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How to Change Your WiFi Password

To change your WiFi password, open your router’s settings (usually at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1, or in the router’s app), go to Wireless → Security, enter a new password and save. Every device then needs to reconnect with the new password. It takes about 5 minutes.

Updated 3 min read

Step-by-step: change it in the router settings

  1. Connect to your network. Use the WiFi you’re changing, or plug in a cable, which is safer because WiFi will disconnect when you save.
  2. Open the router’s address in a browser. Look it up for your brand with the router login finder, or use the “Default Gateway” from your device’s network settings.
  3. Sign in with the admin username and password. Unless you changed them, they’re on the sticker on the router.
  4. Find the wireless security settings. They’re usually called Wireless, WiFi, WLAN or Wireless Security.
  5. Enter the new password in the field called Password, Passphrase, Network Key or Pre-Shared Key. Make it long and random; the WiFi password generator creates one in a click.
  6. Choose WPA2 or WPA3 as the security mode if it isn’t already, then Save or Apply.
  7. Reconnect your devices using the new password.

If your router has separate 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks, change the password on both. Mesh systems apply the change to every unit automatically.

Change it with your router’s app

Many newer routers and mesh systems are managed from a phone app instead of a web page:

  • TP-Link: Tether or Deco app → Wireless
  • Netgear: Nighthawk or Orbi app → WiFi Settings
  • ASUS: ASUS Router app → Settings → WiFi
  • Google Nest WiFi: Google Home app → Wi-Fi → Network settings
  • eero: eero app → Settings → Network name & password
  • Provider routers (Xfinity, Spectrum, BT and others): usually the provider’s own app or account website

Tips for a good WiFi password

  • At least 12–16 characters. Length matters more than symbols.
  • Random, not personal. No names, birthdays, addresses or phone numbers.
  • Easy to type on a TV. Skip look-alike characters such as 0/O and l/1; the generator does this for you.
  • Different from the router’s admin password.

After you change it

  • Reconnect everything: phones, laptops, TVs, consoles, printers and smart-home devices. Smart plugs and cameras often need to go through their app’s setup again.
  • Share it the easy way. Make a scannable code with the WiFi QR code generator, or see all the ways to share your WiFi password.
  • Change the admin password too if it’s still the default from the sticker.
  • Check connected devices in the router list for anything you don’t recognise.

Can’t log in to the router?

If the admin page won’t open, follow the troubleshooting steps on the router login page. If you’ve forgotten the admin password, hold the reset button for about 10 seconds to restore factory settings. The WiFi name and password then go back to the ones on the sticker, and you’ll need to set the router up again.

Just need the current password, not a new one? See how to find it on iPhone or Android.

Frequently asked questions

Can I change my WiFi password from my phone?
Yes. Connect your phone to the WiFi, open the router’s address in your browser, or use your router’s app.
Will changing my WiFi password kick everyone off?
Yes. Every device disconnects and needs the new password. It’s the simplest way to remove anyone who shouldn’t be on your network.
Do I need to restart the router after changing the password?
Usually not. Saving applies the change, and some routers restart their WiFi on their own for a few seconds.