How to change WiFi network password on router or access point

Yes, you can change the current Wi-Fi password to keep your network secure, and here's how to do it on a router or access point.

Change Wi-Fi network password
Change Wi-Fi network password

Whether you are at home or the office, a Wi-Fi connection makes it easy to connect all your devices to the network and the internet, and having a strong password makes sure the connection is secure.

If the wireless connection has a weak password, no password, or default password, the network will become vulnerable to unauthorized access, allowing others to use your internet without your consent. Or it could also allow malicious individuals to access the network to steal your information.

The best way to protect your Wi-Fi network is to change the security key on the access point or router to something easy for you to remember but complicated for anyone else to guess.

In this guide, you will learn the steps to change the Wi-Fi network password on your router and the steps to reconnect a Windows 10 device to the internet.

Change Wi-Fi network password on router 

Use the following steps to change the Wi-Fi password on your home router (or access point):

  1. Open your preferred web browser.

  2. Type the router’s IP address in the search bar and press Enter.

    Quick tip: Usually, the IP is 192.168.1.1, 192.168.0.1, or 192.168.2.1, but it might be different depending on the configuration. You can always find out the router address using the ipconfig command in Command Prompt and confirm the Default Gateway address.
  3. Sign in to the router with your username and password.

    Quick note: Check your router manufacturer or service provider support website for specific details to determine the credentials you need to use to login.
  4. Under the “Advanced settings” section, click the wireless page. (This page may be called “Wireless,” “Wireless Networks,” “Windows Security,” or something similar.)

    Router Wi-Fi settings
    Router Wi-Fi settings
  5. In the “Security Key,” “WiFi password,” “WPA Pre-Shared Key,” or “Key” field, enter the Wi-Fi password you want to use for the 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks.

    Router change Wi-Fi password
    Router change Wi-Fi password
    Quick tip: When setting up a security password, you always want to use a complex and hard-to-guess passphrase. So, make sure to make it long and use a mix of numbers, letters, and special characters.
  6. (Optional) In the “Network Name (SSID)” or “WiFi Network Name (SSID)” field, you can also change the name of the wireless network.

  7. Click the Apply or Save button.

Once you complete the steps, the wireless network will now be accessible with the new password. This means that previously configured devices will need to reconnect with the new password to access the internet.

Change Wi-Fi network password on Windows 10

Use the following steps to reconnect the device to the Wi-Fi network:

  1. Open Settings on Windows 10.

  2. Click on Network & Internet.

  3. Click on Wi-Fi.

  4. Under the “Wi-Fi” section, click the Show available networks option.

    Show available Wi-Fi networks
    Show available Wi-Fi networks
    Quick note: You can also click the network icon from the taskbar notification area to view the list of networks.
  5. Select the wireless network.

  6. Click the Connect button.

  7. Enter the new network security key.

    Windows 10 change Wi-Fi password
    Windows 10 change Wi-Fi password
  8. Click the Next button.

After you complete the steps, the Windows 10 device will now connect to the network and internet.

Although the dashboard to update your network settings will be different per-manufacturer and even per-device model, the idea is always the same. Sign in to the network device, find the wireless settings, update the security key, and reconnect devices.

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].