How to Change Your WiFi Password
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Quick answer
Log into your router admin → open Wireless / Wi-Fi Settings → change the Pre-Shared Key (or Password) → save. Every connected device will need to reconnect using the new password.
Changing your Wi-Fi password is the single most effective security action you can take. Use a fresh password whenever you suspect a neighbour is on your network, after letting a contractor visit, when moving house, or simply once a year for hygiene.
TipGenerate a strong password before you start. Use our password generator for a cryptographically random 16+ character string, or pick 4–5 unrelated words for a long passphrase you can actually type on a TV remote.
Step-by-step
- Find your router IP. Visit our home page for help — common values are 192.168.1.1 and 192.168.0.1.
- Open that address in your browser and sign in. The admin login is on the sticker (often
admin/admin). - Find the wireless section. Common menu names:
- TP-Link: Wireless → Wireless Security
- Netgear: Wireless or Setup → Wireless Setup
- ASUS: Wireless → General
- D-Link: Setup → Wireless Settings → Manual
- Xfinity gateway: Gateway → Connection → Wi-Fi
- Look for "Pre-Shared Key", "Password", "Passphrase", or "Network Key".
- Enter your new password. Make sure security is set to WPA2-Personal or WPA3-Personal — never WEP, never Open.
- Save / Apply. The router may briefly drop your connection.
- Reconnect every device using the new password.
Don't forget the 5 GHz band (and guest network)
Modern dual-band routers expose two separate Wi-Fi networks — 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz — each with its own password field. Some also have a guest network. Update every one to the same strong password, or you'll create a weak entry point.
Choose the right security type
| Type | Use it? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| WPA3-Personal | ✅ Best | Strongest available; some older devices may not support it. |
| WPA2/WPA3 mixed | ✅ Recommended | Safe choice — modern devices use WPA3, old ones fall back to WPA2. |
| WPA2-Personal (AES) | ✅ Acceptable | Still secure if password is strong. |
| WPA / WPA2 mixed (TKIP) | ⚠️ Avoid | TKIP is broken; only use if you truly need to support a 15-year-old device. |
| WEP | ❌ Never | Cracked in minutes by free tools. |
| Open / No password | ❌ Never | Anyone within range can use your internet and snoop unencrypted traffic. |
What makes a good Wi-Fi password
- 16 characters minimum for WPA2/WPA3. Each extra character makes brute force exponentially harder.
- Mix of upper, lower, digits and symbols — or just 4–5 unrelated words (e.g.
tractor-violet-quartz-jukebox). - Never reuse your email, banking, or any other account password.
- Don't include your name, address, or phone number — neighbours know them.
- Avoid keyboard patterns (
qwerty123,asdfasdf) — they're in every cracker's wordlist.
TipShare your Wi-Fi without typing. Generate a Wi-Fi QR code with the new credentials — guests scan it with their phone camera and connect instantly. No password is ever spoken aloud.
After changing the password
- Reconnect your phone, laptop, smart TV, printer, etc.
- Update any IoT device with hard-coded credentials (smart bulbs, doorbells, cameras).
- Forget the old network on devices you no longer trust.
- Check the connected-devices list in the admin panel — make sure only your devices appear.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to change the network name (SSID) too?
No — changing the password is independent. But if you suspect someone has been on your network for a while, changing the SSID makes it easier to tell if any device hasn't updated yet (anything still trying the old SSID is suspicious).
My new password isn't accepted — what's wrong?
WPA2/WPA3 require 8–63 ASCII characters. Avoid spaces at the start/end, and don't use exotic Unicode characters — many devices choke on emoji or accented letters in Wi-Fi passwords.
I locked myself out — can't reconnect with the new password.
On your device, "forget" the network first, then reconnect — it will re-prompt for the new password. If you typed the new password wrong in the router, plug into the router with an Ethernet cable to fix it.
How often should I change it?
Once a year is a sensible cadence. Always change it immediately if you fired an employee/contractor who had it, after a visitor you don't trust, or if you spot unknown devices in the router's connected list.
Will changing the password affect my internet speed?
No, the password is purely for authentication. Your speed depends on signal strength, encryption method, and the router's processing power — not the password itself.