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    Safety & Privacy
    Intermediate
    4 min read 5 stepsApril 19, 2026Verified April 2026

    How to Change Your Home Router's Wi-Fi Password and Admin Password

    Using the default router password is a security risk. Here's how to change both your Wi-Fi network password and your router's admin login password.

    At a Glance

    Category
    Safety & Privacy
    Difficulty
    Intermediate
    Read Time
    4 min read
    Steps
    5
    Topics covered
    router
    Wi-Fi password
    security
    home network
    settings

    In this guide (5 steps):

    1. 1.Find Your Router's IP Address
    2. 2.Log Into the Admin Panel
    3. 3.Change the Wi-Fi Password
    4. 4.Change the Router Admin Password
    5. 5.Reconnect Your Devices
    1

    Find Your Router's IP Address

    ~26s
    On a computer connected to your Wi-Fi, open a browser and try typing 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 in the address bar. The router admin login page appears. If neither works, look at the back or bottom of your router — the admin address is usually printed there.

    Quick Tip

    On a Mac: Apple menuSystem SettingsNetwork → select Wi-FiDetails → look for "Router" IP address. On Windows: search "cmd" → type "ipconfig" → look for "Default Gateway."

    2

    Log Into the Admin Panel

    ~24s
    Enter the admin username and password on the router login page. If you have never changed these, try "admin" for username and "admin," "password," or "1234" for the password. Or look at the back of your router — the default admin credentials are often printed there.

    Warning

    If you cannot log in and have never changed the admin password, check the router's printed documentation or search "[your router brand and model] default admin password" online.

    3

    Change the Wi-Fi Password

    ~21s
    In the admin panel, find "Wireless," "Wi-Fi Settings," or "WLAN." Look for "Password" or "Passphrase" under your network name. Replace the existing password with a new strong one (at least 12 characters, mix of letters and numbers). Click "Save" or "Apply."

    Quick Tip

    After saving, your current connection will drop — reconnect your computer using the new password to confirm it works before reconnecting everything else.

    4

    Change the Router Admin Password

    ~21s
    Find "Administration," "System," or "Security" in the admin panel menu. Look for "Admin Password" or "Router Password." Enter a new strong admin password — different from your Wi-Fi password. Save the changes.

    Warning

    Write down your new admin password and store it safely. If you forget it, you must do a factory reset of the router to regain access, which erases all settings.

    5

    Reconnect Your Devices

    ~23s
    After changing the Wi-Fi password, all previously connected devices need to be updated. On each device: go to Wi-Fi settings, forget the old network, and reconnect with the new password. Focus first on phones and computers, then smart TVs and streaming devices.

    Quick Tip

    Make a list of all your connected devices before changing the password so you do not forget any — smart light bulbs, thermostats, and video doorbells are easy to overlook.

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    Your home router has two separate passwords you should know about. The first is your Wi-Fi password — the one you enter on phones, laptops, and TVs to connect to your network. The second is your router admin password — the one used to log into the router's control panel to change settings.

    Many routers come with the admin password set to something generic like "admin" or "password" — publicly documented defaults that anyone can use to take control of your router if they access your network. Changing both passwords is an important one-time security step.

    Your Wi-Fi password is what you share with guests and family members. Your admin password should be kept private and not shared. It controls who can change your router's settings, including access controls and security configurations.

    To change these passwords, you log into your router's admin panel through a web browser. The admin panel is accessed by typing your router's IP address (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) into a browser address bar while connected to your Wi-Fi network. This is not an internet address. It only works when you are connected to your home network.

    After changing your Wi-Fi password, every device in your home will need to reconnect using the new password. This means you will need to update the Wi-Fi settings on phones, tablets, computers, smart TVs, streaming devices, smart home devices, and any other connected devices. Plan to spend 20-30 minutes reconnecting everything.

    Write your new passwords down and store them somewhere safe — in a drawer, notebook, or password manager. Do not store them on a sticky note attached to the router itself.

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    Wi-Fi password
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    Official Resources

    FTC Consumer ProtectionCISA — Cybersecurity TipsAARP Fraud Watch Network

    Sources used to create and verify this guide. View all sources →

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