When the router is borrowed from the internet provider (Telecom, Fastweb or others), the Wi-Fi network is ready for use, therefore presenting a preset network name and password. On the other hand, when you have a new and purchased router, sometimes a Wifi network is already configured with a name that recalls the brand of the router and often there is no password, so as to leave the user the freedom to choose one at the first access. In general, unless it is the case of a router blocked by the network provider, it is always possible to change the name of the Wi-Fi network (setting a more personalized one) and change the password to have an easier to remember or more secure one. In this guide we will show you how to change the name and password of the Wi-Fi network, with steps applicable to any modem or modem / router. Making the changes is really simple and we recommend doing it always, so as to have more control over the wireless network.
Change the name and password of the Wi-Fi network
To change the name of the Wi-Fi network (also called the SSID) and the access password, we will necessarily have to access the configuration panel of our modem or router. If we don't know how to do it, we invite you to read our guide first Enter the router to access the settings in an easy way .In summary, we summarize all the steps.
On a Windows PC, the quickest way to find these settings is by opening the command prompt (press the Windows + R keys together, type " cmd " without the quotes and press Enter).
Type " ipconfig " without the quotes in the command prompt window and press Enter. The IP address of the router is the one under the word " Default gateway ".
On a Mac, click on the Apple menu to go to " System Preferences ", press the "Network" icon, select the Wi-Fi connection and then go to " Advanced ". By clicking on the " TCP / IP " tab you can read the router address.
Once you get this IP address, open Chrome or any other web browser, write it as it is on the address bar and press Enter . You will then be asked to enter the router's username and password which are not the ones to access the network. If they have never been changed before, the router login and password are those preset by the manufacturer.
We have, in another article, seen how to find logins and passwords for all router models. Often just write admin admin or, if it doesn't work, search in the instruction booklet or on Google indicating the model and brand.
If you have set a custom password that you no longer remember, you can reset the router to restore the default one.
Change the name and password of the wireless network from the router
Once you get access to the router settings panel ( basically just enter 192.168.1.1 in any browser and enter your login credentials), we search for the Wireless or Wi-Fi menu, so as to immediately view all the available options .
We will find the item Wireless network name (SSID) or similar, with the base name next to it set by the provider or vendor of the device; now we delete the old name and use a new name, so as to immediately identify the Wi-Fi network in our possession (very useful if in the neighborhood there are other Wi-Fi networks with a name very similar to ours because of the operator) .
Once the name has been set, we can change the password to access the network by acting on the Password, Wi-Fi Password or similar item, present in the same menu where there is the option to change the name. We delete the old password and choose a new one, which is simple enough to remember but safe, to avoid the hacker attacks described in our guide to Methods to access protected WiFi network and ways of intrusions .
Remember that, in case of router or modem with Dual Band Wi-Fi, we will also have to change the name and password for the 5 GHz wireless network, taking care to set a similar but slightly different name (we can use the same password as the network 2.4 GHz wireless).
Change name and password remotely (via app)
The modems supplied by the telephone operators allow you to manage many parameters remotely (even outside the home), by downloading the operator's app on our smartphone. For example Fastweb offers the free MyFastweb app, available for Android and iOS.From this app we can change the network name and password by logging in, opening the menu on the top left, selecting the Fastgate menu -> Wi-Fi and changing the parameters as seen in the previous chapter.
The other apps we can download to control proprietary modems remotely are:
- Fixed MyTIM (Android and iOS)
- Vodafone Station (Android and iOS)
Advanced Wi-Fi configuration
The settings that we have changed in the previous chapters will allow you to change the name and password of the Wi-Fi network in a few minutes (we can also stop without touching anything else), but to get a really fast and safe Wi-Fi connection we can modify other advanced parameters, so as to have a wireless connection that can cover every corner and offer maximum speed to the devices.To access the advanced Wi-Fi settings, open the Advanced menu or similar in the configuration panel of the modem / router, then go to the Wireless -> Wireless settings section (the names may be slightly different from router to router, but the parameters are practically the same).
The parameters to be modified are:
- Security : make sure that only WPA2-Personal is active, avoiding mixed versions ( WPA / WPA2 ) or WPA Personal . The steps must also be repeated for the 5 GHz wireless network.
- Encryption : if our router or modem makes choosing the encryption to use, we always choose AES, the most difficult to crack, and avoid TKIP or automatic selection. Again we will have to repeat the steps for the 5 GHz wireless network.
- Mode : on 2.4 GHz network we make sure to leave only 802.11n active, while on 5 GHz network we can also use mixed mode ( 802.11n / ac ).
- Channel width : on a 2.4 GHz network we set 20 MHz, while on a 5 GHz network we leave the automatic setting (which usually buys 40 MHz and 80 MHz ).
- Transmission channel : on a 2.4 GHz network we try to set a transmission channel free from interference (between 1, 6 and 11 ), so as to have maximum speed and coverage; on 5 GHz network we can leave the automatic mode or set channel 36 (the most compatible).
To know other methods to enhance the Wi-Fi signal, we invite you to read our guide on how to enhance the wifi signal and avoid frequent disconnections .
By changing the name and password for accessing the Wi-Fi network, we will gain greater control over the devices that can connect to our network and we can easily connect new devices.
