How to Change Your WiFi Password

Published September 3, 2026

Short answer: open 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 in a browser, sign in with the admin details printed on your router, find the wireless settings, replace the password and save.

That part takes two minutes. What takes the afternoon is walking around re-entering the password on every device you own — and most people end up doing that walk twice, because of two mistakes made in the first two minutes. So here is the order that avoids it.

Do these two things before you log in

1. Decide the new password first — and make it typeable

The most common reason for a second round is picking a password at the router, then discovering it is miserable to enter on a TV remote or to read aloud to a guest — so you change it again a week later. Choose it up front, and choose one built for the job: long, but without look-alike characters like 0/O and l/1, and without the punctuation that some printers and routers mishandle.

Our WiFi password generator does exactly that, and which characters you can safely use in a WiFi password explains why ; \ " and spaces are worth avoiding.

2. Decide whether you are also renaming the network

If you have been meaning to change the network name too, do it in the same sitting. Renaming the network makes it a brand-new network as far as your devices are concerned, so it triggers its own full round of reconnecting. Doing both at once costs one round instead of two. (Ideas, and the rules about the 32-byte limit, are on our WiFi name page.)

Changing it, step by step

Find the router's address. Usually 192.168.1.1, 192.168.0.1, 192.168.1.254 or 10.0.0.1. If none load, ask your computer: on Windows run ipconfig and read Default Gateway; on a Mac it is System Settings → Network → Wi-Fi → Details → TCP/IP, listed as Router; on iPhone it is Settings → Wi-Fi → the i next to your network.
Sign in. The admin username and password are usually on a sticker on the router. Many providers also let you do all of this from their app, which is easier if you have it.
Find the wireless settings. Look for Wireless, WiFi, WLAN or Network. The password field is often not called "password" — expect Pre-Shared Key, PSK, Passphrase, Network Key or Security Key.
Change it on every band. This is the second cause of a repeat round. Many routers present 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz (and 6 GHz) as a single network with one password — fine. But plenty expose them as separate networks with separate settings. If you see more than one entry, change them all, or half your devices will still be sitting on the old password.
Check the security type while you are there. It should say WPA2 or WPA3, not WEP. If there is a "WPA2/WPA3 mixed" option, that is usually the best choice for a house full of mixed-age devices.
Save. The router restarts its radios and everything disconnects. That is expected.

While you are signed in: change the router's admin password too.

These are two different passwords and people constantly conflate them. The WiFi password lets a device join the network. The admin password lets someone log into the router and change anything, including the WiFi password. If the admin one is still the value printed on the sticker, then anyone who gets onto your network — a guest, a neighbour who was given it years ago — can reconfigure it. You are already in the right screen; fix it now.

Now the rounds — in the right order

Before you start walking, make a WiFi QR code for the new password. Every phone and tablet in the house then joins by pointing its camera at your screen, which removes most of the typing from the job. (More options in how to share your WiFi password.)

Then work in this order, because it front-loads the annoying devices while your patience is intact:

Order	Devices	What to expect
1	Printer, smart TV, games console	The worst keyboards and the fiddliest menus. No cameras, so no QR shortcut — this is where a typeable password pays for itself.
2	Phones, tablets, laptops	Fast. Scan the QR code, or type it once. On a device that stubbornly keeps failing, tell it to forget the network first — it is caching the old password.
3	Smart plugs, bulbs, cameras, doorbell, thermostat, vacuum	The slow tail. Many of these cannot simply be given a new password — they have to be re-onboarded through their own phone app, sometimes reset first. Budget real time here.
4	Anything you forgot	Check your router's device list a day later to spot what never came back. Our guide on seeing who is on your WiFi shows where that list lives.

What survives the change, and what doesn't

Survives: port forwarding, static address reservations, parental controls, the network name (unless you changed it), and anything wired by Ethernet — cabled devices are unaffected entirely.
Does not survive: every wireless connection, and any device that stored the password. Smart-home gadgets are the awkward category, since a fair number need full re-onboarding rather than a password update.

If you have forgotten the router's admin password

Try the sticker first — most people never changed it. If that fails, the only route in is a factory reset, usually a recessed button held for about ten seconds. Understand the cost before you press it: a reset wipes the network name, the WiFi password, port forwarding, static leases and any provider-specific connection settings. Photograph or note your current configuration first, and check whether your internet provider requires particular settings to be re-entered afterwards, or you will be off the internet rather than just off WiFi.

How often is worth doing this?

Every 6 to 12 months is a sensible habit, and straight away if you suspect someone is on the network, if the password has been shared widely, or when a housemate or regular guest no longer needs access. But do not over-rotate: a long random password that stays put beats a weak one you change often. If yours is genuinely random and 16 characters or more, the schedule matters much less than the strength. For the reasoning, see how long it takes to crack a password, and our WiFi security guide for the other router settings worth a look while you are signed in.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I change my WiFi password?

Open your router's admin page in a browser, usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1, and sign in with the admin details printed on the router. Find the wireless or WiFi settings, replace the password (often labelled pre-shared key, passphrase or network key), and save. The router restarts its radios and every device is disconnected until you re-enter the new password. Decide on the new password before you start, and change it on both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands if they are listed separately.

Will changing my WiFi password disconnect all my devices?

Yes, every device drops off immediately and stays off until you enter the new password on it. That is the point of changing it. Plan for a round of reconnecting: phones and laptops take seconds, but printers, smart TVs, consoles and smart-home gadgets take longer, and some smart devices have to be set up again through their own app rather than just given a new password.

What is the difference between the WiFi password and the router admin password?

The WiFi password lets a device join the network. The router admin password lets someone log into the router and change its settings, including the WiFi password. They are separate, and many people never change the admin one from the value printed on the sticker - which means anyone who gets onto the network can reconfigure it. Change both.

Do I need to change the password on 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz separately?

It depends on the router. Many modern routers present both bands as one network and one password, so a single change covers everything. Others expose them as separate networks with separate settings. If you see two entries in the wireless settings, change both - otherwise half your devices stay on the old password and you will be back doing it again.

What if I forgot my router's admin password?

Try the details on the sticker first, since many people never change them. If those fail, the only way in is a factory reset, usually a recessed button held for around ten seconds. Be aware that a reset wipes everything: the network name, the WiFi password, any port forwarding, static addresses and provider-specific settings. Note down your current configuration first, and check whether your provider needs specific connection settings re-entered afterwards.

How often should I change my WiFi password?

Every 6 to 12 months is a reasonable habit, and immediately if you suspect someone is on the network, if you shared it widely, or when a housemate or regular guest no longer needs access. If your password is long and random there is no urgent need to rotate it often - a strong password that stays put beats a weak one you change frequently.

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