R6120 all devices connect except my laptop. It's asking for an 8 digit pin.  Where do I find this?  

  • michaelkenward's avatar
    michaelkenward
    Jul 30, 2021

    Not dumb really. The problem starts with the way that the IT world talks about things like passwords.

     

    "security key", "passphrase", you name it. Different people use different words.

     

    That Netgear uses the password word for wifi, getting into the router, entering this place and various other things doesn't help.

     

    Here's a sentence from one of Netgear's manuals:

     

    "The security key is also referred to as the WiFi passphrase or WiFi password."

     

    Every reason to be confused.

8 Replies

  • michaelkenward's avatar
    michaelkenward
    Guru - Experienced User
    Jul 29, 2021
    VickieMyers wrote:

    I have a nighthawk R6120 all devices connect except my laptop. It's asking for an 8 digit pin.  Where do I find this?  

    What is asking for a PIN? The laptop?

     

    How are you trying to connect? Wifi?

     

    What throws up this message? Windows? Some connection software on your unnamed laptop?

     

    Does the laptop have a WPS option?

     

    Manuals are always a good place to start. Visit the support pages:

    Support | NETGEAR

    Feed in your model number and check the documentation for your hardware.

    Check the section in the manual Use WPS With the PIN Method.

    • VickieMyers's avatar
      VickieMyers
      Tutor
      Jul 29, 2021
      It's a Dell laptop with windows and I'm trying to connect to internet wireless. The laptop shows my router and that there is signal but when I've tried to connect a small window pops up on the laptop asking for an 8 digit pin. I have briefly looked at the manual it mentions a pin but I haven't been able to find it. Or see in the manual where to look for it. I also have the nighthawk app no help there either.
      • michaelkenward's avatar
        michaelkenward
        Guru - Experienced User
        Jul 29, 2021
        VickieMyers wrote:
        It's a Dell laptop with windows and I'm trying to connect to internet wireless. The laptop shows my router and that there is signal but when I've tried to connect a small window pops up on the laptop asking for an 8 digit pin.

        What possessed Dell to demand that sort of security? Madness.

         

        All your other stuff connects to the router, so the "problem" is really down to the Dell. The router is just doing its stuff. The laptop is getting in the way.

         

        How about looking for a WPS "button" on the Dell? There's one on the router. (Be vcareful hpw you use that, "Press the button for about 5 to 10 seconds until the WiFi LED blinks amber".) You should be able to press them both and let the two devices fight it out.

         

        According to the manual, on the R6120 you have to get into the browser graphical user interface:

        • Advanced
        • Advanced Setup
        • Advanced Wireless Settings
        • Scroll down to the WPS Settings section in the lower part of the page.

        It might be easier to work out how to stop the Dell laptop from demanding a PIN. That could simply be a case of using Windows to connect rather than some poxy program that Dell created to "help" you.