How to change your Wi-Fi name and password safely
Changing your Wi-Fi name and password is a good idea if you have shared it widely or it is still the original one from the router. Do it carefully, because every device will need the new password afterwards.
Before you start
- Be near the router, ideally connected by cable or by Wi-Fi.
- Have the router sticker handy. It usually shows the admin address and login details.
- Write down the new password somewhere safe, such as a notebook kept at home.
Choosing a good name and password
- Do not put your surname, address or router make in the name.
- For the password, use three or four unrelated words with a number or two. It is long, easy to remember and hard to guess.
- Avoid birthdays, pet names and simple patterns.
How to change them
Router menus differ between BT, Sky, Virgin Media, Plusnet, TalkTalk and others, so the words on your screen may not match these steps exactly. Some providers also let you do this in their app.
- Open a web browser and type the router address from the sticker, often something like 192.168.x.x. Some providers use a name instead.
- Sign in with the admin password on the sticker, or the one you set earlier.
- Look for a section called Wireless, Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi settings.
- Change the network name, then the password. If there is a security option, choose WPA3 or WPA2/WPA3. If neither is offered, choose WPA2.
- Choose Save or Apply. Your connection will drop.
Afterwards
Reconnect each device with the new details. Phones, laptops, TVs, games consoles and smart speakers will all need it. If a device will not reconnect, tell it to forget the network first and then join again.
Never choose an option labelled Open or None for security, as anyone could use your connection.
When to get more help
If you are locked out of the router, do not factory reset it unless you must, because that wipes all your settings and may need your provider's details to set up again. We can talk you through it first.