Most of us are now working from home or spending more time indoors, which means more wear and tear on our Wi-Fi networks. If you have several people in your home trying to use Wi-Fi simultaneously for streaming or video conferencing, you may find that it becomes sluggish.
Also, many routers come with a default name, making it difficult to connect to the router when you want to. Changing the name of your Wi-Fi network is a great way to improve Security and personalize your home network.
Read on from this post for more information on how to change the Wi-Fi name.
How to Change Wi-Fi Name
How Do I Here be a step-by-step description of how to change the Wi-Fi name:
Step 1: Open your router's admin page.
Step 2: Into your web browser, enter your router's IP Address.
Step 3: Log in to your router's settings page using the default username.
Step 4: In the settings, click on an option titled “Wi-Fi name” or “SSID.”
Step 5: Enter a new name (SSID) for your network under the Network name (SSID).
Step 6: Verify and Save changes.
Change My Wi-Fi Name Password
Changing your Wi-Fi network's password can help keep your network secure. Here is how to:
Step 1: Open your favorite browser and type your router's IP address.
Step 2: Log in as the Administrator.
Step 3: Go to settings and click Security.
Step 4: Select WPA or WPA 2 Personal (AES).
Step 5: Enter your new Wi-Fi password, then Click Save when finished.
Why Change Wi-Fi Name
You can change your Wi-Fi name because:
1. Improve Security
If your network uses an old factory default name like Linksys or NETGEAR, hackers can use this information to determine the hardware and software and exploit any vulnerabilities.
2. Make things less confusing
If you have multiple networks in a large home or office, giving them different names helps keep things straight. For instance, if you have a 5GHz band for faster streaming and a 2.4GHz band for maximum range, call one “SSID_A” and the other “SSID_B” so everyone knows which one they're connecting to.
3. Personalize your network
The name you give your Wi-Fi network, known as its SSID (Service Set Identifier), is something you can customize to make it more memorable. You could also use it to give a hint about the location of the network or what it stands for.
For example, if you have Wi-Fi at home, you could call the SSID “Home” or “Barbie” or “Livin' La Vida Loca.” Or, if you have a guest room with a wireless printer for guests to use, you could call that network “Guest Room Wireless.”
Characteristics of Good Wi-Fi Names
There are a few things that make a good SSID.
1. Keep it short and simple
Long, complicated names are harder for people to enter accurately on their devices. You also don't want a network name that is so generic that it will get confused with other nearby networks.
2. Avoid personal information in your name
For example, please don't use your last name, home address, or phone number in the SSID name because it could expose this information to neighbors or passersby scanning for networks.
3. Don't use your default network name from a router manufacturer.
The default names are common and easy targets for hackers looking to access your network. It's best to choose a unique network name that no one else is likely to have.
4. Make it unique
You shouldn't get confused about which Wi-Fi network you're connecting to, especially if you're in a public space with lots of other networks available.
5. Keep it relevant to its location
Your router likely has several antennas, each broadcasting different signals with different names. If you have two routers in your home, they should have other names corresponding to their locations.
FAQs
Q. Should I Rename My Wi-Fi Network?
If you're happy with the name assigned by your ISP, there's no need to change it. However, if your ISP has assigned an unhelpful or confusing name—or if you'd simply like a more distinctive one—you can change the name yourself.
Q. Why Did My Wi-Fi Name Change?
If you're seeing a new Wi-Fi network in your home, it could be your ISP changing its default settings. Many ISPs will assign a distinctive Wi-Fi network name to each device to help you easily differentiate between them.
Wrap Up
Renaming your Wi-Fi is an essential step in securing your wireless network. Name your Wi-Fi network a unique name, preferably something not related to the location your Wi-Fi broadcasts. Anyone who wants to connect to it after that needs to enter its name (SSID) and password.
