Where to find the network name setting

Your WiFi network name — also called the SSID — lives in your router's settings page, not in your phone or computer. You reach it by typing your router's IP address into a web browser on any device connected to that WiFi. The most common address is 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1. Type it into the address bar exactly as shown, with the periods.

When you press Enter, you will see a login screen. This is different from your WiFi password — it is the router's admin password, which came with your router's paperwork or is printed on a sticker on the back of the device itself. If you changed it before and do not remember it, you will need to reset the router to factory settings, which erases all your changes. Most routers have a small reset button you hold for 10 seconds while powered on.

Once you log in, look for a section called Wireless, WiFi Settings, or Network Name. Different router brands put this in different places — some on the main page, some under an Advanced tab. If you cannot find it, search the settings page for the word "SSID".

Key Takeaways

  • The network name setting is in your router's web page, reached by typing 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 into a browser address bar.
  • You log in with the router's admin password, which is printed on the back of the device or came in the paperwork — not your WiFi password.
  • After you change the name and save, all devices will lose connection and must reconnect using the new name.
  • Changing the network name does not affect security by itself; the password is what protects your network.

The three steps to change the name

Once you are logged into the router settings and have found the wireless section, you will see a field with your current network name in it. Clear that field completely and type the new name you want. Network names can be up to 32 characters and can include letters, numbers, spaces, and most symbols — but avoid special characters like @ or & because some devices struggle with them.

After you type the new name, scroll down and look for a button that says Save, explore, or OK. Click it. The router will restart, which takes 30 seconds to two minutes. During this time, your internet will drop and come back on.

Once the router finishes restarting, the old network name will disappear from your device list. You will see the new name appear instead. Every device in your house — phone, laptop, tablet, smart TV — will need to reconnect. Go to WiFi settings on each device, select the new network name, and enter your WiFi password. The password does not change; only the name does.

Why you might want to change it

The default network name your router came with usually includes the brand and model number — something like "NETGEAR-5G" or "TP-Link-Guest". This tells anyone nearby what kind of router you own, which is information a hacker can use to look for known weaknesses. Changing it to something generic like "HomeNetwork" or a name that means nothing to outsiders removes that information.

Changing the name also makes it easier to tell your network apart if you live near other people with the same router brand. In an apartment building, you might see five networks named "NETGEAR-5G" and have no idea which one is yours. A custom name solves that problem.

The network name itself does not protect your network — your WiFi password does that. Changing the name is a small part of the security picture, not the whole picture. The real protection comes from using a strong password, keeping your router's software updated, and turning off WPS (a feature that lets devices connect by pressing a button).

What happens to devices when you change the name

When the router restarts with the new name, every device connected to it will drop the connection. This is normal and expected. You will see the old network name disappear from the available networks list, and the new name will appear in its place.

Devices do not automatically reconnect to the new name, even if they remember the old one. You have to manually select the new network name and enter the password again on each device. This takes a minute per device. Smart home devices like cameras, doorbells, or thermostats may take longer to reconnect because they are not as flexible about network changes — if one does not reconnect after five minutes, restart it by unplugging it for 10 seconds.

Changing the name on a mesh network

If you have a mesh system — multiple devices that work together to cover your whole house — the process is different. Most mesh systems like Eero, Netgear Orbi, or TP-Link Deco do not let you log into a web page the way a single router does. Instead, you change the network name through the system's phone app.

Open the app, look for Settings or WiFi Settings, and find the option to change the network name. The app will walk you through it. After you save, the same thing happens — the network drops for a minute, and all devices need to reconnect. The process is simpler than a traditional router because the app handles the restart automatically.

Troubleshooting if the change does not stick

Sometimes you change the name, click Save, and when the router restarts, the old name comes back. This usually means the router did not save your change before it restarted. Log back in and try again, but this time wait 10 seconds after clicking Save before unplugging or restarting anything. Some routers need that pause to write the change to memory.

If the name still does not change, check whether you are logged into the right device. If you have multiple routers or a mesh system, you might be changing the wrong one. Look at the page title or the device name at the top of the settings page to confirm you are in the right place.

If you cannot log in at all, or if you see a message saying the password is wrong, the router may have been reset by someone else or may have reverted to factory settings on its own. Check the sticker on the back of the router for the default admin password and try that. If it still does not work, you will need to do a factory reset and set everything up again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing the network name change my WiFi password?

No. The network name and password are separate things. You can change the name without touching the password, and devices will reconnect using the same password they used before. If you want to change the password too, that is a separate step in the same settings page.

Can I change the network name from my phone?

Not through the router settings page — that requires a web browser and the router's admin password. However, if you have a mesh system, the phone app is the main way to change it. For a traditional router, you need a computer or tablet with a web browser.

What if I forget the new network name I just created?

The name will show up in your WiFi list on any device connected to it. If you need to see it again, go to WiFi settings on your phone or computer and look for it in the available networks. You can also log back into the router settings page to see what you named it.

Will changing the network name disconnect my smart home devices?

Yes, they will all drop the connection when the router restarts. You will need to reconnect each one through its app or settings. Some devices like smart speakers or cameras may take a few minutes to reconnect, and a few older devices might not reconnect at all if they do not support your router's WiFi standard.

Is it safe to change the network name?

Yes, completely safe. It is one of the first things security experts recommend doing with a new router. The only downside is the few minutes it takes for all your devices to reconnect.