How To Change WiFi Password?

Your WiFi password is considered the first line of defence for your home and office WiFi network against unauthorized connections. Anyone who knows your WiFi password can connect to the network, use your internet connection, access shared devices, or consume bandwidth. It is always recommended to change your WiFi password after you set up your router to improve your network and prevent anyone from accessing your network.

The exact process of changing the WiFi password varies between router brands and models, but to make it easier, we have discussed the basic procedure of changing the WiFi password for some of the reputable and famous WiFi brands. If you want to change the default router WiFi password, then follow this step-by-step guide.

TP-Link:

  1. Connect your device to the WiFi network you want to modify.
  2. Log in to the Router admin panel using its default IP Address: 192.168.0.1 / 192.168.1.1.
  3. Enter the default username and password (admin/admin in most cases).
  4. Navigate to Wireless > Wireless Security > WPA/WPA2 – Personal (Recommended) > Password.
  5. Enter your preferred password and Save the change.

D-Link:

  1. Connect your device to the WiFi network you want to modify.
  2. Open a web browser and log in to your router settings page via its default IP Address:  192.168.1.1 / 192.168.0.1.
  3. Input your username and password (or here’s a list of default usernames and passwords).
  4. Go to Wireless > Wireless Security > Security Mode set to WPA2 only > Pre-Shared Key: enter your preferred password.
  5. Apply the change > restart your WiFi, and the new password will be applied.

NETGEAR:

  1. Connect your device to the WiFi network you want to modify.
  2. Open your router setup page using its default IP address: 192.168.1.1 / 192.168.0.1 / http://routerlogin.com/.
  3. For authentication, enter the default username and password.
  4. Go to Wireless > Security Options > Select WPA2-PSK [AES] > Now enter your preferred password in Passphrase.
  5. Apply changes and reboot your WiFi for changes to take effect.

Keep in mind that the WiFi password and router administrator password are not necessarily the same thing. The WiFi password allows devices to join the WiFi network, while the administrator password allows you to change the router and network settings.

Tips for Creating a Strong WiFi Password

It is recommended that all users create a strong and secure WiFi password so that no one can guess it. While creating a new WiFi password, make the password long; since longer passwords are hard to guess or crack, make it unique, avoid using personal information such as your name, birthday, or phone number, and avoid obvious patterns like 12345678 or qwerty123.

A strong and secure WiFi password is a combination of both uppercase and lowercase letters along with special characters and does not follow any obvious patterns or use any personal information.

Along with creating a secure password, you should also choose the right WiFi security. Modern routers commonly support security standards such as WPA3 and WPA2. You should always prioritize WPA3 over other security standards. In case WPA3 is not available, you should choose WPA2. Anything below WPA2 is not considered secure because it no longer provides an appropriate level of protection for modern networks.

What If You Forgot Your WiFi Password?

If you forgot your WiFi password, there are several options to recover it:

Check the Router Label

If you are using the default WiFi password and forgot it, check the router label. Some routers have the default WiFi name and password printed on a label. However, if you previously changed the password, it won’t be valid anymore.

Check a Connected Device

Nowadays, most devices allow you to view the password for a WiFi network that the device has been previously connected to. Using your smartphone or laptop, connect to the network and go to settings to view the password.

Access the Router’s Admin Interface

If you can log into the router’s admin interface, you may be able to view or change the WiFi password directly from the WiFi settings section.

Reset the Router

A last-ditch method to recover the WiFi password is by performing a factory reset. Performing a factory reset will erase customized settings such as your WiFi name, password, ISP configuration, port forwarding rules, parental controls, and other network settings, but you will be able to connect to the network using the default WiFi password.