How to Reset a Router's Password?

Every router has a web interface that you can log into online to change settings like parental controls, remote access, and firewall rules. To do so, you need your router username and password. (This is different from the password you use to connect to Wi-Fi.) Resetting your password is vital for your security, so you should change it from the default one immediately, choosing a password that is unique and complex.

If you’ve forgotten your router password, you can always hard-reset your router to change it. Bear in mind that this will erase all of your settings and take your router back to its default factory settings.

If you’ve never changed your router password, or this is your first time changing your settings, you may find your router’s default login details printed on the back of the router.

First try the router’s default username and password

You can find your router’s default username and password in three ways:

1. Printed on a sticker on the back of the router

   Check for “Router login details.” It’ll be something like: http://192.168.1.1, which you’ll need to enter into your browser to access your router’s online interface. You should also see a username and password printed on the back.

2. Default router password combinations

   You can also try logging in with any one of these:

   (Note: This is being drawn Nord-style by designers)

3. Finding your router’s default username and password online

You can use RouterPasswords.com where you may be able to find your router’s default username and password. You’ll need to know the manufacturer of your router, and the model if possible.

How to reset a NETGEAR router password?

NETGEAR routers have a password recovery feature, i.e., security questions to recover your password. You may have set this up the last time you changed your password. In any case, this feature must already be activated when attempting this. If it isn’t, you’ll need to factory reset your router – which we demonstrate in the next section.

1. Make sure you’re connected to your Wi-Fi. Go to routerlogin.net or routerlogin.com.

2. When a login window appears, click Cancel.

3. When the Router Password Recovery window appears, enter your router’s serial number and click Continue. (You can find the serial number on the back of the router, it’s a string of 13 letters and numbers).

4. Answer your security questions and click Continue. Your admin password should display.

(If you’ve forgotten your security answers you’ll need to factory-reset your router.)

How to hard reset your router if you’ve forgotten your password.

We’ve shown you how to gain access to your router online to change your password, router settings, and configurations. If you’ve gained access by using a default username and password or by hard resetting it, as shown above – you’re now able to change your password.

How to change your router password?

We’ve shown you how to gain access to your router online to change your password, router settings, and configurations. If you’ve gained access by using a default username and password or by hard resetting it, as shown above – you’re now able to change your password.

1. Once you log in, look for a “settings,” “management,” or “administration” area.

2. Create a strong, secure router password with the NordPass password generator. A great password always combines letters, numbers, and special characters.

Why your router password matters?

It’s extremely important to secure your router with a fool-proof password, here are just two reasons why:

• If a hacker gets hold of your router username and password, they can access your router settings, take down your firewall, and expose your internal network traffic to steal your data.

• If your DNS information is tampered with, an attacker could redirect you to convincing phishing sites to try and steal your banking passwords, for instance.

The takeaway

When it comes to security, always take preventative measures. We’re filling our homes and offices with so many smart devices in 2020, that their connectivity can pose a huge security risk. Thankfully, some of the newer routers already feature in-built DDoS attack protection, parental controls, and domain filtering, for example.

The last thing to remember is to always change your router password from the default to secure it against hackers. As you saw at the beginning of this article, default router passwords are common knowledge, and any cybercriminal can try them on your router. Once you do create your new, super complex password, use a good password manager like NordPass to keep you from forgetting it. Or else, you’ll be back to square one again.