Change your Cox WiFi password through the Cox website or your router

You can change your Cox WiFi password two ways: through your Cox account online, or directly on your router. The online method is faster if you remember your Cox account password. The router method works if you are standing next to the device and do not have your account details handy. Both take about five minutes and require no technical knowledge.

Most people use the online method because it works from any device in your home. You log into your Cox account, find the WiFi settings, and change the password there. The router method is useful if you have forgotten your Cox login or if you want to change the password without waiting for the change to sync across your devices.

Key Takeaways

  • Log into your Cox account at cox.com, go to Internet settings, and change your WiFi password in the WiFi name and password section.
  • If you do not remember your Cox account password, you can reset it on the Cox login page before changing your WiFi password.
  • You can also change the password directly on your router by pressing the reset button or logging into the router's admin panel at 192.168.0.1.
  • After you change your password, all your devices will disconnect and you will need to reconnect them using the new password.
  • Write down your new password or save it in a password manager so you do not lose it again.

Change your password through Cox.com

Go to cox.com and sign in with your Cox account username and password. If you do not remember your password, click "Forgot password?" on the login page and follow the steps to reset it. Cox will send a reset link to the email address on your account.

Once you are logged in, look for "Internet" or "My Services" in the menu. Click on your internet service, then find "WiFi settings" or "Manage WiFi." You will see your current WiFi network name (also called SSID) and password. Click "Edit" or "Change password" next to the password field. Enter your new password — Cox requires at least 8 characters and recommends mixing uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols. Click "Save" or "explore."

Your new password takes effect when ready. All devices currently connected to your WiFi will disconnect within a few seconds. You will need to reconnect each device by selecting your WiFi network and entering the new password.

Change your password directly on the router

If you cannot access your Cox account online, you can change the password on the router itself. Locate your Cox router — it is usually a white or black box with lights on the front. Look for a small button labeled "Reset" on the back or bottom of the device.

Press and hold the reset button for 10 to 15 seconds until the lights on the front flash or turn off. Release the button and wait about two minutes for the router to restart. This resets the router to its factory settings, which means your WiFi password returns to the default password printed on a sticker on the back of the router. You can then change it again through Cox.com using the steps above.

Alternatively, you can log into the router's admin panel without resetting it. Open a web browser and go to 192.168.0.1. Enter "admin" as the username and the default password (usually "motorola" or printed on the router sticker). Find the WiFi or wireless settings section and change the password there. This method keeps all your other router settings intact.

Reconnect your devices after changing the password

After you change your WiFi password, your phone, laptop, tablet, and any other connected devices will lose their connection. You will see your WiFi network name appear in the available networks list, but you will not be able to connect until you enter the new password.

On each device, select your WiFi network name from the list of available networks. When prompted, enter your new password exactly as you typed it — passwords are case-sensitive, so "MyPassword123" is different from "mypassword123." Once you enter the correct password, the device will connect and you will have internet access again.

If a device does not connect after you enter the password, try "forgetting" the network first. On most phones and computers, you can right-click or long-press the network name and select "Forget" or "Remove." Then select it again and re-enter the password. This clears out any old password information the device was trying to use.

What to do if you forget your new password

If you change your password and then forget it before writing it down, you can change it again through Cox.com or the router. Log back into your Cox account and repeat the steps above to set a new password. If you forgot your Cox account password as well, use the "Forgot password?" link on the Cox login page to reset it.

If you reset your router to factory settings and cannot remember the new password you set, you can reset it again to return to the default password on the sticker. This erases any custom settings you made, so only do this if you have no other way to access your account.

Choose a strong password you can actually remember

When you set a new password, avoid using the same password as your Cox account login or any other important account. Use a combination of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols — something like "BlueSky#2024Home" is stronger than "password123."

Write your new password down and store it somewhere safe, or use a password manager like Bitwarden, 1Password, or the password manager built into your phone or computer. A password manager stores passwords securely and fills them in automatically, so you do not have to remember them or type them out every time you reconnect a device.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for my new WiFi password to work on all my devices?

The password change takes effect when ready on the Cox side, but your devices need time to reconnect. Most devices reconnect within 30 seconds of you entering the new password. If a device does not reconnect after a few minutes, restart the device or forget the network and reconnect manually.

Can I change my WiFi password without changing my Cox account password?

Yes. Your WiFi password and your Cox account password are separate. You can change your WiFi password through Cox.com or on the router without touching your account password. If you want to change your account password instead, that is a different process on the Cox login page.

What if I reset my router and now I do not know the WiFi password?

After a factory reset, your WiFi password returns to the default password printed on a sticker on the back of the router. Look for a label that says "WiFi Password" or "Network Key" and use that password to reconnect your devices. Once you are back online, log into Cox.com and set a new password you will remember.

Do I need to restart my router after changing the password?

No. The password change takes effect when ready without a restart. However, if devices are having trouble reconnecting, unplugging the router for 30 seconds and plugging it back in can help. Wait about two minutes for the router to fully restart before trying to reconnect.

Can I change my WiFi password from my phone?

Yes. Log into Cox.com on your phone's web browser, follow the same steps to find your WiFi settings, and change the password there. You can also use the Cox mobile app if you have it installed. Just remember that once you change the password, your phone will disconnect and you will need to reconnect using the new password.