Change your Pi-hole password through the web interface settings

The easiest way to change your Pi-hole password is to log into the web dashboard, click the settings icon, and update it in the Password section. You will need your current password to set a new one. The whole process takes about two minutes and does not require you to restart Pi-hole or touch any command line.

Pi-hole stores this password locally on your device — it does not sync to any cloud service or send it anywhere. If you forget the new password later, you can reset it using SSH access to the device itself, but changing it through the dashboard is the normal path.

Key Takeaways

  • Log into your Pi-hole dashboard at the IP address of your Pi-hole device, then navigate to Settings and Password to change it.
  • You must enter your current password before you can set a new one, so write down the new password somewhere safe before you click Save.
  • The password change takes effect when ready — you will be logged out and must log back in with the new password.
  • If you lose the new password, you can reset it by connecting to your Pi-hole device via SSH and running the pihole command-line tool.

Step-by-step: changing the password in the web dashboard

Open a web browser and go to the IP address of your Pi-hole device. This is usually something like 192.168.1.100 or 192.168.1.50, depending on your network — you can find it in your router's device list or by checking the Pi-hole setup documentation. Log in with your current password.

Once you are logged in, look for the settings icon (usually a gear or cog) in the top right corner of the page. Click it and select Settings from the menu. On the left side, you will see a list of options — click Password. Enter your current password in the first field, then type your new password twice in the fields below. Click Save and the change takes effect when ready.

You will be logged out automatically. Log back in with your new password to confirm it worked. If the login fails, double-check that you typed the new password correctly — passwords are case-sensitive.

What to do if you cannot remember your current password

If you have lost access to your Pi-hole dashboard and do not remember the password, you will need to connect to the device using SSH. This requires a computer on the same network and some comfort with a command line. Open a terminal or command prompt and type ssh pi@192.168.1.100 (replace the IP address with your Pi-hole's actual address). You will be asked for the password — this is the password for the Pi user account on the device itself, not the Pi-hole dashboard password.

Once you are logged in via SSH, type pihole -a -p and press Enter. The system will prompt you to enter a new Pi-hole dashboard password. Type it twice to confirm, and the change takes effect when ready. You can now log into the dashboard with this new password.

If you do not know the Pi user password either, you will need to reinstall Pi-hole on the device. This erases the existing installation and starts fresh, so you will lose any custom settings or blocklists you have configured.

Choosing a strong password you will not forget

A strong Pi-hole password should be at least 12 characters long and mix uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid dictionary words, names, or patterns that are straightforward to guess. Because Pi-hole controls your network's DNS filtering, a weak password means anyone on your network could change your settings or disable blocking.

Write the new password down in a password manager like Bitwarden, 1Password, or KeePass before you save it in Pi-hole. This way you have a backup if you forget it, and you do not have to reset the device. Do not store it in a plain text file on your computer or write it on a sticky note.

Why Pi-hole asks for your current password

Pi-hole requires you to enter your current password before setting a new one as a basic security check. This prevents someone who briefly gains access to your device from when ready locking you out by changing the password. It is not a perfect protection — someone with physical access to the device can still reset it — but it stops casual unauthorized changes.

This requirement also means that if someone has your Pi-hole password but not your device, they cannot change it without knowing the old one first. The check happens on the device itself, not on a remote server, so there is no way to bypass it without SSH access.

Resetting Pi-hole without losing your configuration

If you want to reset the password but keep all your existing settings, blocklists, and rules, use the SSH method described above. The pihole -a -p command changes only the dashboard password and leaves everything else intact.

If you reinstall Pi-hole from scratch, you will lose all custom configuration. Before you do that, export your settings by going to Settings > Teleporter in the dashboard and downloading the backup file. After reinstalling, you can import it back to restore your blocklists and rules — though you will still need to set a new password during the reinstall process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the Pi-hole password from my phone?

Yes. Open a web browser on your phone, go to your Pi-hole's IP address, log in, and follow the same steps as on a computer. The dashboard works on any device with a web browser and network access to your Pi-hole.

What happens if I change the password while devices are using Pi-hole for DNS?

Nothing. The password protects only the dashboard — it does not affect DNS filtering or any device on your network. Devices will continue blocking ads and malware without interruption. You only need the password if you want to log into the admin panel to change settings.

Is the Pi-hole password the same as the Pi user password?

No. The Pi-hole dashboard password and the Pi user account password are separate. You can change the dashboard password through the web interface without touching the Pi user password. If you need to reset the dashboard password via SSH, you will need the Pi user password.

Can I set a blank password or remove the password requirement?

Pi-hole requires a password for the dashboard — you cannot remove the requirement entirely. However, you can set a very straightforward password if you want. This is not recommended on a network with other people, since anyone who knows the password can change your DNS settings.

How often should I change my Pi-hole password?

Change it if you suspect someone has learned it, or if you shared it with someone who no longer needs access. For a home network where only you use the dashboard, changing it once a year or less is typical. For a shared network, change it whenever someone moves out or leaves the household.