An approach is provided that allows an administrator to set a new password at a wireless access point, such as a traditional WAP or a wireless router. The wireless access point creates a message that includes the new password. The message is encrypted using the old password that was previously set for the wireless network. The encrypted message is wirelessly transmitted from the wireless access point to the active client devices (those clients currently accessing the wireless network). The clients decrypt the message using the old password that was previously provided to the clients. The clients retrieve the new password from the message. The clients construct a new message that is encrypted using the new password. The new message is wirelessly transmitted from the clients to the wireless access device and serves as an acknowledgement.