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How to Change Your Wi-Fi Password (Any Router)

By Editorial Team · ·1 min read
How to Change Your Wi-Fi Password (Any Router) — illustrated guide cover

New neighbour got the old password? Too many freeloading devices? Changing the Wi-Fi password takes five minutes, and every router follows the same pattern.

Quick answer

Log in to your router (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1, admin credentials on the router's sticker), open Wireless or Wi-Fi settings, replace the password (sometimes called passphrase or network key), and save. Every device then reconnects with the new password.

Step by step

  1. Open the admin panel: browse to your router's address — full walkthrough in our router settings guide. Mesh systems (eero, Deco, Nest Wifi) do this in their phone app instead.
  2. Find wireless settings: look for Wireless, Wi-Fi, or WLAN. Dual-band routers may list the bands separately — change both (or the shared password if merged).
  3. Set the new password: 12+ characters. A three-word phrase like copper-motel-sunrise beats P@ss1! for both strength and typeability on a TV remote.
  4. Check the security mode while you're there: WPA2-AES or WPA3. Never WEP, never open.
  5. Save/apply. The router may reboot the Wi-Fi — 30 seconds of downtime is normal.

Reconnect your devices

Every device will prompt for the new password on next use. Do phones first, then TVs and consoles, then smart-home gear. If a device \"remembers\" the network but errors, tell it to forget the network and rejoin fresh.

Troubleshooting

Locked out of the admin panel? The admin password is separate from the Wi-Fi password — check the sticker; a 10-second pinhole reset restores factory credentials (and factory Wi-Fi settings). One smart plug won't rejoin? Many IoT devices only speak 2.4 GHz — temporarily separate the bands or use your router's IoT/guest network for it.

Frequently asked questions

How often should I change my Wi-Fi password?

Only when it may be compromised, someone leaves the household, or it's the printed default. Routine rotation adds hassle without much security benefit — WPA2/WPA3 with a strong passphrase is the real protection.

Will changing the password remove connected devices?

Yes — every device disconnects immediately and stays off until it enters the new password. That's exactly why it's the fastest way to evict unknown devices.

Should the admin password and Wi-Fi password be different?

Absolutely. The Wi-Fi password is shared with guests; the admin password controls the router itself and should be known only to you.

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