For a more secure internet connection, changing the name and password to your home Wi-Fi is a vital step – but it’s an easy and simple one that anyone can do. Here’s how it’s done.
How to access and change your router’s settings
You can find accurate instructions to access your router’s settings in the manual, on the manufacturer’s website, or on your broadband provider’s website. But if you haven’t got that to hand, here’s what you can do.
First, open your internet browser (e.g. Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge). Into the address bar – the place where you’d normally type in a website URL or a search term – type in your router’s IP address.
The IP address will be a short series of numbers. Most home routers use 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.1.2 – but if neither of those work, there are other ways you can find out yours.
- Look on your router. There may be a sticker with instructions.
- On a PC or Mac: Open the Wi-Fi settings, and find the properties for the Wi-Fi you’re connected to. You’ll find the router’s IP address listed under ‘IP address’ or ‘Default gateway’.
- On a PC: Use the command prompt. You can do this by typing cmd into the Windows search bar and selecting the Command Prompt app. Type in ipconfig and press enter, and you’ll see all the information about your internet connection. You’ll find the router’s IP address listed under ‘Default gateway’.
- On an iPhone or iPad: Open the Wi-Fi settings, select your Wi-Fi connection, and tap the little ‘i’ in a circle. You’ll find the router’s IP address listed.
- On an Android device: Open the Settings, then select Connections, then Wi-Fi, then the network you’re connected to. This will show you all the information about your connection, including the IP address – you may need to select ‘View more’ to see this.
Once you’ve entered the IP address into your browser, you’ll see a login screen. Enter the username and password for your router – if you haven’t changed these before, you’ll most likely find them on a sticker attached to the router.
When you’re logged in, you’ll see all the settings, options, and information you need for your router and network.
How to change your Wi-Fi password
Changing your Wi-Fi password couldn’t be simpler.
- Log in to your router settings, as above.
- Find the password settings. You may find them under login, security, or privacy settings, depending on your router.
- Follow the instructions on-screen. You’ll most likely need to enter your old password, then enter your new one twice.
Once the password is changed, you might need to reconnect your devices back to Wi-Fi using the new password.
How to change your Wi-Fi name (SSID)
- Log in to your router’s settings, as above.
- Find the SSID settings – the service set identifier. This is the name of your Wi-Fi network.
- Enter a new name for your network.
Once the name is changed, you might need to reconnect your devices.
How to choose a strong Wi-Fi password
- Don’t use something obvious. That means avoiding the word ‘password’ itself, any personal details, or anything that can be connected to you, your home, or your SSID. As tempting as it may be to set your Wi-Fi name to ‘USS Enterprise’ and the password to ‘engage’, it’s a little too easy to guess.
- The more characters, the better. Experts recommend using at least 10 characters for a strong password.
- Use a variety of lower-case letters, capital letters, numbers, and symbols. Again, the more variety you use, the harder it is to figure out.
- Use a password generator to get a truly random, difficult-to-guess password.
- Consider a ‘pass phrase’ as a password. This is a short sequence of two or three words that wouldn’t normally go together – something like ‘iguanalollipopspatula’, for example. This kind of password is hard to guess, and hard for hackers to crack, but easy for you to remember. Add numbers and symbols, and you’ve got a very strong password – perhaps ‘1guanaLollipop$patula’.
Why should I change my Wi-Fi name and password?
The simple answer is that it’s more secure. Changing your Wi-Fi login settings makes it more difficult for bad actors to find them out and connect to your network.
If you keep the name and password default settings, there are ways that cybercriminals may be able to crack your password using the SSID name.
Some manufacturers’ routers even ship with generic passwords, such as ‘password’ or ‘admin’, which are not very secure at all.
And, finally, changing the Wi-Fi name also makes it easier for you to connect to your network. It means you can see at a glance which Wi-Fi is yours.