How to change your WiFi name and password

Two good reasons to change these. A name you recognise saves you squinting at a list of eight networks every time a guest visits. And a password you chose beats one printed on a sticker that half the street's tradesmen have photographed.

One warning before you start. The moment you save, every device in the house drops off the WiFi and has to be reconnected with the new details. Phones, laptops, TVs, the CCTV, the printer nobody has touched since 2019. Don't do this ten minutes before a meeting.

Step 1: Log in to the router

Connect to the WiFi, open 192.168.0.1 in a browser, and sign in. Our guide to logging in to a Tenda router covers this in more detail, including what to do if the admin password has been changed.

Step 2: Find the wireless settings

Look for "Wireless" or "WiFi" in the menu. The wording shifts between Tenda models, so it might be "Wireless Settings". It's usually in the main menu rather than buried somewhere.

Step 3: Change the name

The field is labelled "SSID" or "Network Name". Pick something you'll recognise from the list. Leave your house number, your surname and your business name out of it. A network called "Kamau Flat 4B" tells a stranger in the car park exactly which door to knock on.

Step 4: Change the password

The field is "Password", "Pre-shared Key" or "Security Key" depending on the model. Longer beats complicated. Three or four unrelated words run together are harder to crack than one word with a 3 instead of an e, and far easier to read out to a visitor. Make sure the security type is set to WPA2 or WPA3, not WEP.

Step 5: Save, then reconnect everything

Click "Save", "Apply" or "Submit" and give the router a few seconds. Everything drops off at this point. Reconnect your devices with the new name and password, and don't forget the ones with no screen. Smart TVs and security cameras are the ones people rediscover a week later.