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Router Basics
Routers, like all computer gizmos, have both hardware and software setup. When you first get a router, you cannot just turn it on and start using it right away. The first step you need to do after connecting the router is to configure it. It is like any other secured device on the network that would require a username and password to log in.
If the router has never been configured before, you will be logged in to the router as root, and the router will not require a password. This user is a super-administrator who can perform any operation. For security purposes, the first thing to do is to set an administrator password for the router.
The process of logging into the router remains the same, no matter you purchased your own router or got it from your Internet service provider.
How do I find my router’s IP address? How do I find the username and password to my router?
If you want to change anything on your network, you need to be logged into your router’s software, also known as the firmware. The next thing to do is to connect to the router using a web browser. You can use Internet Explorer or any alternate web browser you like. Follow these steps:
- Connect the router.
Refer to the preceding section for tips on the hardware connection.
- Start up Internet Explorer or any other web browser you like.
The computer must be connected to the router.
- Type the Router’s IP address into the browser’s address bar.
The address looks something like http: //192.168.0.1. Most routers use this address, but this is not the same all the time. Some routers use the address http: //192.168.1.1. Refer to the quick start guide for the router to find the exact address.
- Log in to the router.
You either have the preset administrator’s password to go with, which you can find in the documentation, or may be do not need a password at all. After you’re in, the most important thing to do is to change your administrator’s password. Please choose a nice, strong password.
- Make sure the router’s firewall is active.
The next thing you must do is to make sure your router’s firewall is up and running. It is most likely active by default, but then it won’t hurt to check anyways. Use the router’s interface to navigate to the firewall option screen.
- Close the web browser when you’re done.
Now that you’re done, you can close the web browser window and log out, before you do that.
How do I check my router password? How do I reset my 192.168.1.1 password?
Refer to the manual that comes with the router to locate the username and the password which you need to log into the router. Most routers have default passwords, which are usually printed on a sticker on the router. By default, the username and the password will be same on most routers, which is “admin.” So, you can type “admin” both in the username and the password field to get in.
Of course, you can change the default password to something a bit more secure, and then it’s up to you to memorize the credentials you’ve used. If in any case, you do not remember your login details, logging in becomes a bit difficult. Some routers, however, do offer a password-recovery thing, which you can use to reset your password.
If you cannot access the router’s interface or forgot the password, you can choose to reset your router to its default factory settings. You can press the small reset button usually located at the back or bottom of the router. Hold the button for around 10 seconds and release it. Your router is not set to its factory default. This means you can now access the router web-based interface using the default username and password.
How do I reset my router password without resetting it?
What if you want to recover your router credentials, but you do not want to reset your router?
Well, probably the best way to reset your password is to reset the router altogether, but if you do not want to reset the router, you can use some of the known methods to quick fix the problem.
You can use a password recovery tool to recover your lost username and password for your router. One such popular free-to-use tool is Router Password Kracker, which can help you recover your router password. It contains a database of commonly used passwords.
The easiest way to find your router password is to look for the sticker at the back of your router, which usually has the username and the password mentioned clearly. The sticker has everything from username and password to your router serial number and mac address, and more.
How to access router settings?
To access your router settings, you can simply log into your router’s firmware through a web browser. You can simply type the router’s IP address in the browser’s address bar and hit enter. Then, you can use the default username and password to get inside the router’s web-based interface where you can change the router settings and whatever you want.
One other way to access your router settings is to open command prompt and type ‘ipconfig’ and hit enter to run the command. The window will show all the details for your Default Gateway under the section Ethernet adapter or Wireless LAN adapter. The gateway is your router and the number next to it is your router’s IP address.