Changing your WiFi password is one of those tasks that feels harder than it is. The setting lives in a slightly different spot on every router, the label on the box is often a different password from the one you need, and half the ISP gateways out there want you to use an app instead of a browser. This guide covers the exact menu path for every major router brand and internet provider, what makes a good password, and how to get every device in the house reconnected without a headache.
Key Takeaways
- Your WiFi password is not the same as your router's admin password. The WiFi password gets devices online; the admin password opens the settings page. Most routers ship with both printed on the label.
- Store-bought routers change the password through their web page or app. Provider gateways from Xfinity, Spectrum, Cox, AT&T, and Verizon usually push you to the provider's app.
- Saving a new password disconnects every device on the network at once. Have the new password ready to type on phones, laptops, TVs, and smart home gear.
- Use at least 12 characters. Length matters more than symbols, and a short phrase you can remember beats a random string you will have to look up.
- If you have forgotten the current password and cannot get into the settings page, a factory reset is the fallback, and it wipes every other setting too.
Two Passwords, One Router
Every home router has two separate passwords, and mixing them up is the most common reason people get stuck.
The WiFi password (also called the network key, passphrase, or pre-shared key) is what you type into a phone or laptop to join the network. This is the one you are here to change.
The admin password unlocks the router's settings page. On many routers the factory default is on the same label as the WiFi password, and on newer routers you were asked to create it during setup. If you cannot get past the login screen, our guide on how to log into your router covers default credentials for every brand and what to do when none of them work. If the login page will not load at all, you may need to find your router's IP address first.
Before You Start
Connect the device you are using to the router, either over WiFi or with an Ethernet cable into one of the LAN ports. A wired connection is the safer choice, since a WiFi connection will drop the moment the password changes and you may lose the settings page mid-save. Have the new password written down somewhere before you begin. Then pick the section below that matches your equipment.
Changing the WiFi Password on Store-Bought Routers
These are the routers you bought yourself, whether from us, a big-box store, or Amazon. All of them let you change the password from a web page in your browser, and most also offer a phone app.
| Brand | Where to log in | Menu path to the WiFi password |
|---|---|---|
| NETGEAR | routerlogin.net or the Nighthawk app | Wireless, then the Password (Network Key) field for each band. In the app: WiFi Settings. |
| NETGEAR Orbi | orbilogin.com or the Orbi app | Wireless, then Password (Network Key). In the app: WiFi Settings. |
| TP-Link (Archer) | tplinkwifi.net or the Tether app | Wireless, then Wireless Settings, then the Password field. In the app: Tools, then Wireless. |
| TP-Link Deco | Deco app | More, then WiFi Settings, then the Password field. |
| ASUS | router.asus.com or the ASUS Router app | Wireless, then General, then WPA Pre-Shared Key. In the app: WiFi settings. |
| Linksys | myrouter.local or the Linksys app | Wireless (or WiFi Settings), then the Password field. In the app: WiFi Settings. |
| eero | eero app only | Settings, then Network settings, then Network name and password. |
| Google Nest Wifi | Google Home app only | Wi-Fi, then the settings gear, then Network settings, then Password. |
Menu labels shift a little between firmware versions, so if the exact wording is not there, look for anything called Wireless, WiFi, or Security. The password field is almost always on the same screen as the network name (SSID).
Dual-band and tri-band routers
Many routers broadcast a 2.4 GHz network and a 5 GHz network, and some add a third band. If yours shows them as separate networks with separate password fields, change all of them, and it is usually simplest to give them the same password. If the router has a Smart Connect or single-network option turned on, one password covers everything. Our explainer on what a dual band router is covers why the two bands exist.
Changing the WiFi Password on ISP Gateways
If your provider gave you an all-in-one modem and router, the settings page may be limited or turned off entirely, and the provider's app is the intended route. Here is where the setting lives for each major ISP.
Xfinity
Open the Xfinity app, tap WiFi, then tap your network name and choose Edit WiFi settings. The browser Admin Tool at 10.0.0.1 is switched off by default on current xFi Gateways and has to be enabled in the app first, so the app is the faster route for most people. Our Xfinity default password guide walks through both methods in detail, including what to do when the label password no longer works.
Spectrum
Open the My Spectrum app or sign in at spectrum.net, go to Services, then Internet, then select your WiFi router and choose Manage or Edit WiFi. You can change the network name and password there. If you use your own router with a Spectrum modem, the Spectrum app has no control over it; use the brand table above instead.
Cox
For a Cox Panoramic WiFi gateway, open the Cox Panoramic WiFi app (or sign in at cox.com), go to your network, and choose Edit WiFi Settings. For a gateway you bought yourself, such as the Arris DG3450, the setting is in the gateway's own admin panel; our Arris DG3450 setup guide has the exact steps.
AT&T (Fiber and Internet)
Open the AT&T Smart Home Manager app, tap Network, then Home Network, then tap your WiFi name and choose Edit. You can also do it in a browser at 192.168.1.254 under Home Network, then Wi-Fi, but the app handles it without asking for the device access code printed on the gateway.
Verizon Fios
Open the My Verizon app, go to Internet, then Manage WiFi, and edit your network. From a browser, go to 192.168.1.1, sign in with the admin password on the router label, open Wi-Fi, then Primary Network, and change the password there. Fios routers with a single Self-Organizing Network setting apply the change to both bands at once.
CenturyLink, Brightspeed, and other DSL providers
Most DSL gateways use a browser page at 192.168.0.1 with the admin username and password from the modem sticker. Look for Wireless Setup, then the WPA Pre-Shared Key field. We have model-specific guides for the Actiontec C3000A, the Zyxel C3000Z, and the Actiontec T3200.
What Makes a Good WiFi Password
Most routers require at least 8 characters. Aim higher. A 12 to 16 character password is long enough that guessing it is not practical, and a phrase made of three or four unrelated words is easier to type on a TV remote than a jumble of symbols. Avoid anything printed on the router, your street address, your last name, or the network name itself.
While you are on the security screen, check the security type. WPA2 or WPA3 (often labeled WPA2-PSK, WPA3-Personal, or WPA2/WPA3 mixed) is what you want. If the router is set to WEP or WPA, the password barely matters because those older standards are easy to break, and a router that only offers them is old enough that it is time to consider replacing it.
After You Save: Getting Everything Back Online
The moment you save, every device on the network drops. Phones and laptops will prompt for the new password the next time they try to connect. Smart TVs, streaming sticks, printers, thermostats, cameras, and smart plugs will not prompt you; each one has to be reconnected from its own settings menu, which is the part that takes the longest.
A few things that trip people up:
- Older devices may still show the network name but refuse to connect until you tell them to forget the network and rejoin it.
- Apple devices can take a minute or two longer to notice the change. Toggling WiFi off and on speeds it up.
- If you changed the network name too, some smart home devices will need to be set up again from scratch in their app.
- Once your iPhone is back on, you can pass the new password to guests without spelling it out. See how to share your WiFi password on iPhone.
Forgot the Current Password?
If you can still get into the settings page, most routers show the current WiFi password in plain text on the wireless screen (there is often an eye icon to reveal it), so you can read it or replace it without knowing it. The provider apps above also show it.
If you are locked out of both the WiFi and the settings page, the last resort is a factory reset. Holding the recessed reset button returns the router to the password on its label, but it also erases every other setting, including any port forwarding, parental controls, and custom DNS. Our factory reset guide covers how to do it and what to write down first. Do not confuse this with a restart, which changes nothing.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I change my WiFi password?
Once, right after setup, to get off the factory default. After that, change it when someone who should no longer have access (a former roommate, a contractor, a neighbor's kid) still does, or if you suspect an unknown device is on the network. There is no benefit to changing it on a calendar schedule.
Does changing the WiFi password kick everyone off?
Yes, every device at once, the moment you save. Devices you own reconnect with the new password; anyone you did not give it to stays off. That is the point.
Can I change the WiFi password from my phone?
Yes. Every brand in the table above has an app, and every ISP section above uses one. If your router is older and has no app, open the login address in your phone's browser instead; the settings page works the same way on a phone.
Why won't my router let me change the WiFi password?
The usual causes are being logged in as a guest or non-admin user, a provider gateway with the local settings page disabled (use the ISP app), or a mesh satellite instead of the main unit. On rare occasions a provider locks the WiFi settings entirely on rented equipment, which is one more reason to own your gear.
Does changing my WiFi password change my router login?
No. They are separate. If you want to change the admin login too, it is usually under Administration, System, or Advanced on the settings page, and it is worth doing if the router still uses the factory default.
Do I need to change the network name as well?
No, and leaving it alone means fewer devices need to be set up again. Changing the name is useful if it still reads like a model number or if you want to tell your network apart from a neighbor's.
