Can I Rename My Network Without Having to Sign Everything in Again

How to Change Your Wi-Fi Network Name and Password

Jan xviii, 2022 Share
FAQ, How-To

Changing your Wi-Fi network name and password is a elementary and of import way to keep your devices secure, but it can also be a bit daunting.

Fortunately, information technology doesn't matter if you lot take Xfinity, AT&T, or any other service provider—the steps to changing your Wi-Fi settings are the same. The process is as well similar across unlike router manufacturers, like NETGEAR or TP-Link.

We'll prove y'all how to observe your router's IP accost (if needed) and modify the network name using a web interface and an app.

Update password on standalone routers and wireless gateways

The whole procedure of changing your Wi-Fi network name and countersign can be broken down into four main steps:

Go your router's IP address.
Log in to your router using a standard browser.
Change your network settings.
Examination your new network configuration.

These steps are pretty elementary, but there's a bit of variation depending on various factors, like what kind of device you're using to connect. Keep reading for a more than detailed breakdown of these steps.

Get your router'due south IP address (spider web interface only)

All standalone routers and wireless gateways provide a spider web interface so you can modify the settings. However, manufacturers may also provide a mobile app for changing the network proper name, password, and other settings from your phone or tablet.

Use the mobile app if available, then skip alee to the testing portion of this guide.

If you're using the web interface instead, you'll need to discover your router or gateway's private IP address first so you tin enter it into the browser's accost bar.

Part 1: Connect wirelessly or with a cable

If yous're setting up a new router for the first fourth dimension, in that location'due south usually an Ethernet cable in the box that volition allow yous to connect a PC directly to your router. This is probably the easiest manner to set things up, but sometimes this won't work. Many slim laptops, like MacBooks, don't have Ethernet ports and require a USB adapter for a wired connection to the network. Sometimes it's more than user-friendly to use a phone or other mobile device.

To connect wirelessly, you lot'll need the default network proper noun and password for your router. These tin can exist found in the didactics transmission and sometimes found on the router itself, printed on a sticker or characterization. The network is oftentimes labeled as the "SSID."

If yous're changing the settings on a network that'due south already fix upwards, you don't need this default information and tin can just connect to the network with the name and password you typically employ.

Part 2: Notice your router's default IP accost

Side by side, you'll need your router'south private IP address. There are several ways to do this, depending on what kind of device you're using:

iOS fourteen/iPadOS 14
Android
Windows 10
macOS Large Sur and newer

iOS 14/iPadOS fourteen

Step 1: Tap to open Settings .

Step 2: Tap on Wi-Fi .

Footstep 3: Tap on your network'south name.

Pace four: Write downwardly the number displayed next to Router .

Android 11 (stock)

Step i: Swipe a finger downwards from the tiptop to aggrandize the Notification Shade and tap the "cog" icon to open the Settings panel.

Step 2: Tap on Network & cyberspace .

Stride iii: Tap on Wi-Fi .

Step 4: Tap on the "cog" icon displayed next to your network's proper noun.

Step five: Tap on Avant-garde .

Step 6: Scroll down and write down the number displayed next to Gateway under Network Details .

Android x/11 (Samsung)

There's no way to find your router'southward IP address on a Samsung telephone, just you tin can get an thought using the phone'due south IP address.

Step 1: Swipe a finger down from the top to aggrandize the Notification Shade and tap the "cog" icon to open the Settings panel.

Step ii: Tap on Connections .

Step 3: Tap on Wi-Fi .

Stride four: Tap on the "cog" icon next to your network's name.

Here you volition see your Samsung phone's IP accost. Generally, the start iii portions address the router, and the concluding portion is your device. For example, "192.168.seven" is the router and "155" is your device. And so, the router's full address is probably 192.168.seven.1.

Many mobile apps developed for analyzing networks, such as Network Analyzer , make it easy to find your router's IP address. Using an app is also a handy way to find your router's IP address using an Android device.

Windows 10

You tin use the IPCONFIG command to go the IP address. To exercise this, follow these steps:

Step 1: Right-click on the Start button and select Windows PowerShell on the Ability User Menu.

Step two: Type the control "IPCONFIG" into Windows PowerShell and press the Enter key.

Footstep 3: Write downward the number listed adjacent to Default Gateway .

macOS Big Sur and newer

Stride i: Click on the Organization Preferences icon on the Dock or click the Apple logo in the top left corner, followed by System Preferences on the drop-downward card.

Footstep ii: Select Network.

Step 3: If you're on a wired connection, write down the number side by side to Router .

If yous're on a Wi-Fi connectedness, click the Avant-garde button.

Footstep 4: Click on the TCP/IP tab.

Step v: Write down the number next to Router.

Log in to your router using a browser

Now that you take the IP address of your router, you can admission its settings using a standard web browser like Firefox or Chrome.

Footstep ane: Open any spider web browser and blazon the router'due south IP address in the address bar.

Footstep 2: Your router's web interface appears within the browser. Log in using your username and countersign.

First time logging in?

You'll need to log in using the router's default username and countersign. Dissimilar brands of routers have different default usernames and passwords, simply they are commonly very generic. In most cases, the combo is "admin" and "password."

This information is frequently printed on a sticker somewhere on the router itself. Otherwise, refer to your router's instructions to find the correct username and password, or go to the manufacturer's website, which will often list them as well.

Change your wireless network

Once you lot log in to your router, you lot'll rapidly discover that there are many settings you can adjust. Yet, we're going to focus on only two: your network name and password.

Part 1: Change your network name

Your network proper noun, often referred to equally its SSID, is how people will see your network when they are searching for Wi-Fi networks on their devices. Past default, this will commonly be the name of the router manufacturer with some added numbers. You lot tin can alter this to whatever you want, as long as it'due south a name that you will quickly recognize, especially if you're in an urban area where there are many overlapping Wi-Fi networks.

The following instructions are based on a Linksys router, so they may differ from what you run into on the screen.

Step ane: Click on Wi-Fi Settings listed on the left under Wi-Fi Settings.

Pace 2: Enter a new name in the text field adjacent to Wi-Fi Name . Practise this for both the 2.4 GHz and v GHz bands, but be sure they're different.

Step 3: Click the Utilise push.

Part 2: Modify your network security

Once y'all've named your network, you want to secure it with a good countersign then that passersby can't steal your Wi-Fi or, worse, use your network to distribute malware to your devices.

In that location are several options for security protocols, including simply leaving your network open, only the best option is WPA2, also known as WPA2-PSK or AES. This allows you to put a password on your network.

Every bit with whatsoever password you lot oftentimes employ, brand sure that information technology'southward something yous can remember. Also, it's important not to use a password that y'all likewise use for important sites, especially if you're going to be giving information technology out to guests who want to utilise your Wi-Fi.

The post-obit instructions are based on a Linksys router, so they may differ from what you see on the screen.

Footstep ane: Click on Wi-Fi Settings listed on the left under Wi-Fi Settings.

Stride 2: Click the download arrow side by side to Security Manner and select WPA2 Personal on the drop-down card. Do this for both the 2.four GHz and 5 GHz bands.

Footstep 2: Enter a new countersign in the text field next to Wi-Fi Countersign . Do this for both the ii.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, simply exist certain they're different.

Step 3: Click the Apply button.

Test your new network settings

You have now updated the Wi-Fi network proper name and countersign. But before y'all pack up your laptop and go virtually your business, you should double-bank check to make certain everything's working.

Part 1: Examination the wireless connection

Catch a device and discover your new network name in the list of available networks. Enter your new password to make sure y'all can connect wirelessly. It's meliorate to find out now than having to start the procedure all over again when you lot're late for a Zoom meeting or two minutes abroad from winning an auction on eBay.

Part 2: Reconnect other devices

Now that you updated the network's name and countersign, all the devices that were previously connected to your Wi-Fi network will demand their data updated so they tin reconnect . Remember that this doesn't just include all your computers and mobile devices, simply smart TVs, smart thermostats, security systems, and any other devices that use your Wi-Fi network to connect.

Is your new home Wi-Fi network too irksome?

Be sure to consult our guide on how to increase the speed of your dwelling house Wi-Fi. Some of our suggestions include power cycling your router, relocating your router, and more.

Update password on mesh networking kits

Mesh networking kits are different from your standard router. You tin can't access a backend web interface to change the settings. Instead, you use a mobile app to log in to an account and make adjustments. That also ways yous don't need to go out of your way to locate the kit's IP accost equally yous would with a standard router.

The post-obit instructions are based on the Eero kit, so they may differ from what you may see on your screen.

Stride ane: With the Eero app open up, tap on the Settings icon located in the bottom right corner.

Step 2: Tap on Wi-Fi Name .

Step three: Tap in the new name and then tap on the Salvage button.

Footstep four: Tap on Wi-Fi Countersign .

Step v: Tap on the Edit Password push.

Step 6: Enter a new password and so tap on the Salve push button.

Update password using your Internet service provider'southward app

Many ISPs provide mobile apps so you can hands pay your pecker, add or remove services, and manage the router or wireless gateway. The following instructions are based on Spectrum's cable internet service every bit an example, so they may differ from what you see in your Internet service provider'southward app.

Pro tip:

If you have Spectrum'south wireless gateway just you're using a router you purchased from a store, these instructions only use if you lot're nonetheless using the gateway'due south Wi-Fi. Get to the starting time section in this guide for instructions on making changes to your store-bought router.

Step 1: Open the My Spectrum app.

Pace 2: Tap on the Services icon displayed at the bottom of your screen.

Step 3: Tap on Update .

Step 4: Enter a new network name, a new countersign, or both.

Step 5: Tap on Save Changes .