Your Wi-Fi password is set on your router, not on any one device, so you change it by signing in to the router admin page in a browser. After you change it, every device on the network needs to reconnect with the new password.
Steps
Connect to your own network first. Use a computer or phone that is already connected to your Wi-Fi, or plug a computer into the router with an ethernet cable. You cannot reach the router admin page from another network.
Open the router admin page. Open a browser and type 192.168.1.1 into the address bar, then press Enter. If nothing loads, try 192.168.0.1. Some routers use a different address, which is usually printed on a sticker on the router itself.
Sign in to the router. Enter the router admin username and password. The default is often printed on the router sticker, and it is usually admin for both fields, or admin with password as the password. If you changed it before and forgot it, you will need to reset the router, which restores the factory defaults.
Find the wireless settings. Look for a section called Wireless, Wi-Fi, or Wireless Settings. Menu names differ by router maker, but the wireless password is always in this section.
Change the password. Find the field labeled Wi-Fi Password, Wireless Password, Pre-Shared Key, or Passphrase, and type your new password. Use a password at least 12 characters long, with a mix of letters and numbers. Leave the security type on WPA2 or WPA3 if you are given a choice.
Save the settings. Select Save or Apply. The router may restart, which takes a minute or two, and your Wi-Fi will drop briefly.
Reconnect every device. Every phone, laptop, tablet, and smart device on the network will disconnect. Reconnect each one with the new password. If a device keeps trying the old password, select Forget This Network on that device first, then connect again.
Write the new password down somewhere safe. Store it in a password manager, or write it on the router sticker if you are comfortable doing that. Do not share it in a message or a photo.
Changing the Wi-Fi password disconnects every device on the network, including smart TVs, printers, and smart home devices. Set aside time to reconnect them all, and do not change the password if someone else manages the router without asking them first.
What if 192.168.1.1 does not load?
Check that you are connected to your own network, then try 192.168.0.1, or the address printed on the router sticker. On Windows, you can also find the address by opening Command Prompt, typing ipconfig, and looking for Default Gateway. That address is your router admin page.
About this guide
This guide covers changing the Wi-Fi password on a home router through its admin page. Router menus differ by maker, so the section names on your router may not match exactly, but the steps are the same.
Common questions
What is the difference between the Wi-Fi password and the router admin password? The Wi-Fi password is what devices use to join your network. The router admin password is what you use to sign in to the router settings page. They are separate, and changing one does not change the other.
How do I find my router admin password? It is usually printed on a sticker on the router, often listed as Admin Password. If it was changed and forgotten, the only fix is a factory reset of the router, using the small reset button on the back.
Will changing the Wi-Fi password affect my internet plan? No. It only changes the password devices use to join your network. Your internet service and plan stay exactly the same.
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