To change the name of your WiFi network (also known as SSID, or Service Set Identifier), you need to enter your router’s admin page.
Many people believe that WiFi names don’t matter much, which explains why there are so many funny WiFi names, such as “hack me” or “WillUmarryMe?” or “Top secret network” or “Drop it like its Hotspot.” Yes, WiFi names are certainly not as important as WiFi passwords, but a good WiFi name can still make a huge difference, and here’s how to pick one:
Tip 1Don’t give away any personal information: Perhaps you live next to someone whose WiFi network is named after their address or family name. WiFi names with personal information may be readily identifiable, but they make it very easy to execute targeted attacks.
One doesn’t need to be particularly tech-savvy to use a software application downloaded from the internet to make someone’s internet connection useless. Conflicts with neighbors are unpleasant as they are, so don’t make it easy for someone to target your WiFi network by choosing a WiFi name that contains personal information about you.
Tip 2Don’t pretend to be a public hotspot: For some reason, people often name their WiFi networks after popular public hotspots, such as “McDonald’s WiFi” or “T-Mobile Hotspot.” It’s true that a fake name like this would certainly make it difficult for your neighbors to figure out which WiFi networks is yours, but it would also almost certainly lead to lower download and upload speeds.
You can be sure that many people who enter within reach of your WiFi network will try to connect to it in search of free internet access. Because your router must respond to each such connection attempt, it won’t have as much processing power left to handle requests made by you.
Tip 3Do use common sense: There are WiFi name generators that can spit out various clever WiFi names with a press of a button. There are also long lists of funny WiFi network names that you can read for inspiration.
However, you must never forget to use common sense when choosing a WiFi name unless you want to make headlines like the person who named their network “Mobile Detonation Device” during a Qantas flight out of Melbourne Australia in 2016. Because of the unfortunate name, the airplane wasn’t allowed to take off until it was thoroughly searched. You may not think so, but the best WiFi names are those that you’ve come up with yourself.
Tip 4Don’t use the same name for multiple networks: The name of your WiFi network is a unique identifier that distinguishes it from other networks in the same area and allows users to know exactly which network they’re connecting to. If you were to use the same name for multiple networks, users would find it very difficult to distinguish them from one another, which could lead to one network being overutilizes and other networks being underutilized.
To change your WiFi password, you need to:
After you’ve entered a new password, you may be required to restart your router. Keep in mind that you will have to reconnect to the network from all the devices that were previously connected to it.
The security of your WiFi network rests on the strength of your WiFi password. While it’s convenient to pick a simple password that’s very easy to remember, it pays off to prioritize security over convenience. Here are some tips on how to choose a strong WiFi password that is guaranteed to keep hackers off your network:
Tip 1Do use a combination of letters, symbols, and numbers: Simple words just don’t cut it because hackers need just a few minutes to try countless words and word combinations. At the very least, substitute certain characters with letters and throw a few special characters into the mix.
Tip 2Don’t use common passwords: Just because a password contains numbers and special symbols in addition to letters doesn’t mean the password is strong. It doesn’t exactly take a genius to come with “12345qwerty” or “p455w0rd.” If your password seems like it might be too obvious, it probably is, and you should change it as soon as possible.
Tip 3Do use a password longer than 12 characters: Short passwords don’t protect you against brute-force attacks, which is why you should always use a password that’s at least 12 characters long.
Of course, the length of the password isn’t the only thing that determines its strength. When in doubt, use a password strength checker tool to guide you.
Tip 4Do use a unique password: Never use the same password for multiple WiFi networks. If you think that you won’t be able to remember multiple passwords, use a password manager such as Bitwarden.
Tip 5Don’t share your password: Sharing is caring, but sharing also leads to security problems down the road. Unless you’re ready and willing to change your WiFi password every time you share it with someone, we recommend you create a separate guest network instead.
WiFi names and passwords matter more than you might think. Now that you know how to change them, you should make sure that all your WiFi network names and passwords adhere to the guidelines described in this article.
Here’s how to change WiFi name: First, you need to access your router’s admin interface, which you can do by entering a specific IP address (typically printed on a sticker found on the bottom of the router). There, look for wireless options and go through them until you find one that lets you change your WiFi network name. Replace the existing WiFi network name with a new one and click Save.
To change your router name and password, you need to know the current name and password (often admin/admin or admin/password). Log in to your router’s admin panel using the current name and password and look for security settings. There should be an option to change the current name and password to something else.
If your WiFi name has reverted back to what it was when you first installed the router, it could be that the router restarted itself due to a power outage or firmware upgrade. But if the name has changed to something funny or vulgar, then you may be dealing with a hacker, and you should change your router name and password as soon as possible.
Many modern routers can be remotely administered using a smartphone app. Such apps allow users to monitor network usage, create guest networks, and, of course, change their WiFi name and password. Older routers can usually be administered only from a desktop computer or laptop that’s connected directly with an Ethernet cable.
There’s no reason to change your WiFi name on a regular basis, but there are many situations when coming up with a new name for your network is a good idea, such as when the current name is inappropriate, or when you know that someone is trying to steal your personal information.
To change your home WiFi password, log in to your router’s admin interface and navigate to network security settings. Enter both your existing password and your new password and confirm. It’s likely that your router will restart for the change to take effect. As you can see, leaning how to change WiFi password is easy. But keep in mind that you’ll have to log in all your devices again using the new password.
Yes, it’s easy to change WiFi password. In fact, it’s so easy that anyone can do it because most modern routers simplify password changes by offering companion smartphone apps that make it possible for users to change passwords with a few taps.
To change the existing WiFi password from your mobile device, install the companion app for your router and launch it. Go to the settings section and look for WiFi security settings. The option to change your WiFI password should be right there. Keep in mind that you will most likely be asked to enter your existing password in addition to the new one.