How to Change Your WiFi Password and Update QR Codes
Changing a WiFi password takes two minutes. Reconnecting the TV, printer, doorbell and smart plugs afterwards is the part people dread, which is why so many households keep the same password for years. With a bit of planning, the whole job takes about fifteen minutes.
In this guide
When you should change it
- You've never changed the default password from the router label.
- Someone you no longer trust has it, such as an ex-tenant, a former employee or a contractor.
- You see unknown devices in the router's connected list.
- Your old WiFi QR code was posted online or visible from outside.
- After a party, long stay or event where many people joined.
- As routine: every few months for guest networks.
Before you start: a 3-minute prep
- List your devices that use WiFi: TVs, streaming sticks, consoles, printers, cameras, doorbells, smart plugs and bulbs, speakers, laptops and phones. Smart home devices are the ones that need extra steps.
- Choose the new password (see below).
- Decide whether to keep the network name. Keeping it means phones simply ask for the new password; changing it means every device must find the new network.
- Use a device connected by cable if possible, or stay near the router, because your WiFi connection will drop when you save.
Choosing a strong new password
- Length beats complexity: 12–20 characters.
- A passphrase of three or four random words with a number and a symbol is strong and easy to read off a card, e.g. "Pebble-Orbit-Mango-46".
- Avoid names, phone numbers, birthdays, addresses and "password123" patterns.
- Don't reuse your email or banking password.
- Avoid characters guests might confuse in text: l/1/I and O/0.
Because guests will scan a QR code, you don't need a short password for convenience.
Changing it on common routers
The exact menus vary by model and firmware, but these paths are typical:
- TP-Link: Tether/Deco app, or tplinkwifi.net > Wireless (or Advanced > Wireless > Wireless Settings) > Password.
- Netgear: Nighthawk/Orbi app, or routerlogin.net > Wireless / WiFi Settings > Password (Network Key).
- ASUS: ASUS Router app, or router.asus.com > Wireless > General > WPA Pre-Shared Key.
- D-Link: router web page > Settings > Wireless > Password.
- Google Nest WiFi / Google Home: Google Home app > Wi-Fi > Settings > Network settings.
- Eero: eero app > Settings > Network name & password.
- ISP routers (Jio, Airtel, BSNL, others): many providers let you change WiFi details in their app, or through the router's web page under WLAN/Wireless settings. Check your provider's help pages for your exact model.
Steps in general:
- Open the app or enter the router address in a browser. If you don't know it, check the label or your phone's WiFi details for the "gateway" or "router" address.
- Sign in with the admin credentials (not the WiFi password). Change the admin password too if it's still the default.
- Find the WiFi password field for each band (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz). Many routers use one setting for all bands.
- Make sure security is WPA2-Personal, WPA2/WPA3 or WPA3. Our guide WPA2 vs WPA3: What to Pick explains the choice.
- Enter the new password and save. WiFi will restart and your devices disconnect.
If you also have a guest network, change its password in its own section. See How to Set Up a Guest WiFi Network.
Reconnecting your devices
Phones and laptops
Most will show "incorrect password" or keep trying. Forget the network and rejoin with the new password. It's faster to make your new QR code first (next section) and scan it with each phone.
Smart TVs and streaming sticks
Open network settings and rejoin. Typing with a remote is slow; some TVs allow setup from a phone app.
Printers
Use the printer's control panel, its app, or a USB/Ethernet connection. Avoid leaving WPS on afterwards.
Smart home devices
Plugs, bulbs, cameras and doorbells often need to be reset and set up again in their app, because many don't have a "change WiFi" option. Some apps (for example certain camera and doorbell apps) do offer one. Keeping the same network name helps many devices reconnect more easily once you update the password in their app.
Updating your WiFi QR codes
Every old QR code now contains the old password and won't connect anyone. Replace them:
- Generate a new code with the same network name, WPA security type and the new password.
- Test it on an Android phone and an iPhone that have forgotten the network.
- Replace every printed copy: fridge, guest room, welcome book, office reception, café table cards.
- Delete old screenshots of the previous code from your gallery and cloud photos.
- If you share codes digitally (event emails, house manuals), update those files too.
On Android you can use the network's Share screen once connected, or Wifi QR Connect, which lets you create a WiFi QR code from the SSID, security type and password and scan it back to check. It also includes hotspot QR sharing, a download/upload speed test to confirm everything works after the change, and current WiFi connection info. Scan history is stored locally on your device.
For printing tips, see How to Make a WiFi QR Code for Guests and Printable WiFi Sign Ideas for Home and Airbnb.
Forgot the admin password?
If you can't sign in to the router, try the default credentials on the label. If those were changed and forgotten, you can factory reset the router by holding the reset pin for about 10 seconds while it's on. This erases all settings, including your internet connection details on some ISP routers, so check with your provider before resetting, then set it up again with new WiFi and admin passwords.
After changing: quick security checks
- Confirm security is WPA2 or WPA3, not WEP or open.
- Turn off WPS.
- Update router firmware.
- Check the connected device list a day later for unfamiliar entries.
- Note the date you changed it, so you know when the next rotation is due.
Troubleshooting
- Device won't reconnect: forget the network and rejoin; restart the device.
- QR code scans but fails: check you typed the new password correctly in the generator; test with a phone that forgot the network. More in WiFi QR Code Not Working? 9 Fixes That Work.
- Smart device offline: use its app to update WiFi, or reset and re-add it.
- Slow after the change: unrelated in most cases; see Why Is My WiFi Slow? Quick Checks.
FAQ
How do I change my WiFi password?
Sign in to your router's app or admin page, open Wireless or WiFi settings, enter a new password with WPA2 or WPA3 security, and save. Then reconnect your devices.
Will changing the WiFi password disconnect all devices?
Yes. Every device needs the new password. Phones and laptops are quick; smart home devices may need to be set up again in their apps.
Do I need a new WiFi QR code after changing the password?
Yes. The old code contains the old password and won't work. Generate a new code and replace every printed or shared copy.
How often should I change my WiFi password?
There's no fixed rule for a strong home password, but change it if it may have been shared too widely. Guest networks are worth rotating every few months.
Is the router admin password the same as the WiFi password?
No. The admin password protects the router's settings page; the WiFi password lets devices join. Change both from their defaults.