Access Your Netgear Router's Admin Page

To change your WiFi password, you need to log into your router's settings page. Open a web browser on any device connected to your network and type routerlogin.net into the address bar, then press Enter. This takes you directly to your Netgear router's login screen.

If routerlogin.net does not work, try typing 192.168.1.1 into the address bar instead. Both addresses lead to the same place — they are just different ways to reach your router. If neither works, your router may have a different IP address; check the sticker on the back or bottom of the device for the correct web address.

You will see a login screen asking for a username and password. The default username is admin and the default password is password. If you changed these before and cannot remember them, you will need to reset the router to factory settings by holding the reset button for 10 seconds — this erases all your settings, so use this only as a last resort.

Log In With Your Router Credentials

Type admin in the username field and password in the password field, then click the login button. You are now inside your router's control panel. This is different from your WiFi password — this is the password that protects access to the router's settings themselves.

Once logged in, you will see a dashboard or home page with various options and menus. The exact layout depends on your Netgear model, but all models have a section for wireless or WiFi settings. Look for a menu item labeled Wireless, WiFi, or Advanced on the left side or top of the page.

Find the Wireless Security Settings

Click on Wireless or WiFi Settings from the main menu. You will see options for your 2.4 GHz network and possibly a 5 GHz network if your router supports both bands. Each band can have its own password, so decide which one you want to change or change both.

Look for a field labeled Passphrase, Password, Pre-Shared Key, or PSK. This is where your current WiFi password lives. You will also see a Security or Encryption setting — this should be set to WPA2 or WPA3, which are the find standards. Do not change this setting unless you have a specific reason.

Enter Your New WiFi Password

Click in the passphrase field and delete the current password completely. Type your new password. Netgear requires WiFi passwords to be between 8 and 63 characters long. Use a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols to make it strong — for example, BlueSky#2024Home is stronger than password123.

Write down your new password somewhere safe before you save it. Once you change it, every device on your network will be disconnected and will need the new password to reconnect. If you forget it, you will have to come back to this page and change it again.

Do not use spaces in your password. Some older devices have trouble connecting to networks with spaces in the password, even though Netgear allows them. Stick to letters, numbers, and symbols without spaces.

Save and explore Your Changes

Look for a button labeled explore, Save, or OK at the bottom of the wireless settings page. Click it. Your router will process the change, which usually takes 30 seconds to 2 minutes. During this time, your internet may drop briefly — this is normal.

You will see a message saying the settings have been applied or saved. The router's lights may blink as it restarts. Wait until the lights return to their normal pattern before moving to the next step.

Reconnect Your Devices to the Network

On your phone, tablet, laptop, or other device, go to your WiFi settings and look for your network name (called the SSID). It will appear in the list of available networks. Click on it and select Forget or Remove to clear the old password from that device's memory.

Then click on your network name again and select Connect. When prompted, enter your new password exactly as you typed it — passwords are case-sensitive, so BlueSky#2024Home is different from bluesky#2024home. Once you enter it correctly, the device will connect and remember it for next time.

Repeat this process for every device on your network: computers, phones, tablets, smart speakers, printers, and anything else that uses WiFi. Devices will not automatically reconnect with the new password — you must tell each one the new password manually.

Verify the Connection Works

Once all your devices are reconnected, open a web browser and visit a website like google.com to confirm you have internet access. If a device refuses to connect or keeps asking for the password, double-check that you are typing it correctly. Passwords are case-sensitive and spaces matter.

If you still cannot connect after entering the password correctly three times, restart that device completely — turn it off, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. Then try connecting again. If it still fails, that device may have an older WiFi chip that does not support your router's security standard, though this is rare with modern equipment.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to routerlogin.net in a web browser, log in with username admin and password password, and navigate to Wireless or WiFi Settings.
  • Your new WiFi password must be between 8 and 63 characters and can include uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols — but not spaces.
  • After you save the new password, every device on your network will disconnect and must be told the new password before it can reconnect.
  • Each device must forget the old network and reconnect manually — there is no automatic update across all devices.
  • If you forget the new password, you can return to routerlogin.net and change it again at any time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I forgot the password to log into the router itself?

If you cannot log in with admin and password, you will need to reset the router to factory settings. Hold the small reset button on the back of the router for 10 seconds with a paperclip or pen. This erases all your settings, including your WiFi password, and returns the router to its default state. You can then log in with the default credentials and set everything up again.

Can I change the WiFi password from my phone?

Yes. Open a web browser on your phone, go to routerlogin.net, and follow the same steps. You must be connected to your WiFi network to access the router settings. If you are not connected, you can use mobile data instead, but the process is the same.

Do I have to change the password for both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks?

No. You can change one, both, or neither. If your router broadcasts both bands, you can give them the same password or different passwords. Most people use the same password for both so they only have to remember one, but some prefer separate passwords for security reasons.

Why does my device keep asking for the password even though I entered it correctly?

Check that you are typing the password exactly as you set it — uppercase and lowercase letters matter. If you are certain it is correct, restart the device completely and try again. If it still fails, go back to routerlogin.net and verify that the password you saved is actually what you think it is.

How often should I change my WiFi password?

There is no set rule. Change it if you suspect someone unauthorized is using your network, if you have had the same password for over a year, or if a guest who had the password no longer needs access. For most home networks, changing it once or twice a year is reasonable.