Step-by-Step: Change WiFi Name and Password

  1. 1

    Connect to your WiFi network

    Make sure your device is connected to the WiFi network you want to rename — either via WiFi or an ethernet cable.

  2. 2

    Find your router's IP address

    The most common router addresses are 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1. To find yours: Windows — open Command Prompt, type ipconfig, look for Default Gateway. Mac — System Settings → Network → your connection → Details → Router. The IP is printed on a sticker on the router too.

  3. 3

    Open the router admin page in a browser

    Type the IP address (e.g. 192.168.0.1) into your browser's address bar and press Enter. A login page appears.

  4. 4

    Log in with admin credentials

    The default username and password are printed on a sticker on your router (usually underneath or on the back). Common defaults: admin/admin, admin/password, or admin/[blank]. If these have been changed and you do not know them, reset the router by holding the reset button for 10 seconds — this restores factory defaults.

  5. 5

    Find Wireless Settings

    Navigate to Wireless, WiFi, or WLAN settings — the exact location varies by router brand (Netgear, TP-Link, ASUS, Telstra etc). Look for Network Name, SSID or WiFi Name.

  6. 6

    Change the name (SSID) and password

    Edit the Network Name / SSID field to your desired WiFi name. Find the Password, Passphrase or Security Key field and enter your new password (minimum 8 characters, use a mix of letters, numbers and symbols). Click Save or Apply.

  7. 7

    Reconnect all devices

    Your router restarts and the old WiFi network disappears. All devices need to reconnect using the new name and password. Go through each device and connect to the new network.

Separate 2.4GHz and 5GHz networksMost modern routers broadcast two networks — 2.4GHz (longer range, slower) and 5GHz (shorter range, faster). You can give them the same name (easier, devices auto-connect to the best band) or different names (lets you choose which band each device uses). Change the name and password for both if you want them updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

No — the WiFi name (SSID) is just a label for your network. Changing it does not affect your internet connection, speed or any router settings. Only the name changes — everything else stays the same.
Try the default credentials on the router sticker. If those do not work, the password has been changed previously. Reset the router to factory defaults by holding the small reset button (usually a pinhole) for 10 seconds — this clears all custom settings and restores the original password on the sticker. Note: this also resets any custom network settings.