How to Change Your WiFi Name

  1. 1

    Find your router’s IP address

    The default admin address is usually printed on a sticker on the underside or back of your router: typically 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1. Some routers use 10.0.0.1 or have a custom address like routerlogin.net (Netgear) or tplinkwifi.net (TP-Link).

  2. 2

    Type the address into a browser on a connected device

    On a phone, laptop or desktop connected to the router (via WiFi or ethernet), open a browser and type the IP address. Press Enter. The router login page appears.

  3. 3

    Log in with admin credentials

    Default username and password are printed on the router label (often “admin” / “admin” or “admin” / “password”). If you have changed these and forgotten them, a factory reset restores defaults (there is usually a recessed reset button on the back).

  4. 4

    Navigate to Wireless or WiFi settings

    Find the Wireless, WiFi or WLAN section in the router admin panel. The exact location varies by brand. Look for SSID or Network Name field. Change the name to whatever you want. If you have both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, you can rename them separately or give them the same name (most modern devices handle this automatically).

  5. 5

    Save and reconnect all devices

    Save the settings. The router broadcasts the new network name within a few seconds. All devices will see the old network disappear and the new name appear. You will need to reconnect each device to the new WiFi name (the password stays the same unless you changed it).

Using your ISP’s app insteadTelstra, Optus and other Australian ISPs provide apps (Telstra 24x7, MyOptus) that allow changing WiFi name and password without accessing the router admin panel. If you have a modem-router supplied by your ISP, check for their companion app first — it is often easier than the router admin interface.

Frequently Asked Questions

No — the SSID (WiFi name) is just a label that identifies your network. Changing it has no effect on internet speed, signal strength or any technical performance. The only effect is that devices connected to the old name will temporarily lose connection until they reconnect to the new name.
Try the alternatives: 192.168.0.1, 10.0.0.1, or the brand-specific address on the router label. On Windows: open Command Prompt and type ipconfig — the Default Gateway address is your router’s IP. On Mac: System Settings → Network → select your WiFi → Details → the Router address is shown. On iPhone: Settings → WiFi → tap your network name → the Router address is displayed.