Changing your Wi-Fi name and password

Changing your Wi-Fi password is straightforward and worth doing when too many people know the old one, when you suspect someone is using your connection, or simply because you’ve never changed it from the one printed on the router.

Before you start

• Every device will disconnect and need the new password. Make a list of what needs reconnecting: phones, laptops, TVs, consoles, printers, smart plugs, cameras, speakers.
• Have the router details ready. The admin address, username and password are usually on a sticker underneath the router.
• Do it when nobody needs the internet. Not in the middle of somebody’s video call.
• Use a device on cable if possible, so you don’t lock yourself out of the settings mid-change.

Changing the password

1. Connect to your network. Either over Wi-Fi or, preferably, with an Ethernet cable.
2. Open the router admin page. Type the router’s address into a browser — it’s printed on the label, and commonly looks like 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.88.1. Don’t search for it; type it into the address bar.
3. Log in. Use the admin username and password from the label. Note this is not your Wi-Fi password — they’re different things.
4. Find the wireless settings. Usually labelled “Wireless”, “Wi-Fi” or “WLAN”.
5. Update the password. The field may be called “Password”, “Pre-shared key”, “WPA key” or “Passphrase”.
6. Check the security type. It should be WPA2 or WPA3. If it’s set to WEP, change it — WEP can be broken in minutes.
7. Repeat for both bands if 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz have separate settings.
8. Save and apply. The router may restart, which takes a minute or two.
9. Reconnect your devices using the new password.

Choosing a good password

• At least 12 characters. Length matters more than complexity.
• A memorable phrase works well. Something like BlueGeyser42Ezulwini is both strong and typeable on a TV remote.
• Avoid the obvious. Your surname, address, phone number or the family dog’s name are the first things anyone tries.
• Don’t reuse it from another account.
• Consider how it’s typed. You’ll be entering this on phones, TVs and consoles — a password full of symbols is painful on a remote control.

Changing the network name

• Don’t include your surname, house number or anything else identifying.
• If you have separate 2.4 and 5 GHz networks, name them clearly, for example Home and Home-5G.
• Changing the name also disconnects every device, so do both changes at once.

If you get locked out