If you want to change the default router WiFi password then follow this step-by-step guide.
TP-Link:
- Login to Router admin panel using its default IP Address – 192.168.0.1 / 192.168.1.1.
- Enter the default username and password (admin/admin in most cases).
- Navigate to Wireless > Wireless Security > WPA/WPA2 – Personal (Recommended) > Password .
- Enter your preferred password and Save the change.
D-Link:
- Login to your router settings page via its default IP Address – 192.168.1.1 / 192.168.0.1.
- Input your username and password (or here’s list of default username and password).
- Go to Wireless > Wireless Security > Security Mode set to WPA2 only > Pre-Shared Key: enter your preferred password.
- Apply the change > restart your WiFi and the new password will be applied.
NETGEAR:
- Open your router setup page using its default IP address – 192.168.1.1 / 192.168.0.1 / //routerlogin.com/.
- For authentication enter default username and password.
- Go to Wireless > Security Options > Select WPA2-PSK [AES] > Now enter your preferred password in Passphrase.
- Apply chances and reboot your WiFi for changes to effect.
To play with your router’s settings, you need to learn how to access it as an administrator. If you’re on the same network as the router (i.e., you’re either connected to the router with an Ethernet cable or are connected to a wireless network created by the router), you can try the simple method first:
Open your favorite web browser.
One by one, enter the following IP addresses into the URL bar: 192.168.0.1, 192.168.1.1, 192.168.2.1, 10.0.1.1, 10.0.0.1, 10.10.1.1.
If you see a login window or a welcome page, you’re in luck and can processed to the next chapter of this article. If you’re unable to access your router using any of the IP addresses listed above, try the next method:
Click the Windows logo located on the left side of the taskbar.
Click the Settings icon.
Choose Network & Internet.
Click View your network properties.
Scroll down and look for “Default gateway.”
The number next to it is your router’s IP address.
Type the address into the URL bar of your favorite web browser.
If you see a login window or a welcome page, you’ve successfully accessed your router.
The next step is to log in as administrator. If you haven’t changed your router’s admin password, there’s a good chance that “admin” will work. If it doesn’t, look at the information sticker on the bottom or back of the router. Router manufacturers sometimes print the default username and password on it.
If you’re still unable to access your router, we recommend you long-press the reset button on its back and try again. Should even this fail to grant you access to your router’s admin interface, try searching for help online. There are many websites, such as this one, that list routers and corresponding admin login information.
How to Change Router IP Address
Before we explain how to change router IP address, we want to clarify the difference between public and local IP address.
As the name suggests, a public IP address is the address computers and servers outside your network see when you connect to them. It’s also the address you see when you visit a website like What Is My IP?, which is a leader in providing IP address lookup services.
Your public IP address is assigned to you by your internet service provider, and you typically have no control over it. Some ISPs provide static IP addresses to their customers, but the chances are that you have a dynamic IP address that changes from time to time on its own or after a request.
Your local IP address, on the other hand, is the address assigned to your router and all other devices behind it, and you can change it as you see fit. This is how to do it on D-Link routers, and routers from other manufacturers won’t be much different.
Enter your router’s IP address into your favorite web browser.
Log in with the default username and password.
Click on Setup.
Choose Network Settings.
Type in the router’s new IP address under Router Settings.
Click on Save Setting.
After you’ve changed your router’s IP address, you will no longer be able to access it using the old address. This is something to remember as it could throw you off the next time you decide to change your router’s settings.
How to Change the Wireless Channel and Band
Wireless routers support different 802.11 standards, which provide several distinct radio frequency ranges, also called bands, for use in Wi-Fi communications, with each band being split into multiple channels.
If you have a newer router, the chances are that it supports the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. Because the 5 GHz band is less common than the 2.4 GHz band, it tends to be less crowded, making it a great choice for densely populated urban areas where Wi-Fi networks are present in massive concentrations.
When it comes to choosing the most suitable Wi-Fi channel, a network analyzer such as NetSpot can provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision.
Download and install NetSpot.
Launch the application and activate Discover mode.
Wait a short while for NetSpot to collect information about surrounding Wi-Fi networks and present wireless data as an interactive table.
Click the “Channels 2.4 GHz” header to see where Wi-Fi channels are overlapping.
Look for the channel with the least number of networks present on it.
If you’re selecting a channel in the 2.4 GHz band, try to choose the channel 1, 6, or 11. These are so-called non-overlapping channels, which means they don’t overlap with one another.