Your home Wi-Fi connects phones, computers, televisions, cameras, and other devices to the internet. If the network is not protected properly, people nearby may be able to try to connect to it, and poorly secured devices can put your home network at greater risk.
The good news is that a few straightforward changes can make your network safer. This guide explains how to secure home Wi-Fi by changing the default router password, choosing modern security settings, updating the router, and checking which devices are connected.
What you’ll need
- Your Wi-Fi router.
- The router’s administrator login details. These may be printed on a label or provided by your internet company.
- A phone or computer connected to your home network.
- Your current Wi-Fi password, if you want to change it.
Good to know: Your Wi-Fi password and your router administrator password do different jobs. The Wi-Fi password lets devices join the network. The administrator password lets someone change the router’s settings. You should protect both.
Step 1: Open your router’s settings
Many routers let you manage settings through a phone app supplied by the manufacturer or your internet provider. This is often the easiest option.
If you do not have an app, you may be able to open the router’s administration page in a web browser:
- Connect your phone or computer to your home Wi-Fi.
- Check the router label or instruction booklet for its management address.
- Enter that address in your browser’s address bar.
- Sign in using the administrator details supplied with the router or previously set by you.
Common router addresses include 192.168.0.1 and 192.168.1.1, but yours may be different. Use the address shown by your router’s manufacturer or internet provider rather than guessing.
Careful: Only sign in to your own router or one you are authorised to manage. Do not share your administrator password with anyone who does not need access.
Step 2: Change the router administrator password
If your router still uses a default administrator password, change it. Default login details may be widely known or printed in manuals, so leaving them unchanged can make it easier for someone to access the settings.
Look for a section called Administration, System, Router Password, or Login Settings. The exact name varies by brand and internet provider.
Choose a long, unique password that you do not use for other accounts. A password manager can help you create and store it securely. Save the new password somewhere safe before signing out.
Some internet-provider routers do not allow customers to change the administrator password. If you cannot find the option, check the provider’s instructions or contact its support team.
Tip: Do not use your Wi-Fi password as your router administrator password. Keeping them different provides an extra layer of protection.
Step 3: Set a strong Wi-Fi password
Your Wi-Fi password controls who can join your home network. If it is short, easy to guess, or shared widely, consider changing it.
In the router settings or app, look for Wi-Fi, Wireless, or Network Settings. Find the password field, which may be labelled Wi-Fi Password, Wireless Key, or Network Key.
Choose a password that is long and difficult to guess. A phrase made from several unrelated words can be easier to remember than a short, complicated-looking password. Avoid names, birthdays, addresses, and other details that people might know.
After saving the new password, your devices may disconnect. Reconnect each phone, computer, smart TV, printer, and other device using the updated password.
Good to know: Changing your Wi-Fi password will disconnect devices that have the old one saved. This is normal. You will need to reconnect the devices you still want to use.
Step 4: Choose the strongest available Wi-Fi security
Your router uses a security method to protect information travelling over the wireless network. In the Wi-Fi security settings, look for an option such as WPA3-Personal or WPA2-Personal (AES).
- WPA3-Personal is the newer option and is a good choice when all your devices support it.
- WPA2-Personal (AES) is a widely supported alternative for devices that cannot use WPA3.
- WEP, WPA, and older mixed modes are outdated and should be avoided when possible.
Some routers offer a compatibility mode that supports older devices. If a device stops connecting after you change the security setting, check its specifications and your router’s guidance before making further changes.
Avoid choosing Open or None for your main home network. These settings do not require a Wi-Fi password.
Step 5: Update your router’s software
Router manufacturers release software updates, often called firmware updates, to fix security problems and improve reliability.
Open your router app or administration page and look for Firmware Update, Software Update, Router Update, or Maintenance. Some routers install updates automatically. Others let you check for an update and start it manually.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Keep the router powered on while the update is installing, and do not unplug it unless the instructions tell you to. The router may restart when the update is complete.
If your router is supplied by your internet provider, it may receive updates automatically. Check the provider’s support information if you cannot find an update option.
Tip: Turn on automatic updates if your router offers a reliable option for them. This helps keep its software current without relying on you to remember every update.
Step 6: Check which devices are connected
Your router app or settings page may show a list of devices currently connected to Wi-Fi. Look for a section called Connected Devices, Device List, Clients, or Network Map.
Review the list and see whether the devices look familiar. A phone may appear under its manufacturer’s name, while a smart TV or printer may use a model number. Some devices also have a setting that uses a private or randomised device address, which can make the name less obvious.
If you do not recognise a device, do not assume immediately that it belongs to an intruder. Check the phones, tablets, smart-home products, and visitors’ devices that may have connected previously. Your router’s app or manufacturer may offer more details to help identify it.
If you remain concerned, change your Wi-Fi password and reconnect only the devices you trust. Some routers also let you pause or block a device. Use those controls only after checking that the device is not one of your own.
Step 7: Set up a guest network
If friends or visitors regularly need internet access, a guest network can keep their devices separate from your main home network. Many routers offer this feature.
Look for Guest Network or Guest Wi-Fi in your router app or settings. Turn it on, choose a separate network name and password, and use an option such as Allow guests to access local network only if there is a specific reason to let guest devices reach your home devices.
When available, leave access to your local network disabled. This helps prevent guest devices from communicating with shared storage, printers, and other devices on your main network.
Good to know: A guest network is useful for visitors and some smart-home devices, but it does not replace a strong password and up-to-date router software.
Step 8: Turn off features you do not use
Router settings sometimes include features that are not needed in every home. If you understand what a feature does and do not use it, consider turning it off.
For example, Remote Management may allow router settings to be accessed from outside your home network. If you do not need this, ask your provider or consult the router manual about disabling it.
You may also see WPS, a feature that helps compatible devices connect without entering the Wi-Fi password. If you do not use it, check the manufacturer’s security advice about switching it off.
Do not change unfamiliar settings just because they sound technical. Some options are needed for your internet connection, phone service, or provider’s support tools. If you are unsure, leave them as they are and ask your internet provider.
Troubleshooting common Wi-Fi security changes
My devices will not connect after I change the password.
Choose your home network on each device and enter the new password. If the device keeps trying the old details, select the network and choose Forget or Forget This Network, then connect again.
An older device will not connect after I choose WPA3.
The device may not support WPA3. Check its documentation. If your router offers a WPA2/WPA3 compatibility mode, that may help, but use the strongest setting supported by your devices and router.
I cannot open the router settings page.
Make sure your phone or computer is connected to your home network, not mobile data or a different Wi-Fi network. Check the router label or provider’s app for the correct management method.
I see a device I do not recognise.
Device names can be unclear. Check the devices in your home first. If you still cannot identify it, change the Wi-Fi password and reconnect your own devices. Contact your internet provider if you need help reviewing the device list.
Keep your home network protected
Securing your home Wi-Fi is not a one-time job, but it does not need to be complicated. Use strong, separate passwords, keep your router updated, and review its connected devices occasionally. These simple habits can help protect the phones, computers, and smart devices that rely on your home network.
