How to Change Your Wi-Fi Network Name

Your Wi-Fi network name, technically called the SSID, is what appears when you or a visitor scans for networks. Changing it from the factory default is quick, and it is worth doing for two reasons: a custom name is easier to recognize in a crowded neighborhood, and a default like NETGEAR55 or TP-LINK_3A9F tells anyone nearby exactly what router you own. This guide shows you how to change it on any router in a few minutes.

Before You Start

You will need to be connected to your own network and know your router’s admin login. That is the login for the router’s settings, which is different from your Wi-Fi password. It is often printed on a label on the router if you have never changed it.

One practical tip: if you can, do this on a computer connected by an Ethernet cable. When you save the new network name, wireless devices disconnect, and a wired connection keeps you in the settings while you finish up.

The Universal Steps

These work on nearly every router, with only the menu names differing by brand.

1. Open your router’s login page. In a browser, type your router’s IP address into the address bar. The most common are 192.168.1.1 and 192.168.0.1. Some brands also use a web name like routerlogin.net or tplinkwifi.net.
2. Log in with your router’s admin username and password.
3. Find the wireless settings. Look for a section called Wireless, Wi-Fi, WLAN, or Wireless Settings, usually under a Basic or Advanced heading.
4. Locate the network name field. It is labeled SSID, Network Name, Wi-Fi Name, or Wireless Network Name.
5. Type your new name. It can be up to 32 characters and is case-sensitive, so “HomeWiFi” and “homewifi” are different names.
6. Save the change by clicking Save, Apply, or OK. The router may restart briefly.

Within a minute or two, your new network name is broadcasting.

If Your Router Has Two Bands

Many routers run separate 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks. You have a choice here.

Give both bands the same name and the router will steer each device to the better band automatically, which is simpler and works well for most homes. Or give them different names, such as adding a 5G suffix to one, so you can choose which band a device joins. That is useful if you have a smart-home device that only works on 2.4 GHz and struggles to connect otherwise.

If your router already combines both bands under one name with a feature like Smart Connect or band steering, one change covers everything.

What Happens After You Change It

When you save, every device connected to your Wi-Fi is disconnected, because the network they were joined to no longer exists under that name. This is normal, and it is the main thing to plan for.

You will need to reconnect each device to the newly named network: phones, laptops, TVs, speakers, printers, cameras, and any smart-home gadgets. Since your Wi-Fi password has not changed, you are simply selecting the new name and entering the same password. It is worth listing your less-obvious devices beforehand, like a smart plug or a doorbell camera, so nothing is left offline and forgotten.

How to Choose a Good Name

Since your network name is visible to everyone nearby, a little thought helps.

• Do not include personal information such as your name, address, or apartment number.
• Avoid revealing your router’s brand or model. A default name like TP-LINK_3A9F tells an attacker which device you have and therefore which known weaknesses to try. A custom name hides that.
• Make it distinctive so you can find it easily in a long list of nearby networks.
• Keep it appropriate, since neighbors and visitors will see it.
• Be cautious with emojis and unusual symbols, as some older devices struggle to connect to networks that use them.

Brand-Specific Menu Paths

Once you are logged in, here is where the network name setting usually lives:

• Netgear: Wireless, then the Name (SSID) field.
• TP-Link: Wireless, then Wireless Settings, or Basic, then Wireless.
• Linksys: Wireless, then Wi-Fi Settings.
• Asus: Wireless under Advanced Settings, then the Network Name (SSID) field.
• D-Link: Wireless Settings, then the Wireless Network Name field.
• eero, Starlink, and other app-managed systems: in the app, under Wi-Fi settings, where you tap the Wi-Fi name to edit it.

If your brand is not listed, look for any menu named Wireless or Wi-Fi and the SSID field within it.

What to Do If It Will Not Work

The login page will not load. Confirm your router’s address by running ipconfig on Windows and reading the Default Gateway line, or checking your Wi-Fi details on a phone. Make sure you are on your own network and not using a VPN.

You do not know the admin login. Check the router’s label for the default. If it was changed and you cannot recall it, you will need to recover the router password before you can make changes.

The name will not save. Some routers reject certain special characters or names longer than 32 characters. Try a simpler name using letters, numbers, and basic punctuation.

Your network disappeared. That is expected. Look for the new name in your device’s Wi-Fi list and connect to it with your existing password.

Wrapping Up

Changing your Wi-Fi network name takes just a few minutes: log in to your router, open the wireless settings, edit the SSID field, and save. Every device will disconnect and need to rejoin the newly named network with your existing password, so plan a few minutes to reconnect everything, including the smart-home devices that are easy to forget. While you are at it, choose a name that does not reveal your router’s brand or your personal details, which is a simple way to give away a little less to anyone scanning nearby. If you also want to update the password, our guide on how to change your Wi-Fi password covers that.