Important information upfront! You don't need a PhD to change your Wi-Fi password. You don't need anything at all 😎. However, when someone asks you to do it, it's worth putting on a little show. So, put on a worried face, wipe your forehead with a tissue, sigh deeply, mumble something incomprehensible, fiddle with your phone, and finally, triumphantly announce the task is complete. But let's get to the point! Below is a guide on how to change your Wi-Fi password.
How to change your router password – step by step
How to easily change your password and how to configure your router? You'll need access to a web browser on a device connected to your Wi-Fi router (either via cable or wirelessly). Once you've opened any web browser, type your router's IP address into the address bar. The address should be on a sticker on the router's casing. Typically, it's a string of digits like "192.168.0.1" or "192.168.1.1." This will bring up your router's administration panel. In the login fields, enter the username and password, which are also usually found on the router's sticker. Save your new router settings and you're done!
If you have trouble finding the correct tab in the router's settings panel, consult your device's user manual or contact your internet provider's customer service by phone.
How to change your Wi-Fi password on an Android phone?
For phones with the Android operating system, changing your Wi-Fi password involves literally five steps 🚶.
- Go to the settings menu (that's the gear icon)
- Go to the "Network & internet" tab
- Select "Internet"
- Choose the wireless network you're interested in
- Change the password for the selected Wi-Fi network and confirm the Wi-Fi password change in the Android system
iPhone and changing your Wi-Fi password
Just like Android, iPhones with the iOS operating system also allow you to quickly and painlessly change your Wi-Fi password. For an iPhone, it only takes four steps. 😉
- Select the "Settings" app
- Click "Wi-Fi"
- Choose the Wi-Fi network you want to manage
- Enter your login credentials
- Confirm
In what situations should you change your Wi-Fi password?
Typically, Wi-Fi login details are handed out left and right, like napkins in a restaurant. Big mistake! Unauthorized access to your wireless network can have catastrophic consequences for your security, privacy, or finances. If you work remotely, use online banking, or store important files in the cloud, it's wiser to share your Wi-Fi password only when absolutely necessary and only with those you trust as much as your own mother. Security experts recommend changing your Wi-Fi password at least every 3-4 months. However, maintaining good wireless network hygiene and simply being careful with your access details is also crucial.
What should prompt you to change your password? Certainly, the moment your significant other changes their status from "in a relationship" to "ex," and you're about to be a lonely white sail. Besides that, change your password if:
- You are configuring your wireless network for the first time or have changed your internet provider. Invent and enter the network password yourself, even if you've almost become best friends with the person setting up the network.
- You have shared your Wi-Fi password with third parties – e.g., tenants renting a room or apartment via Airbnb, or a colleague you've parted ways with.
- You feel something is wrong. It might sound funny, but intuition can be a good advisor. Habit allows us to pick up even subtle changes. So, if you notice that your mobile internet has been "lagging" for a few days, you're having trouble logging into the network, or your devices are regularly losing the Wi-Fi signal for no reason, don't wait. Change your password! 😉
Viking password? Unbreakable! 🔒
Your Wi-Fi password needs to be as strong as a Viking's arm, as long as a transatlantic voyage, and as cool as the water at the fjord's edge in January.
A strong password for your wireless network is one that includes special characters like !@#$%^&. It's also good to mix uppercase and lowercase letters and use numbers.
A long Wi-Fi password has at least 12 characters. However, the more, the safer! If you're going to go wild, don't hold back and even go for 18!
You're probably wondering what the crazy author meant by a password as cool as the fjord water in January. Beneath this convoluted comparison lies the truth: it's not always best to be guided by emotions – the password must be devoid of dates, names, and other associations dear to your heart that are easily linked to you.
And remember – change your Wi-Fi password more often than not, okay?!
So? When was the last time you changed your Wi-Fi password? If, despite closing your eyes, furrowing your brow, and scratching your head, you still can't recall it, open a new browser tab and get to it!
Seriously, do it. 🙂
