How to Change WiFi Name and Password Linksys Router

Authored by: Support.com Tech Pro Team

1. Introduction

This article will walk you through on how you can change your wireless network name and password.

Your Linksys router comes with a default network name and it is important that you change it for several reasons.

• To personalize your home network. Your network name can be seen by anyone nearby when they scan for Wi-Fi signals using their phone or other mobile device.
• To avoid confusion with your neighbors network name in case they are just using the same default name.
• To improve the security of your home network. Although changing the name itself won't increase the protection, attackers will be able to see that your network is being managed so they might attack those networks that use default credentials instead.
• Changing your wireless password will prevent unwanted connections from other wireless devices.

2. Login

1. Open a new web browser. (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox etc.)
2. In the address bar, type 192.168.1.1 then press Enter on the keyboard.
   

1. You will be asked to enter the router's username and password to log in.
   
2. The default credentials are typically:
3. Username: admin
4. Password: leave blank
5. In the event that you can't access the router's web based setup page, you've forgotten the network's wireless security key or you are troubleshooting a connectivity issue, you may need to reset the router to its default factory settings.

3. Change SSID and Password

1. Once you log in, select Configuration.
   

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2. Then on the upper left-hand corner look for Wi-FI. Click on Wi-Fi then Wi-Fi Settings.
   

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2. Enter your new network name in the Wi-Fi Name field.
   

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2. On the Security Mode field, select WPA2 Personal.WPA2 Personal is also referred to as PSK2 on some Linksys routers.
   

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2. Enter your new password in the Password field.
   

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2. The new username and password will not be activated on the router until you save or confirm the change.
   

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2. You will see a confirmation window appear briefly to confirm the change was made successfully.

• After successfully changing your wireless network password, the wireless devices that are currently connected to your network will be disconnected. Make sure to reconnect them using the new username and password you set.
• If your router is dual band, meaning it has a 2.4 and a 5 GHz network you may need to repeat the steps listed above for each network because each network may be controlled individually, make sure to use different network names for each.
• If your router has a guest network you will need to repeat the steps listed above for the guest network because it is controlled separately.

4. Reset

In the event that you can't access the router's web based setup page, you've forgotten the network's wireless security key or you are troubleshooting a connectivity issue, you may need to reset the router to its default factory settings.

Resetting your router to its default factory settings will remove any configuration you have set including Wi-Fi username and password, port forwarding settings, firewall settings, Internet Service Provider (ISP) username and password etc.

1. Power on the router.
2. Locate the reset button. It might be on the side, back or the bottom of the router.
   

1. Press and hold the reset button for 30 seconds. The power LED on the router should be blinking while you press the reset button.

The default credentials are typically:

• Username: admin
• Password: leave blank