Use this guide after getting a new router, moving home or if you have never changed your router's settings. You need the router's sticker details, a device connected to it and a quiet moment when a short Wi-Fi drop will not disrupt anyone.
Step by step
Log in to the router settings
Find the admin address, username and password on the router sticker or in the provider's instructions, or use the provider's app. Connect by cable or Wi-Fi and open the settings page. Write down the current settings before changing anything.
Change the admin password
Replace the router's admin password with a long unique one and save it in your password manager. This is different from the Wi-Fi password and stops anyone on your network changing your settings. Turn off remote management unless you genuinely need it.
Set strong Wi-Fi security
Choose WPA3 or WPA2 encryption, never WEP or an open network. Set a long Wi-Fi password made of several random words, and consider renaming the network so it does not reveal your surname or address. Reconnect each device with the new details.
Update the firmware
Look for a firmware or software update option and install any available update, or turn on automatic updates. Many provider routers update automatically, but check it is enabled. If the router no longer gets updates, ask your provider about a replacement.
Switch off risky features
Turn off WPS, the push-button or PIN pairing feature, as it can be abused. Disable UPnP unless a game console or app you rely on needs it. Leave the router's firewall switched on.
Create a guest network
Set up a guest Wi-Fi network with its own password for visitors and for smart devices such as plugs, cameras or speakers. This keeps them separate from computers and phones holding personal data. Change the guest password occasionally, especially after lots of visitors.
Ready-to-use checklist
- Admin password changed and saved
- Remote management off
- WPA2 or WPA3 encryption on
- New long Wi-Fi password set
- Firmware up to date
- WPS turned off
- Guest network for visitors and smart devices
- List of connected devices checked
Practical tips
- Check the connected devices list every few months and remove anything you do not recognise, then change the Wi-Fi password.
- Change default passwords on smart home devices too, as they are often the weakest point on a home network.
- Keep a note of your new settings with the router's sticker details in a safe place in case you need to reset it.
Common problems
I changed the Wi-Fi password and now an old device will not connect.
Some older devices do not support WPA3, so set the router to WPA2/WPA3 mixed mode. If the device only supports WEP, it is too old to use safely and should be replaced. Re-enter the new password carefully, as it is case-sensitive.
I cannot log in to the router settings.
Check you are connected to that router and are typing the exact admin address from the sticker. If the admin password has been changed and forgotten, a factory reset using the pinhole button restores the defaults, but you will need to set everything up again. Some provider routers can only be changed through the provider's app or account.
I see devices on my network that I do not recognise.
Many smart devices have unhelpful names, so check phones, TVs and plugs first. If a device is still unknown, change the Wi-Fi password so everything has to reconnect. Then check the admin password and remote management settings are secure.