How to reset your router password?
Contents
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 youโve 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 youโve never changed your router password, or this is your first time changing your settings, you may find your routerโs default login details printed on the back of the router.
First try the routerโs default username and password
You can find your routerโs default username and password in three ways:
Printed on a sticker on the back of the router
Check for โRouter login details.โ Itโll be something like: http://192.168.1.1, which youโll need to enter into your browser to access your routerโs online interface. You should also see a username and password printed on the back.
Default router password combinations
You can also try logging in with any one of these:
(Note: This is being drawn Nord-style by designers)
UsernamePasswordadminpasswordadminadminadminadministratoradministratorpassworduserpasswordFinding your routerโs default username and password online
You can use RouterPasswords.com where you may be able to find your routerโs default username and password. Youโll 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 isnโt, youโll need to factory reset your router โ which we demonstrate in the next section.
Make sure youโre connected to your Wi-Fi. Go to routerlogin.net or routerlogin.com.
When a login window appears, click Cancel.
When the Router Password Recovery window appears, enter your routerโs serial number and click Continue. (You can find the serial number on the back of the router, itโs a string of 13 letters and numbers).
Answer your security questions and click Continue. Your admin password should display.
(If youโve forgotten your security answers youโll need to factory-reset your router.)
How to hard reset your router if youโve forgotten your password.
Weโve shown you how to gain access to your router online to change your password, router settings, and configurations. If youโve gained access by using a default username and password or by hard resetting it, as shown above โ youโre now able to change your password.
How to change your router password?
Weโve shown you how to gain access to your router online to change your password, router settings, and configurations. If youโve gained access by using a default username and password or by hard resetting it, as shown above โ youโre now able to change your password.
Once you log in, look for a โsettings,โ โmanagement,โ or โadministrationโ area.
Create a strong, secure router password with the NordPasspassword generator. A great password always combines letters, numbers, and special characters.
Why your router password matters?
Itโs 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. Weโre 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, youโll be back to square one again.
NordPass stores and encrypts your complex passwords, helping to keep your precious data, devices, and routers safe.
