How to Change AT&T Wi-Fi Name and Password

Getting an internet connection from AT&T can help your personal and work life, thanks to its high speed and uptime. However, it does not mean that you can take your AT&T connection’s security for granted. Instead, you need to take conscious steps to ensure maximum network security. The first step is changing the AT&T Wi-Fi name and password. Don’t worry if you are unfamiliar with the process. This guide will help.

Why Change Your AT&T Wi-Fi Password

As you may know, your AT&T router comes with a default Wi-Fi name and password. You need to enter these details to connect to the network in the first place. However, sticking with the default SSID and password is not a great idea.

I can think of three reasons you must change your AT&T Wi-Fi password and Wi-Fi username.

First and foremost, AT&T may assign a common SSID and password for your network gateway. It could be something like AT&T Fiber and 12345678. As you can understand, this situation poses a huge problem as people can guess these passwords and access the internet.

I have also seen instances where AT&T devices accept connection requests from random devices because they have connected to an AT&T router in the past.

Second, even if your AT&T router uses a unique SSID and password, these details are available on the router package or the label. So, if one can look at the back of the router or access the user manual, they can access the wireless network as well. The problem? Your wireless network security becomes reliant on distance!

Third, there is the aspect of convenience. I mean, you don’t want to memorize a sequence of numbers and use them to connect to a network, right? Instead, you must choose a password that you can easily remember but remains difficult to guess.

A custom Wi-Fi name (SSID) also makes it easy to locate your network, especially if your residential area has multiple Wi-Fi routers. More so, if you know what you are doing, a new Wi-Fi network name for your AT&T router is another place to showcase your creativity.

Overall, changing the AT&T Wi-Fi name and password can benefit you in terms of security and convenience.

Where to Find Your Current AT&T Wi-Fi Name and Password

Before proceeding to change the Wi-Fi name and password for the AT&T network, you must find the current SSID and password of the network. You can use one of the following methods.

The Router Panel or the Packaging

If you have not changed the SSID and password before, the best way is to check the back panel of the router or the packaging it came with. Depending on the AT&T gateway model, you can find the panel on one of the sides as well. Alternatively, you can check the router’s original packaging. It will contain a label where you can find the Wi-Fi name, password, default IP address, admin username, and admin password.

Accessing Wi-Fi information through the gateway settings screen

If you have already connected to the network, you can use the gateway settings page to find the current AT&T Wi-Fi name and password. Of course, I should assume that you know the Wi-Fi name at this point. You are already connected to the network. However, if you want to find the current password, you can log in to Gateway Settings > Authentication > and check the Key field.

You should be able to see the current password in this field.

If you don’t remember the password and the login password

There could be situations when you forget the password of the AT&T Wi-Fi network. Of course, you can change it if you know the login password for the router. However, if you don’t know this password, you will have to reset the router. When you reset the router, the default Wi-Fi SSID and password will be restored. At this point, you can connect to the network, log in to the dashboard, and change the password.

No matter which method you choose, make sure you have the correct Wi-Fi name and password before you try the steps below.

Methods to Change Your AT&T Wi-Fi Name and Password

You can use three different methods to change your AT&T Wi-Fi name and password. Most of these methods require the router login password.

Through the Web Interface

Using the web interface of your AT&T router is the easiest way to change the Wi-Fi name and password. The steps you need to follow are:

• You should have a smartphone or computer connected to the network via Wi-Fi or Ethernet. I always recommend using Ethernet to avoid signal drops.
• Open a web browser of your choice and type 192.168.1.254 on the address bar. Press Enter and wait for the browser to load the page. Keep in mind that the default IP address for your router might vary based on the router model. So, always check the router panel/packaging before proceeding.
• Once you see the login page, enter the username and password and log in to the dashboard.
• After accessing the dashboard, go to Wireless > Wireless Settings.
• On this page, you can locate a section that contains the Wi-Fi name and the password. Edit these two options and enter the new Wi-Fi name-password combination.

• Save your Settings and wait while your AT&T router restarts.

When your router turns off, all existing devices will be disconnected from the network. When you turn them back on, you need to enter the new Wi-Fi name and password to access the AT&T Wi-Fi network.

Using the AT&T Smart Home Manager

If you don’t want the hassle of signing into the web interface, you can change the AT&T SSID and password using the AT&T Smart Home Manager app. This smartphone app is available for Android and iOS, and it lets you manage the different aspects of your Wi-Fi network.

Changing the Wi-Fi name and password is one of the many things you can do. The steps are as follows:

• Download the AT&T Smart Home Manager app from the Play Store or App Store.
• Make sure you have connected your Android smartphone or iPhone to the AT&T Wi-Fi network.

• Now, open the app and log in using the AT&T user ID and the password
• Go to Networks, where you can see different columns for the Wi-Fi name and the password
• Tap Wi-Fi Password and enter the new password for the network.
• Similarly, tap the Edit button next to the Wi-Fi name and change the network’s SSID.
• Tap Save after you have made all the changes.

That’s it. You have changed the AT&T Wi-Fi name and password from the comfort of your smartphone. As I said before, your AT&T router will restart after this change. Post-restart, you need to reconnect all devices to the new network.

Through the AT&T Website

If you cannot use the web interface or the AT&T Smart Home Manager app, you can try the AT&T website. If you have an active internet connection, you should be able to manage the router settings from the official site. Here are the steps you need to follow:

1. You first need to visit the official website of AT&T from any device, but preferably a computer.
2. Now, log in to the account using the AT&T account credentials. You may have to create an account if you don’t have one yet. This could be the case if you just got the AT&T internet connection.
3. Once you access the dashboard, navigate to Network and choose the wireless network from the list of available options.
4. On the next page, you should see an option to change the Wi-Fi name (SSID) and the password.
5. Make sure you choose the desired Wi-Fi name and password, followed by the Save button.

You should know that the entire process takes a few minutes. That is, the AT&T servers need to communicate with your AT&T router at home and execute the command. Upon successful communication, the AT&T Wi-Fi router will restart and apply the latest settings.

After the restart, you need to connect to the new SSID (Wi-Fi name) and enter the password you had picked.

Tips for Creating a Strong and Secure Wi-Fi Password

Now, changing the default password and the SSID on the AT&T router alone makes a huge difference. You’d be protecting your network from multiple threats. However, you need to follow a few additional steps if you want to create a strong and secure Wi-Fi password.

• The Wi-Fi password must be somewhat complex, with a character length of 12 to 16
• The password should combine uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, special characters, etc.
• It would be a good idea to use special characters in between, replacing actual characters.
• Go for WPA3 encryption whenever you have a choice. Stick to WPA2 only if WPA3 is unavailable.
• Use a custom password generator if you want to get something memorable yet unique.

There are a few additional things you can do. For one, make it a habit to change the AT&T Wi-Fi name and password once in a while. A good duration could be once in two months. This way, even if someone manages to access your Wi-Fi network, you can block them off.

I also recommend using the Guest Wi-Fi network feature if it is available. It is way better than sharing a single Wi-Fi password with everyone who visits your place. This sharing practice can compromise your network’s security even if another person goes through a data leak.

Conclusion

As you have seen, changing the AT&T Wi-Fi name and password is no rocket science—and it should not be. However, keeping this practice can improve your wireless network security by a long shot.