This Step By Step Tutorial Explains How to Find Out the Default Username and Password of a Router
Routers protect their web interfaces — where you can configure their networking, parental control, and port forwarding settings — with a default username and password. You can change these default passwords to something a bit more secure, but then it’s on you to remember the credentials you’ve used. If you’re working with a router for which you don’t know the password, you’ll need to reset the router to use its default settings, and then find out what those default credentials are.
Let’s consider the scenarios where you need to login to a router’s admin interface to manage or setup a router. This could happen if you have:
- Forgotten your router’s password.
- Acquired a used router.
- Helping someone with setting up a home router.
Now we need a username and password to login into the router to get access to the router through a web interface or remotely for performing further configuration and installation of applications into the router.
In this post, I will explore the method and process of getting the username and password of different routers for access and login into them.
How To Find Default Router Username And Password?
Before resetting your router to its default settings, you should first try using the default username and password to log in. It’s possible that they were never changed in the first place. And since resetting the router resets all of its settings, it’s worth trying those default credentials first. Besides, you’ll need them anyway if you end up resetting the router to its factory default settings.
Check Router’s User Manual
The default username and password can be obtained from the router manual which comes with the router when you first purchase and install it. If you don’t have the manual you can search web using a Google query that looks something like this:
{vendor-name} {model-number} user manual download pdf
If I am searching for a TP-Link router’s manual and my model number is AX11000 then my exact search will be:
tp link ax11000 user manual download pdf
Note: Generally, for most of the routers, the default username and password is admin
and admin
. However, these credentials may vary depending upon the maker of the router.
Find Router Login and Network From the Router Box
For example, the image below shows the label from back of the router body.
- While using the router, we can change the credentials at any time to prevent unauthorized access to the network. This can be done by resetting the router and entering a new password according to our choice.
- To reset the router, hold the reset button for few seconds and the router will get rebooted to its default factory settings. Later, we can change the default settings and set the username and password of our choice.
Use Common Router Username and Password Combinations
Most manufacturers use common username and password combinations for many of their model series. You can check the list below to find your router and try the provided credentials.
Router Brand | Default IP Address | Default Username | Default Password | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3Com | http://192.168.1.1 | admin | admin |
2 | Arris | http://192.168.0.1 | admin | password |
3 | Asus | http://192.168.1.1 | admin | admin |
4 | Belkin | http://192.168.2.1 | admin | admin |
5 | BenQ | http://192.168.1.1 | admin | admin |
6 | DELL | http://192.168.1.1 | admin | password |
8 | D-Link | http://192.168.0.1 | admin | admin |
9 | Linksys | http://192.168.1.1 | admin | admin |
10 | Netcomm | http://192.168.1.1 | admin | password |
11 | Netgear | http://192.168.0.1 | admin | password |
12 | Netstar | http://192.168.0.1 | admin | password |
13 | Sigma | http://192.168.0.1 | admin | admin |
15 | Tenda | http://192.168.0.1 | admin | admin |
16 | TP-Link | http://192.168.0.1 http://192.168.1.1 | admin | admin |
17 | Zcom | http://192.168.0.1 | root | admin |
18 | ZTE | http://192.168.0.1 | admin | admin |
Resetting Router to Default Factory Settings.
In some cases where the credentials have been changed from the default value you may need to reset the router to factory settings. This process is usually similar for most routers so below is an example on how to reset a router to factory configuration.
Routers have a small button, sometimes hidden in a pinhole that you can press to reset the router to its default factory settings. This resets all configuration changes you’ve made to the router, including the login credentials, port forwarding, parental controls and other network settings. Once the router has been reset you can access all settings using the default username and password configurations.
The exact process (and location of the reset button) vary from router to router. For best results, consult your router’s manual for any model-specific instructions. However, the process is generally the same on most routers.
As shown in the image above, the reset button is a pinhole
that you need to keep pressed while you turn the router on. Once the first light shows up you can release the button. This will basically reset the router to its factory state and you can login using default username and password once the startup has completed.
Routers With No Default Username or Password
Many of the new routers are getting better with vendors not using standard login information shared across the whole model lineup. What they have ended up doing is attach a sticker with login information on usually the back side of the router.
This makes it harder for a hacker to get access unless they have physical access to the router.
Protecting Your Router from Hackers
The most important thing one should do is immediately change the login credentials from the default set by the manufacturer.
When choosing a password you should select a strong password and not something that could be easy guessed. This makes it harder for a hacker to get access to you home or business network.