Forgot Your Router Admin Password

The router admin password is the one that opens the router settings page, and it is separate from the Wi-Fi password. If it is lost and the default no longer works, a factory reset is the only way back in, and it wipes every custom setting.

The recovery, in order

  1. Try the default login first. Check the label on the bottom or back of the router for the default username, password, and admin page address. Common defaults are admin for both fields, or admin with password as the password, but always use what the label or the maker's documentation says for the model.
  2. Check saved passwords. Look in the browser saved passwords and the password manager for the router admin address, and check whether the router maker's app is still signed in, since the app can sometimes open settings without the admin password.
  3. Reset the router. Find the small recessed reset button, usually on the back, and press it with a paperclip or a similar tool. Hold it for about 10 seconds, until the lights flash or the router restarts, then let go.
  4. Wait for the router to restart, then sign in with the default login from the label. The admin page address is usually printed on the same label, and is often 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1, depending on the maker.
  5. Set a new admin password, a new Wi-Fi name, and a new Wi-Fi password. Save all three in a password manager right away, then reconnect every device with the new Wi-Fi password.
A factory reset erases custom Wi-Fi names and passwords, port forwarding rules, parental controls, and any other custom settings. Every device will need to reconnect with the new Wi-Fi password, and any special setup, such as port forwarding for a game console, has to be entered again from scratch.

If the usual reset doesn't work

If the reset button does nothing, check the maker's support site for the exact reset procedure for the model, since the button timing and the reset method vary. Some routers need the button held while the power is plugged back in, and some have a reset option in the app instead of a physical button. If the router was supplied by the internet provider, the provider's app or support pages may manage it, and the provider can replace it if the reset fails. If the label is worn off or missing, the maker's support site lists the default login by model number.

How to avoid getting locked out again

Change the default admin password during setup, and store it in a password manager along with the Wi-Fi password and the admin page address. Keep a note of the router model and the default login with the password, so a future reset is a five minute job instead of a search. Never leave the admin password at the factory default, since anyone on the network can look it up.

Common questions

Is the router admin password the same as the Wi-Fi password? No. The admin password opens the router settings page, while the Wi-Fi password connects devices to the wireless network. They are set separately and can be different.

Will a factory reset change my internet service? No. A factory reset only clears the router's own settings. The internet service itself is unaffected, but the Wi-Fi name and password return to the factory defaults, so every device has to be set up again.

How long do I hold the router reset button? About 10 seconds, until the lights change or the router restarts. Check the maker's guide for the exact timing on the model, since it varies.

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