If you need to learn how to change wifi password settings at home, this guide covers every UK router in one place. Most guides only cover one provider, so you end up searching again for your own router. Here you will find the general router method first, then short sections for Virgin Media, Sky and BT, plus what to do after the change. The steps work on a phone, tablet or computer, and they take about five minutes.
People usually change it because a neighbour or an old guest may still use the network, or because the password is still the weak one printed on the router. A fresh password is the fastest way to take control of your home network again.
Before you change wifi password settings
Before you start, keep three things ready. First, pick your new password. Use at least 12 characters with a mix of upper and lower case letters, numbers and symbols, and avoid your name, street or date of birth. A short sentence only you would remember works well, for example three random words joined with numbers. Second, find your router admin password. It is often printed on a sticker on the bottom or back of the router, or in your provider app. Third, remember that every device will disconnect when you save the new password, so do this when nobody at home is in the middle of a video call or a download.
How to change wifi password on router: the general method
Every router has an admin page, and the steps are almost the same whatever brand you own. To change wifi password on router settings, start by connecting your phone or computer to the Wi-Fi network you want to change. Open a browser and type the router address into the address bar. For most UK routers this is 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1. If neither works, check the sticker on your router, because some brands use a different address or a web address like routerlogin.net.
Log in with the admin username and password from the router sticker, then look for Wireless, Wi-Fi Settings or WLAN. Open the section for the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz network, or both if your router shows them separately. Find the field called Password, Network Key or Pre-Shared Key, delete the old value and type your new password. Choose WPA2 or WPA3 security if the page offers a choice, then save. The router may restart, and that is normal. Wait a minute, then reconnect your devices with the new password.
Change password on Virgin WiFi: Virgin Media
To change password on virgin wifi, the fastest way is the Virgin Media Connect app. Open the app, sign in, tap the Hub, then Wi-Fi settings, and type your new password. The app saves it for you, and your Hub updates within a minute. If you would rather use a browser, connect to your Virgin Wi-Fi, open 192.168.0.1, sign in with the password printed on the bottom of your Hub, then go to Wireless settings and change the password there.
Many people search how do i change wifi password on virgin when they have a Hub 3, Hub 4 or Hub 5. The steps are the same on all three. If you want to change virgin media wifi password settings for the 5 GHz band only, open the advanced wireless settings in the same page and change that band on its own. After you save, reconnect each device.
Change Sky WiFi password: Sky Broadband
To change sky wifi password settings, open the My Sky app and sign in. Tap Broadband, then your Wi-Fi network, and choose the option to change the password. Type the new password twice and save. Sky updates the router within a minute, and your devices will disconnect until you reconnect them. If you do not use the app, open a browser on a device connected to your Sky Wi-Fi, go to the Sky Hub admin page, and change the password under Wireless settings.
If you wonder how to change a sky wifi password when the app does not show the option, make sure the app is updated and you are signed in with the Sky iD linked to your broadband account.
Change your BT Wi-Fi password
For BT, open the My BT app and sign in, then tap your broadband product and look for Wi-Fi settings. Change the password there and save. You can also open a browser, go to the BT Hub manager at 192.168.1.254, sign in with the admin password from the Hub sticker, then open Advanced Settings, Wireless, and change the password. BT Hubs often use the same admin password as the one printed on the pull out card on the back of the Hub, so keep that card safe.
After the change, reconnect your phones, laptops, smart TVs and any smart home devices, because all of them store the old password.
How to change my wifi password again later
If you ask how to change my wifi password again in a few months, the answer is simple. Use the same steps above, and pick a fresh password each time. Change it again if you share it with a guest who no longer needs it, if a device is lost or stolen, or if your provider tells you the network was at risk. A regular change every year or two is a good habit, and it costs nothing but a few minutes of reconnecting devices.
After you change the password: reconnect your devices
Reconnect your devices one by one, starting with the one in your hand. On a phone, open Wi-Fi settings, tap your network name, choose Forget if it still shows the old password, then tap it again and type the new password. On a laptop, click the Wi-Fi icon, choose your network and type the new password when asked. Smart TVs, speakers, printers and smart plugs may each need the same treatment, so check them after the main devices work. If a device keeps failing, restart it once and try again.
What to do if you forgot the router admin password
If you cannot log in to the router admin page at all, do not guess the password many times, because some routers lock you out after a few failed tries. Look for a small reset button or pinhole on the back of the router. Press and hold it for about 10 seconds with a paper clip while the router is on, then wait for it to restart. This returns the router to the settings printed on its sticker, including the original admin password and Wi-Fi password. You will then need to set your new Wi-Fi password again and reconnect every device, so treat reset as a last resort and keep the new details safe this time.
Changing your Wi-Fi password takes five minutes, needs no new equipment, and stops anyone who should not be on your network.