How to setup a password for your wireless network

Edit this Article. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Cookie Settings. Learn why people trust wikiHow. Download Article Explore this Article Steps. Tips and Warnings. Related Articles. Article Summary. Access your wireless router. Ideally, you can do this with the setup disc that came with your router, but routers are also designed to be accessed remotely through the Internet.

To access your router through your web browser, enter the address into the URL. Typical router addresses include If you can, access the router using a computer that is connected to the router via an Ethernet cable. If you access it via Wi-Fi, you will be kicked out when you change the settings, and will have to reconnect to the network and log back in to make any adjustments.

If this doesn't work, try leaving one field blank and typing admin into the other. If that fails, consult any available support for your specific router manufacturer.

This will clear out all of your settings. If you don't have access to your original documentation, you can look up your router's model online to find the default IP address and login details. Find your wireless security settings. Select an encryption type.

Most routers have several options available when it comes to security. If you can, select WPA2 because it is the most secure form of encryption available for wireless networks. Some older routers don't have this option. Some older devices will not be able to connect to a network that uses WPA2. Keep this in mind if you have multiple older devices that you need attached to your network.

The other option is TKIP, which is older and less secure. Some routers will only allow you to select AES. AES stands for Advanced Encryption Standard and is the best set of algorithms for wireless encryption.

Enter your passphrase and SSID. Your password should be a combination of letters, numbers and symbols. The more basic your password protection is, the easier it is for someone to guess, or "brute force crack," as hackers call it.

There are password generators online that will create strong password protection for you, if you need them. Save your new settings and refresh your router. Click the Apply or Save button on your Wireless Settings page to save your new wireless security settings. Most routers will refresh automatically, and any device connected wirelessly to the network will get kicked off and need to sign on again. If your router does not refresh automatically, you may need to do this manually.

To refresh your router turn off the power and count to Make sure to add your new login and password credentials to all devices that regularly access your wireless Internet connection. You can avoid most of these issues by using a cordless phone with a higher frequency, such as 5. Security is always important; with a wireless network, it's even more important because your network's signal could be broadcast outside your home. If you don't help secure your network, people with PCs nearby could access info stored on your network PCs and use your Internet connection.

Change the default user name and password. This helps protect your router. Most router manufacturers have a default user name and password on the router and a default network name also known as the SSID.

Someone could use this info to access your router without you knowing it. To help avoid that, change the default user name and password for your router.

See the documentation for your device for instructions. Set up a security key password for your network. Wireless networks have a network security key to help protect them from unauthorized access.

See the documentation for your router for more detailed info, including what type of security is supported and how to set it up. In Windows 7 or Windows 8. Select Set up a new network , then choose Next. The wizard will walk you through creating a network name and a security key. Write down your security key and keep it in a safe place. You can also save your security key on a USB flash drive by following the instructions in the wizard.

Use a firewall. A firewall is hardware or software that can help protect your PC from unauthorized users or malicious software malware. Running a firewall on each PC on your network can help control the spread of malicious software on your network, and help protect your PCs when you're accessing the Internet. Windows Firewall is included with this version of Windows. Select the Network or Wifi icon in the notification area. In the list of networks, choose the network that you want to connect to, and then select Connect.

If you have problems with your Wi-Fi network when using Windows 10, see Fix Wi-Fi problems in Windows for advanced troubleshooting info. Choose the network that you want to connect to, and then select Connect. If you have problems with your Wi-Fi network when using Windows 11, see Fix Wi-Fi problems in Windows for advanced troubleshooting info. In case the disc is not available, you can access the router remotely over the internet. Enter the router access URL into your web browser.

The most common URLs are If you cannot access the router using any of the guidelines mentioned above, search for your router model online and get specific steps. The positioning and nomenclature of the labels will vary from one router to another.

There are several security options to choose from. The WPA2 option is most secure for wireless connections and should be your choice.

You may not be able to choose this option if you are using an older router. Furthermore, if you will be connecting multiple devices and some of them are older router versions, you will not be able to choose and connect to a network that uses WPA2.

If the option exists, select AES as the encryption algorithm. AES, also known as Advanced Encryption Standard is the most secure algorithm for wireless encryption. Certain routers may also give you the TKIP option, however, that is older and less secure.