Introduction
There are more than 5.25 billion internet users around the globe, and 4.3 billion of those access the internet through their mobile phones. Internet usage increases daily as people find it an essential part of their lives. That is why many people connect with single Wi-Fi with all their devices.
This makes your network, devices, and data vulnerable to compromise. Furthermore, it becomes easy for hackers to crack your Wi-Fi and steal your sensitive data. They can even install malware on your network, which affects all your devices.
Sometimes unknown people request to use your network. Then they keep using your network, and all their devices remain connected to your network.
So, it is important to know how to change your Wi-Fi password to protect your network from all potential threats.
Why Change Your Wi-Fi Password?
Wi-Fi enables you to connect all your electronic devices such as mobile phones, laptops, printers, scanners, and others to the internet. You don’t require any cables to connect your devices to the internet. This is why you need a secure and strong password to protect it from outside variables.
If you do not have any password to your devices, anybody in your proximity can connect to your internet without your permission. About 250 devices can access a single Wi-Fi router at a time. When this occurs, it reduces the internet speed.
Moreover, your internet is vulnerable to hackers. They can easily install malware that can damage your devices and data.
To prevent any sort of malware and criminal activity, you should change the password of your Wi-Fi. Also, when you buy the new Wi-Fi router, it comes with an easy and weak password.
As a matter of fact, 90% of passwords can be breached within 6 hours. Many IT experts suggest changing your Wi-Fi password regularly.
How to Change Your Wi-Fi Password
You can easily get your Wi-Fi router’s password without any IT experts. It requires just a few simple steps.
Wi-fi router address
- First, you need to open the configuration page of your router. For this, you can use any web browser such as Chrome or Firefox. Your network needs to remain connected to your web browser. Furthermore, you can connect your computer or laptop to the router through a suitable Ethernet cable.
- Now press the Windows key + R and access the Command Prompt. When you open this, you need to provide the ipconfig and then hit Enter. It displays the list of all the active connections. Select the Gateway address which is default from the list, and this is the address of your Wi-Fi. If you cannot find the router address, push the reset button for 30 seconds. It helps to refresh the default settings. Many Wi-Fi routers come with software for configuration. You can even use that software to track the router address instead of using a web browser.
Provide log-in credentials of the Wi-Fi router
Every router requires both parameters, password and username. In case you forget the login credentials or get the router from your friend, then press the reset button of your router. You need to press the reset button for 30 seconds.
This allows the router to come back to its default setting. Having done this, you can quickly login in by using its default credentials.
Access the wireless section
On the configuration page, you can easily view the wireless section. In this section, find the tab or button for Wireless Setting, Wireless Setup, or Wireless. Moreover, if your router contains multiple sections then access its security page.
Change the Wi-Fi password
Now find the box to change the password. The box may be labeled as a shared key, passphrase, and password. You can easily provide your new password in that box. Moreover, there are some devices that may ask you to enter passwords twice. In this way, you can ensure that your password is correct.
Tips for a strong password
Research shows that most people set their passwords in regular patterns which are easy to guess. That is why IT experts suggest setting a long password that is difficult to guess. Your password should not be based on your personal information such as your name, family name, date of birth, etc.
Ideally, your password should contain a mix of numbers and special characters such as #, *, ^, and others. You can even capitalize some letters in your password to make it stronger. Furthermore, a minimum of 8 characters is necessary for a good password.
Wireless encryption
Usually, there are three kinds of wireless encryption available such as WPA, WPA2, and WEP. You can use WPA2 encryption as it is more secure than others. However, WPA2 may not connect with old devices. If this is the case, switch to other options.
Change network name
Hackers and intruders try to crack the network with an easy, basic, and default name. Moreover, Wi-Fi routers come with standard names. That is why it is important to change the name of your network, and it takes only a few minutes.
The name should not contain your personal name or the name of items associated with you. This will help you to keep your network away from hackers.
Save settings
After entering the new Wi-Fi password and network name, hit apply or save button. The location of the save button is different for every router. Mostly it is available on the top and bottom of a page. The processing takes a few minutes, and your devices will disconnect from the network.
You have successfully changed the password. Now connect all your devices with a Wi-Fi router using a new password.
Two-Factor Authentication in Wi-Fi password
Many IT specialists suggest that to leverage certificates with software for two-factor authentication wifi. In this way, you can seamlessly configure your devices and implement two-factor authentication through RADIUS. That is why no one can enter the log-in section of your Wi-Fi network.
First, you need to confirm their identity, and then they can enter the log-in credentials. Furthermore, you can include additional steps such as biometrics in the two-factor authentication wifi process.
The possibility of stealing the network is improbable. But if any unfortunate incident is attempted, the hacker must pass through the authentication code or biometric scanner. Therefore, your network will remain secure and protected.
The Difference Between Changing and Resetting your Password
The password change wifi requires a present or current password from you. That is why you need to remember the current password to change it.
Furthermore, the person only changes the password if he knows the current password. So you should not provide your Wi-Fi password to others as they easily change the password and kick you out of the network.
On the other hand, the process of resetting the password does not demand the current password.
Change your Wi-Fi Password Regularly
IT experts suggest that you should change your password every three months. Changing your Wi-Fi password takes quite a long time but will benefit you in the long run.
You should change your Wi-Fi password on a regular basis for the following reasons:
- It prevents all your devices from getting compromised
- Changing password also protects your devices from malware attacks
- Your data will remain secure from any hackers
- The password change wifi process helps you to disconnect unknown devices.
- You can easily get rid of people trying to use your WiFi.
What to do if You forget Your Wi-Fi Password?
If you forget your Wi-Fi change password process, use the following techniques to recover it.
Recovering password on Windows
This method is suitable when you are using the Wi-Fi network on devices.
- First press the Wi-Fi icon available on the right side of a taskbar. The taskbar is usually present at the bottom of a screen.
- At the bottom of the Wi-Fi menu you can see the Network and Internet settings. Press that option.
- Then press the Wi-Fi tab which is present on the left side of the panel.
- Scroll down your screen and select the Change adaptor options.
- Select the status option by right-clicking the Wi-Fi connection.
- This enables you to view the status option on the menu.
- At the middle of a screen there is a Wireless Properties button. Click that button.
- Then you need to hit the security tab which is present at the bottom of the screen.
- You can get the new page containing the Network security key. By default, the characters display in the black dot.
- Click on the “Show Character option” which is present below the Network security key. You can easily view your Wi-Fi password.
Recovering password on Mac
- Go to the Finder option, which is present on the doc.
- At the top of the screen, select the Go menu
- Select the Utility option in the menu. You can also press Shift+command+U to access this folder directly.
- Find the Keychain Access option and double-click the icon.
- It opens the list of all the passwords that you have secured in the Keychain app.
- Find your network from its name and click on it.
- Click on the Show password box, which is below the dialogue. Note your Wi-Fi password.
Recovering password on router
- Check your Wi-Fi router on your device and try to find the default password.
- If you cannot find the password, change Wi-Fi, then push the WPS button of the router.
- Some routers enable you to enter the network without providing the password if you push the WPS button for 30 seconds.
- If your computer is not using the network, you can connect a Wi-Fi router with a computer using Ethernet.
- Note the IP address of your router.
- In a web browser, access the IP address of the router. This will take you to the log-in page of the router.
- Provide the log-in credentials on the router page. Find the wireless or Wi-Fi section from the menu.
- You can view the network name along with the encryption type. In the security option, your Wi-Fi password is available.
Conclusion
Hackers are always looking for opportunities to crack the Wi-Fi password and enter the network. The best thing is to keep your password strong and keep changing your Wi-Fi password regularly.
Changing the password is quite simple and takes a couple of minutes. It is better to change your Wi-Fi name and implement two-factor authentication Wi-Fi for solid protection.
There are various simple methods to recover the password if you forget the Wi-Fi password. Moreover, there are many advantages of changing the password such as data security, and disconnection of unnecessary devices.
