Step-by-step: the method that works on any router

1. Open your router's settings

From a device connected to your network, open a browser and type the router's address into the address bar. The most common are 192.168.1.1 and 192.168.0.1; Xfinity gateways use 10.0.0.1 and AT&T gateways use 192.168.1.254. The label on the device shows the correct address and admin password. If you need help getting in, follow how to log in to your router.

If your provider supplied the equipment, you can usually skip the browser entirely and use its app instead. The ISP sections below explain where to look.

2. Go to the wireless section

Menu names vary by brand and firmware, but you are looking for something like:

  • Wireless or Wi-Fi (most routers and ISP gateways)
  • Wireless → Security or Wireless → Basic Settings
  • WLAN (some European-designed devices)
  • Network → Wi-Fi or a Wi-Fi tile on an app's home screen

3. Find the password field

Inside the wireless settings, the password field may be called:

  • Password or Wi-Fi Password
  • Network Key or Security Key
  • Passphrase or WPA Key
  • Pre-Shared Key (PSK)

While you are on this page, check the security mode. Choose WPA2/WPA3 (sometimes shown as WPA3-Personal Transition) if it is available, or WPA2-Personal (AES) on older routers. Never use WEP or "open".

4. Enter a strong new password

  • At least 12 characters; 16 or more is better.
  • Avoid anything guessable: names, birthdays, addresses, phone numbers, team names, or the word "password" in any form.
  • A passphrase works well: four or five random, unrelated words, optionally with a number, e.g. copper-violin-harbor-tulip-42 (do not use this exact example).
  • Think about typing it on a TV. Long lowercase words are much easier to enter with a remote than mixed symbols.

If your router broadcasts separate networks for 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz or 6 GHz (for example Home-2G and Home-5G), update each one. Using the same password on all of them keeps things simple for your household.

5. Save and reconnect your devices

Click Save or Apply. The router applies the change, sometimes with a short restart of the wireless radios. Within seconds, every device on the network disconnects. Reconnect them one by one using the new password.

Practical tip: write down or save the new password in a password manager before you click Save. If you are making the change over Wi-Fi, your own device will be disconnected too. If you mistype or forget the new password, you can always get back in with an Ethernet cable.

US internet providers

If your Wi-Fi comes from a provider-supplied gateway, these are the usual places to change the password. Apps and menus are redesigned from time to time, so labels may differ slightly.

Xfinity

In the Xfinity app, open the WiFi section, select your network and edit the password. You can also use the local Admin Tool at 10.0.0.1 under the gateway's Wi-Fi settings. See the Xfinity router login guide.

Spectrum

For Spectrum-supplied Wi-Fi routers, use the My Spectrum app or sign in at the Spectrum website and manage your network under Services → Internet. If you use your own router on a Spectrum modem, change the password on your router instead. See the Spectrum router login guide.

AT&T

Use the AT&T Smart Home Manager app or website, or browse to 192.168.1.254, open the Home Network → Wi-Fi settings, and enter the Device Access Code from the gateway label when prompted. See the AT&T router login guide.

Verizon Fios

Use the My Fios app, or log in to the router at 192.168.1.1 (or myfiosgateway.com) and go to the Wi-Fi or Wireless settings. See the Verizon Fios router login guide.

Cox

Cox Panoramic Wifi customers can change the network name and password in Cox's app or through their online account. See the Cox router login guide.

T-Mobile Home Internet

Open the T-Mobile Internet app, go to the network settings, and edit the Wi-Fi name and password. See the T-Mobile Home Internet login guide.

Popular router brands

On a router you bought yourself, the setting lives in the web interface or the manufacturer's app. Typical locations (exact wording depends on model and firmware):

  • TP-Link: Wireless settings in the web interface at tplinkwifi.net, or the Tether / Deco app. See the TP-Link guide.
  • Netgear: Wireless settings at routerlogin.net, or the Nighthawk / Orbi app. See the Netgear guide.
  • ASUS: Wireless → General at router.asus.com, or the ASUS Router app. See the ASUS guide.
  • Linksys: Wi-Fi settings at myrouter.local, or the Linksys app.
  • eero and Google Nest Wifi: app only; look under network settings.

How strong does a Wi-Fi password need to be?

Wi-Fi passwords are attacked in two ways: by guessing live against your network, which is slow, and by capturing a connection handshake and then guessing offline at high speed against lists of common passwords. WPA3 makes the offline attack far harder, but many networks still run WPA2 for compatibility, so password strength still matters.

The defense is the same in both cases: length and randomness. Each extra character multiplies the work an attacker has to do. A short password built from a dictionary word and a year can fall quickly; a long passphrase of random words is out of practical reach. Twelve characters is a sensible minimum, and a passphrase of four or more random words is a comfortable target that you can still remember.

Frequently asked questions

Should I change the Wi-Fi password printed on the router label?

It is a good idea. Modern routers and ISP gateways print a unique, reasonably random password on the label, which is far better than the shared defaults of older devices. But anyone who has seen the sticker (an installer, a previous tenant, a guest who photographed it) knows it. Replacing it with your own long passphrase means only the people you choose have access. It also lets you keep the same password if your provider ever swaps the equipment.

Will changing my Wi-Fi password disconnect all my devices?

Yes. As soon as you save, every device that joined with the old password drops off and needs the new one: phones, laptops, smart TVs, streaming sticks, speakers, thermostats, doorbells, cameras, printers and game consoles. Plan a few minutes to reconnect them. Some smart home devices have no screen and must be re-added through their own app. Tip: if you keep the same network name (SSID) and only change the password, most devices simply prompt for the new password rather than needing full setup.

Is the Wi-Fi password the same as the router admin password?

No, they are separate. The Wi-Fi password lets devices join your wireless network. The admin password (on AT&T gateways, the Device Access Code) lets you into the router's settings. Changing one does not change the other, and both should be strong. See default router passwords for the admin side.

How do I change my Xfinity Wi-Fi password?

The easiest way is the Xfinity app: open the WiFi section, view your network, and edit the password. You can also sign in at the Xfinity website, or log in to the gateway's local Admin Tool at 10.0.0.1. Changes made in the app can take a few minutes to apply. The Xfinity router login guide covers the gateway side in more detail.

Should I keep separate 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks?

For most homes, a single network name with band steering is the simplest setup: the router moves devices to the best band automatically. Separate names are useful when setting up older smart home devices that only support 2.4 GHz and fail to connect to a combined network. Some people split the bands temporarily, add the stubborn device, and then merge them again. The 2.4 GHz vs 5 GHz guide explains the trade-offs.

Should I also change the Wi-Fi network name (SSID)?

Changing the name does not add real security, but it has practical benefits: it helps your household pick the right network in a crowded apartment building, and it stops advertising your provider or router model (default names often contain the ISP or brand). Avoid putting your name, address or apartment number in it. Note that changing the SSID forces every device to rejoin from scratch, not just re-enter a password. More in what is an SSID.

WPA2 or WPA3: which should I choose?

WPA3 is the newer standard and resists offline password-guessing attacks much better than WPA2. If your router offers a WPA2/WPA3 mixed (transition) mode, it is usually the best choice: newer devices use WPA3 while older ones still connect with WPA2. Pure WPA3 is fine if every device you own supports it. Avoid WEP and WPA (the original) entirely, as they are long obsolete. Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 networks on the 6 GHz band require WPA3.

How often should I change my Wi-Fi password?

There is no need to change a strong password on a fixed schedule. Change it when something happens: you move in with a provider-installed gateway, someone with access moves out, a contractor or babysitter no longer needs it, you see unknown devices in the connected-devices list, or the password was shared more widely than you intended. For visitors, a separate guest network avoids the problem: you can change the guest password whenever you like without touching your own devices.