How to Change Your Wi-Fi Name

By the Great Wi-Fi Names team · Updated June 18, 2026

How to change your Wi-Fi name

To change your Wi-Fi name, log into your router's admin page in a web browser (usually at an address like 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1), open the Wireless or Wi-Fi settings, edit the field labeled Network Name or SSID, and save. Your router restarts the network under the new name within a minute or two.

That is the whole job. The name you are changing is technically called the SSID (Service Set Identifier), and every Wi-Fi network broadcasts one so your phones and laptops can tell it apart from the neighbors. Below we walk through each step, explain the rules for what a name can contain, and cover what happens to your connected devices afterward.

The generic step-by-step

Almost every home router follows the same path: open a browser, go to the router's address, sign in, find the wireless section, change the SSID, and save. The exact menu labels vary by brand, but the sequence is the same whether you have a TP-Link, Netgear, ASUS, or an internet-provider gateway.

1. Open the router admin page

Type your router's IP address into a browser address bar. The two most common defaults are 192.168.0.1 and 192.168.1.1. If neither loads, check the sticker on the bottom of the router, which usually prints the correct address along with the default login.

2. Sign in

Enter the admin username and password. These are printed on the router sticker or in its manual. If you changed them in the past and cannot recall them, you may need to reset the router to factory defaults, though that wipes all other custom settings too.

3. Open Wireless or Wi-Fi settings

Look for a menu named Wireless, Wi-Fi, or WLAN. Inside it you will see a field labeled Network Name or SSID. Many modern routers run two bands (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz), so you may see two name fields. You can give them the same name or different ones.

4. Edit the SSID and save

Type your new name into the SSID field and click Save or Apply. The router briefly drops the wireless network and brings it back under the new name. This is the same action whether you call it "rename Wi-Fi", "change SSID", or "rename the router's network".

What you can name it: the SSID character limit

A Wi-Fi network name (SSID) can be up to 32 characters long. This limit is set by the IEEE 802.11 wireless standard, which defines the SSID as up to 32 octets (bytes). Plain letters, numbers, and spaces each count as a single character, so 32 of those is your ceiling.

Emoji and some accented or non-Latin characters use more than one byte each, so a name full of emoji will hit the 32-byte limit well before it reaches 32 visible symbols. If a fun name gets rejected or truncated, that byte math is usually why. We keep our own name ideas within the safe range so they save cleanly on any router.

You can use spaces and most punctuation. SSIDs are also case sensitive, so "HomeNetwork" and "homenetwork" are treated as different names by your devices.

What happens to your devices after you rename

When you change the SSID, every device that was connected sees the old network disappear and a new one appear. Your phones, laptops, smart TVs, and smart-home gadgets will each need to reconnect to the new name and re-enter the password once.

This is normal and harmless, but plan for it. If you have many smart-home devices, set aside a few minutes to reconnect cameras, plugs, and speakers, since some of those are fiddly to re-add. Your internet service itself does not change; only the local wireless name does.

Rename the router vs. rename the Wi-Fi

People often say "rename my router" when they mean "rename my Wi-Fi network". The Wi-Fi name (SSID) is what you change in the steps above and what your devices see. The router also has an internal device name on some brands, but that is separate and does not affect how you connect.

Quick tips before you save

Pick a name you will recognize at a glance, keep it within 32 characters, and avoid putting personal details like your full name, apartment number, or address in it since the SSID is broadcast publicly to anyone nearby. A clear, fun name is easier to find in a crowded list of networks.

If two bands let you set separate names, a common approach is one shared name so devices pick the best band automatically. Once you save, give it a minute, then reconnect your main device first to confirm the new name works before reconnecting everything else.

Source: IEEE 802.11 Wireless LAN Working Group

Frequently asked questions

How do I change my Wi-Fi name?

Log into your router's admin page in a browser at an address like 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1, open the Wireless or Wi-Fi settings, edit the Network Name (SSID) field, and click Save. The network restarts under the new name within a minute or two, and your devices reconnect to it using the same password.

How do I change my SSID?

Changing your SSID is the same task as renaming your Wi-Fi, since the SSID is the network name. Open your router's admin page, find the field labeled SSID or Network Name under the Wireless section, type the new name, and save. The router rebroadcasts the network under the new SSID right away.

What is an SSID?

An SSID (Service Set Identifier) is the technical term for your Wi-Fi network name. It is the name your phones and laptops show when they list available networks, and it is the field you edit when you rename your Wi-Fi.

Is renaming my router the same as renaming my Wi-Fi?

In everyday use, yes. When people say rename the router, they usually mean rename the Wi-Fi network (the SSID), which is what your devices connect to. Some routers also have a separate internal device name in their settings, but that does not change how you connect.

Will changing my Wi-Fi name disconnect my devices?

Yes. Changing the SSID makes the old name disappear and a new one appear, so every connected device drops and must rejoin the new name. The interruption lasts only as long as it takes you to reconnect each device with your existing password, and your internet service itself is unaffected.

Will I need to reconnect my devices after I rename my Wi-Fi?

Yes, each device reconnects once to the new name and re-enters the password. Plan a few extra minutes if you have many smart-home gadgets, since cameras, plugs, and speakers can be fiddly to re-add. After that first reconnection, everything works as before.

How long can a Wi-Fi name be?

A Wi-Fi name (SSID) can be up to 32 characters, as defined by the IEEE 802.11 wireless standard (up to 32 octets). Plain letters, numbers, and spaces each count as one character, while emoji use multiple bytes and reach the limit sooner.

Can I use spaces and emoji in my Wi-Fi name?

Yes, SSIDs allow spaces and most punctuation, and many routers accept emoji. Keep in mind that emoji use several bytes each against the 32-byte limit, so an emoji-heavy name may be rejected or cut short before it looks full. Older devices can also fail to display emoji names cleanly.

How do I change my Wi-Fi name on my phone?

You change the Wi-Fi name from your router's settings, not from your phone's network menu, though you can use your phone's browser or your router maker's app to do it. Connect to your network, open the router app or type the router's address into your phone's browser, sign in, edit the SSID field, and save. Your phone then reconnects to the renamed network.

How often can I change my Wi-Fi name?

You can change your Wi-Fi name as often as you like, with no limit from the router or your internet provider. The only practical cost is that every change disconnects your devices and makes each one rejoin the new name. For that reason most people settle on a name and leave it, but nothing stops you from renaming it monthly or daily.

Why won't my router accept my new Wi-Fi name?

The most common reason is that the name exceeds the 32-character SSID limit once spaces and any emoji are counted, since emoji use several bytes each. Count the full length, then remove emoji or unusual symbols and try a plain-text version. If a short, plain name still fails, check that you are editing the right band's field and that you clicked Save or Apply.

Do I have to change my Wi-Fi password when I rename the network?

No. Changing the SSID and changing the password are separate fields, so renaming the network leaves your password untouched unless you edit it too. After you save the new name, your devices reconnect using the same password they already had.

How to Change Your Wi-Fi Name