How Do I Change My Wi-Fi Router Password?

You might want to change your router, switch, or other network hardware password for several reasons. An obvious one is if you think your network security is compromised.

In most cases, though, you'll change the password to your router or switch so you're no longer using the default password the factory set. No device, especially a router, should ever be in operation with the default password because these passwords are published and freely available.

It's easy to change the password to your router or another network device.

You can change the password on a router, switch, access point, repeater, bridge, etc. from the Administration, Security, or another page within the device's administrative console.

The exact steps involved in changing the password can differ from device to device and especially from manufacturer to manufacturer. See how to change the default password on a network router for a tutorial specific to a popular Linksys router. The same general steps apply to just about every router, switch, and other network devices out there.

If you're having problems changing your device's password and need more specific help, your hardware manufacturer's website should provide specific information for changing the password. Most manufacturers also have downloadable manuals available for each device model they sell which will also include directions for changing the password.

You can download your router, switch, or other network device's manual from the manufacturer's website.

If you know you or someone else has changed the default password, but you don't know the new one, then you'll have to reset the device to factory defaults. You can do that by performing a specific sequence of actions on the hardware, details of which you can also find in your manual.

Once you've reset the hardware, you can access it with the default login information and then change the password.