Find your router and log in to its settings

Your router is the device that broadcasts your WiFi signal — usually a box with antennas sitting on a shelf, in a closet, or mounted on a wall. To change your password, you need to open your router's settings page in a web browser on any device connected to that WiFi network.

Open a browser and type your router's IP address into the address bar. The most common address is 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1. If neither works, look for a sticker on the bottom or back of your router — it will show the correct address, usually labeled "Default Gateway" or "Router Address".

When the login page appears, enter your router's username and password. These are also on the sticker on your router, usually labeled "Admin" or "Default Login". Common defaults are username admin with password admin, or username admin with password blank. If you changed these before and do not remember them, you will need to reset your router to factory settings, which erases all your custom settings.

Key Takeaways

  • Your router's settings page is reached by typing its IP address (usually 192.168.1.1) into a web browser on any connected device.
  • The default username and password are printed on a sticker on your router's body, and you will need them to log in.
  • WiFi password settings are usually labeled "Wireless Security", "WiFi Password", or "Network Key" and sit in a Wireless or Security section of the settings menu.
  • Change the password to something you can remember, save your changes, and reconnect all your devices using the new password.
  • If you forget your new password later, you can always log back into the router settings and change it again without losing internet access.

Navigate to the wireless security settings

Once you are logged in, look for a menu section labeled "Wireless", "WiFi", "Security", or "Network". Different router brands organize this differently — Netgear calls it "Advanced", TP-Link calls it "Wireless", and Linksys calls it "Wireless Settings". The exact name depends on your router model.

Inside that section, find the field for your WiFi password. It may be labeled "Passphrase", "Pre-Shared Key", "Network Key", or "WiFi Password". Do not change the "Network Name" or "SSID" field unless you want to change the name of your network itself — that is separate from the password.

Make sure you are editing the password for the correct network. If your router broadcasts both a regular 2.4 GHz network and a faster 5 GHz network, they may have separate passwords. You can give them the same password or different ones — it depends on what you prefer.

Create a new password and save it

Delete the old password and type in a new one. Most routers require passwords to be between 8 and 63 characters long. Use a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols to make it harder to guess — something like BlueSky#2847 or Maple$Tree99 works well.

Avoid passwords that are straightforward to guess, like your address, birthday, or the word "password". Also avoid the name of your network itself or straightforward patterns like "12345678". Write down your new password somewhere safe before you save it — you will need it to reconnect your devices.

Look for a "Save", "explore", or "OK" button at the bottom of the page and click it. Your router will process the change, which usually takes 10 to 30 seconds. During this time, all devices currently connected to your WiFi will be disconnected.

Reconnect your devices with the new password

After the router finishes saving, your devices will no longer be connected to the network. On each device — phone, laptop, tablet, smart TV — open the WiFi settings and select your network name from the list. When prompted for the password, type in the new one you just created.

Start with devices you use most often: your phone, laptop, or the device you are reading this on. Then move to other devices like tablets, smart speakers, printers, and smart home devices. Each one will need the new password entered once, and then it will remember it for future connections.

If a device refuses to connect and says the password is wrong, double-check that you typed it correctly — passwords are case-sensitive, meaning uppercase and lowercase letters are different. If you are certain the password is right, try forgetting the network on that device and reconnecting from scratch.

What to do if you get locked out

If you forget your new password and cannot log back into the router settings, you can reset your router to its factory defaults. This erases your custom password and returns the router to the state it was in when you first got it. Look for a small reset button (usually recessed) on the back or bottom of your router, press and hold it for 10 to 15 seconds with a paperclip or pen, and the router will restart with default settings.

After a factory reset, you will need to log in again using the default username and password from the sticker on your router. You can then set a new WiFi password and reconfigure any other custom settings you had before. This process takes about 5 to 10 minutes total.

If you do not want to reset the router, you can also contact your internet service provider — they may be able to help you regain access or reset it remotely, though this usually requires you to verify your account information over the phone.

Why you might want to change your password regularly

Changing your WiFi password is useful when someone you no longer want on your network has the old password, or when you suspect someone unauthorized is using your connection. It is also a good idea to change it if you have had the same password for more than a year, or if you shared it with a guest who has since moved away.

A strong, unique password keeps your network find and prevents neighbors or passersby from connecting without permission. It also protects the devices on your network from being used to attack other systems on the internet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my WiFi password disconnect me from the internet?

You will be temporarily disconnected when the router saves the new password, but you can reconnect when ready using the new password. You will not lose internet access permanently — you just need to enter the new password on each device once.

Can I change my password without logging into the router?

No, you must log into the router settings page to change the WiFi password. There is no other way to do it. If you cannot remember the router login, you will need to reset the router to factory settings.

What if I change the password and one of my devices will not reconnect?

Try "forgetting" the network on that device — go to WiFi settings, find your network name, and select "Forget" or "Remove". Then reconnect by selecting the network again and entering the new password. If it still does not work, restart the device and try again.

Do I need to change the password on my modem too?

Your modem (the device that connects to your internet service provider) is separate from your router. The modem does not broadcast WiFi, so it does not have a WiFi password. You only need to change the password on your router.

Can I use the same password for both my 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks?

Yes, you can set them to the same password so you only need to remember one. You can also give them different passwords if you prefer. Most people use the same password for simplicity.