How to Change Your WiFi Password

  1. 1

    Connect to your WiFi and open a browser

    Make sure you are connected to the network whose password you want to change. Open any browser on your phone, tablet or computer.

  2. 2

    Go to your router admin page

    Type 192.168.0.1 into the address bar and press Enter. If that does not load, try 192.168.1.1 or 10.0.0.1. These are the most common router gateway addresses. You can also find it: Windows → Command Prompt → type ipconfig → look for Default Gateway. Mac → System Settings → Network → your connection → Details → Router.

  3. 3

    Log in with your router admin credentials

    The admin username and password are printed on a sticker on the underside or back of your router. Common defaults: admin/admin or admin/password. If these do not work, the credentials have been changed previously — see FAQ below.

  4. 4

    Find Wireless or WiFi settings

    The exact location varies by router brand. Look for: Wireless, WiFi, WLAN, or Network settings. Then find: Security, Password, Passphrase, or Network Key.

  5. 5

    Enter your new password and save

    Delete the old password and type your new one. A strong WiFi password: at least 12 characters, a mix of upper and lower case letters, numbers and symbols. Click Save or Apply. The router restarts briefly.

  6. 6

    Reconnect all devices with the new password

    Your router now broadcasts with the new password. Every device that was connected will be disconnected and needs to reconnect using the new password. Go through each device and update the WiFi connection.

Dual-band routers (2.4GHz and 5GHz)Most modern routers broadcast two networks. You may need to change the password for both bands separately — check your router settings for two separate SSID/password fields. Or you can give both bands the same password and SSID for simplicity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Reset the router to factory defaults: find the small reset pinhole (usually on the back), press and hold for 10 seconds with a paperclip while the router is powered on. The lights flash and the router resets. All settings revert to factory defaults — including the admin password on the sticker. Note: this also resets your WiFi name and password to the factory defaults, so all connected devices need to reconnect.
There is no strict rule. Change your WiFi password if: you suspect someone unauthorised is using your network, you have shared it with someone who should no longer have access (old housemates, contractors), or your old password was weak. Routinely changing passwords without a reason is less important than having a strong password to begin with.