How to Change Your Router's Wi-Fi Password
A step-by-step walkthrough for changing your Wi-Fi password from your router's admin panel, plus the admin password most people forget to change too.
- Find your router's IP address (usually
192.168.1.1or192.168.0.1— check with ip a on Linux oripconfigon Windows, looking for the "default gateway"). - Type that address into your browser.
- Sign in (admin username and password, different from the Wi-Fi password — usually printed on a physical label on the router if you haven't changed them before).
- Find the "Wireless" or "Wi-Fi" section → change the password.
- Save the changes — the router may restart briefly.
Warning: every already-connected device will need the new password to reconnect after the change — let anyone sharing your network know before changing it without warning.
Tip: while you're at it, also change the router's admin password if it's still the factory default (often "admin/admin") — it's a common target for unauthorised access if it's never changed.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to disconnect all devices before changing the password?
You don't need to disconnect them manually, but they will need the new password to reconnect after the change — let anyone sharing the network know before doing it.
Is the Wi-Fi password the same as the router's admin password?
No, they're different — the Wi-Fi one connects devices to the network; the admin one gives access to the router's internal settings. Both should be changed from their factory defaults for security.