Your router stores the settings for your home Wi-Fi network behind a web interface. By accessing this menu, you can rename the network, change the password, adjust the security level, and alter a variety of other options. However, in order to actually gain access to your router’s firmware, you’ll need to know your IP address, username, and password. Here’s how to gain access to your network’s settings. I also have a few recommendations on which options you should change.
Find Your Router’s IP Address
Before you can gain access to your router’s firmware, you’ll need the IP address of your router. Typically, it’s 192.168.1.1, but that’s not always the case, so you may first want to confirm the address of your router. In Windows, go to Settings > Network & internet and then choose Advanced network settings > Hardware and connection properties (Windows 11) or Status > View hardware and connection properties (Windows 10). . Look for an entry named Ethernet or Wi-Fi, then find the Default Gateway setting to locate the IP address.
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You can also find the router’s IP address from the Command Prompt. Enter cmd in the Windows search bar, open the prompt window, and thenenter ipconfig. Scroll through the information until you see Default Gateway under Ethernet adapter or Wireless LAN adapter. That’s your router, and the number next to it is your router’s IP address.
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If you’re on a Mac, click the Apple icon, select System Settings, and then choose Wi-Fi in the sidebar. Click on the name of the connected network at the top, choose Details, and then select the TCP/IP option to see the address for your router.
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Enter Your Login Credentials
Once you have the IP address, open your web browser and enter it into the address field. You’re then asked for a username and password to access the router’s firmware. This is either the default username and password for your router—separate from your Wi-Fi password—or unique credentials that you may have created when you set up the router.
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Can’t log in? Many routers have a label printed directly on the unit with the default username and password, so check this first. If the credentials listed on the label don’t work, and you can’t remember them, signing in becomes a bit trickier. Some routers offer a password-recovery feature. If yours does, it should appear after you enter the wrong credentials a certain number of times. Typically, this window will ask for the router’s serial number, which you should find on the unit.
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If you never changed the router’s login credentials, many use the default username admin and the default password password. Try that combination to see if it works. Otherwise, you can run a web search for the default username and password for your router brand, such as Netgear, Linksys, Asus, or TP-Link. Another option is to visit Routerpasswords.com, where you can select the manufacturer to get a list of default usernames and passwords. Try each to see if one of them works.
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If you still can’t log into your router’s firmware, you’ll need to reset the device to revert all settings back to their defaults. You’ll usually find a small reset button on your router. Using a pointed object, like a pen or paper clip, push in and hold the reset button for around 10 seconds. You should now be able to log into your router using the default username and password.
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Change Router Settings
After you gain access to your router’s firmware, you’ll be free to change the different network settings. These include the router name and password, the security level, and the Wi-Fi password. You can also set up parental controls, create a guest network, and manage attached devices. Just remember to apply any changes before you move on to the next screen.
While we can’t walk you through every process for your specific device, documentation from the manufacturer and built-in help tools should be available to assist you in making the necessary changes. Most modern routers also have setup wizards that can take care of some of this labor for you.
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I recommend changing the router’s username and password if they’re still set to the default values. Look for the Administrator tab, or something similar. (Note that some routers let you change only the password, not the username.) When creating a new password, remember to create a secure password—not so difficult that you can’t remember it but complex enough that it’s not easy to guess. A passphrase with a combination of easy-to-remember words is also a good option.
Be sure to keep track of the new password so you don’t have to reset the router in the future. Your router’s firmware may also ask you to set up security questions and answers, another handy way to prove your identity. You’ll then have to apply the settings and log back into your router.
(Credit: PCMag / Netgear)
Change Your Wi-Fi Password
While you’re here, take a moment to review your current Wi-Fi password and change it to something secure. To do this, look for a Wireless or Wi-Fi section in the router’s firmware. You’ll see your current Wi-Fi name and password listed, which you can modify. You may want to change the default Wi-Fi name if it’s still using the brand name of the router.
Checking your security settings is another item on the to-do list. Under Security Options, or a similar section, make sure the security for your network is set to at least WPA2-PSK [AES], which has been the strongest level available for years. Newer routers with the latest Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E, and Wi-Fi 7 technology offer the more secure WPA3 option, which you should use if available. Apply your new settings and close the browser window when finished.
(Credit: PCMag / Netgear)
About Our Expert
Lance Whitney
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Experience
I’ve been working for PCMag since early 2016 writing tutorials, how-to pieces, and other articles on consumer technology. Beyond PCMag, I’ve written news stories and tutorials for a variety of other websites and publications, including , ZDNet, TechRepublic, Macworld, PC World, Time, US News & World Report, and AARP Magazine. I spent seven years writing breaking news for as one of the site’s East Coast reporters. I’ve also written two books for Wiley & Sons—Windows 8: Five Minutes at a Time and Teach Yourself Visually LinkedIn.
I’ve used Windows, Office, and other Microsoft products for years so I’m well versed in that world. I also know the Mac quite well. I’m always working with iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and Android on my various mobile devices. And these days, I write a lot about AI, so that’s become another key area for me.
My wife always jokes about all the tech products we have around the house, but I manage to put them to good use for my articles. I like Lenovo computers, so I own a couple of Lenovo desktops and several laptops. I have three MacBooks and a Mac mini. For my mobile life and work, I use an iPhone 16 Pro, iPad Pro, and iPad mini as well as an Apple Watch. But since I write about Android, I own several Android phones and tablets. Like any tech person, I have a cabinet full of cables, wires, and assorted mysterious gadgets. And when it’s time to take a break from writing, I have an old Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii, both of which I use for exercise and fitness games.
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