Changing your WiFi password is the single best thing you can do if you suspect someone is on your network, you shared the old password too widely, or you are still using the random string printed on the router. The whole process happens inside your router's admin page and takes only a few minutes.
Step 1: Log in to your router
Open your browser and go to your router's IP address - usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1. If you are not sure how, follow how to log in to your router. Sign in with the admin credentials (these are separate from the WiFi password itself).
Step 2: Open the wireless security settings
Look for a section named Wireless, WiFi, or Wireless Security. The WiFi password is usually labeled Pre-Shared Key, PSK, passphrase, or network key. It is the same thing as your network security key.
Step 3: Enter a new password
Type your new passphrase. For a strong key, use at least 12-16 characters mixing words, numbers, and symbols - a memorable passphrase like copper-otter-47-lamp is both strong and easy to type on a TV remote. While you are here, set the security mode to WPA3, or WPA2/WPA3 mixed if you have older devices (see WPA2 vs WPA3).
Step 4: Save and apply
Click Save or Apply. The router will restart its WiFi radios, which briefly drops every wireless device - that is normal.
Step 5: Reconnect your devices
Every phone, laptop, TV, and smart-home gadget will need the new password. On each device, forget the old network and rejoin with the new key. If a device refuses to reconnect, reboot it. For smart-home devices that are hard to re-enter passwords on, this is a good reason to also consider a separate guest or IoT network so a future password change does not disrupt everything at once.
WiFi password vs admin password
These are two different passwords. The WiFi password lets devices join the network. The admin password lets you into the router's settings. If you only want to stop someone from reaching the internet through your network, changing the WiFi password is enough - but you should set a strong admin password too. If you have forgotten the network key entirely, see how to change your network security key.
