How to change the password on the router

From time to time, it is advisable to change the password on your router (router) in order to more secure your computer and personal information. Each router works slightly differently, however there are many models of routers and it is impossible to pin down the features of each. Fortunately, most of the steps are appropriate for the vast majority of routers, even if their looks and specifications are slightly different. Here are the basic steps you need to take to reset your router password.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Find your router login information

Step 1. Check your router and instructions

If you've never changed your login information, then it is still the default one. Typically, standard login information (IP address, username and password) can be found on the back of the router or in the instructions for it.

• Only the standard IP address can be specified in the instructions. The password may not always be specified here. But on the side of the router, there must be all the necessary information.

• The standard address for most routers is 192.168.1.1.

  This includes Linksys routers, Actiontec, VersaLink and many more.

• However, the standard address may differ from this. For AT&T routers, the address is used as the default 192.168.1.254.

  For WRP400 - 192.168.15.1.

Step 2. Download the electronic version of the manual

If you cannot find the manual from your router, you can usually find its electronic version on the manufacturer's website.

• In the electronic version of the manual, only the standard IP address will be indicated. It will not work if you have changed the default IP address of the router.
• To find an electronic version of the manual, first search the Internet for the manufacturer's website address. On the website, use the search form or menu to find instructions for the routers they make.

Step 3. Determine the IP address using TCP / IP software

To do this, open a command prompt and enter the "ipconfig" command. The router's IP address will be listed in the "Default Gateway" section.

• If you are using Windows, press the Windows and R buttons at the same time to launch the Run dialog box. To start the command line, enter "cmd", then in the command line itself - "ipconfig" and press the "Enter" button to display the IP address of the router.
• If you are using a Mac, go to the Applications menu and click on the Utilities section. Here select "Terminal". To display information on the IP address, respectively, enter "ipconfig" and press the "Return" ("Enter") button.
• On Linux, open a Terminal by pressing the "Ctrl" + "Alt" + "T" keys at the same time. In a terminal, enter the command "sudo ifconfig" to display the information you need.

Step 4. Find out the standard login and password for your router

If you've never changed them, they may still be standard. They depend on the manufacturer.

• You can search for the default password for your router at the link:
  • Select the manufacturer of your router from the drop-down list and click on the "Find Password" button.
  • A list of models of the selected manufacturer will be displayed. Find your router model in it and find the standard username and password in the "username" and "password" columns.

• For routers from NetGear, LinkSys, Actiontec and VersaLink manufacturers, the standard login is admin.

• Please note that some routers do not have a login (for example Belkin routers).
• If you are using LinkSys, Belkin and some Actiontec routers, leave the password field blank.

• For Netgear, VersaLink and other Actiontec routers, try the default password - password.

  

  Step 5. Reset the router settings to factory defaults

  If you've changed your login information and can't find it anywhere, the only practical solution is to factory reset your router.

  • As a rule, to reset to factory settings, you need to press the "Reset" button on the back of the router and do not release it for 30 seconds. Typically, to press this button, you will need a toothpick, a straightened paperclip, or other sharp object that will fit into the hole under which the Reset button is located.
  • Resetting your router will erase any settings you made. Also, the login and password will be reset to the standard login and password.

  Part 2 of 3: Log into a router on your network

  

  Step 1. Open your web browser

  Any browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, or Google Chrome) will work.

  

  Step 2. Enter the IP address of your router

  This information must be entered directly into the address bar of your browser. To go to the entered address, press the "Enter" ("Return") button or click on the "Go" button next to the address bar.

  This will take you to the configuration page for your router. From this point on, the steps will differ depending on the manufacturer and model of the router, but there are still a few standard steps left

  

  Step 3. Log in to the router

  In most cases, you will need to enter the username and password that you learned earlier. Once you have entered this information, click the "OK" or "Submit" button.

  Please note that in some cases the system will not ask for a username or password until you try to make changes to the settings

  Part 3 of 3: Change your password

  

  Step 1. Find the tab you want

  Once you access your router's settings page, you will need to look for the section where you need to change the password.

  • In most cases, changing the password can be done on the "Management" or "Security" tab.
  • For Linksys, this is the Administration tab. If you have an older Linksys router, then click on the “Password” tab.
  • On VersaLink routers, look under the "Maintenance" menu.
  • Changing the password for NetGear routers is done in the “Advanced” tab. Here you will need to go to "Settings" and then to "Wireless Settings".
  • For AT&T routers, you will need to click on the "System Password" link. Please note that you do not need to enter your current password until you enter this section. You will be taken to the "Edit System Password" screen, where you need to enter a new password and a hint to it.

  

  Step 2. Alternatively, find these instructions in the manual

  If you have a PDF version of the manual for your router, you can search for "password" and find information on how to change your password in the search results.

  The difficulty of searching for the word "password" is that the instruction contains many of these words and there will be too many results in the search that are not related to what you are looking for. For example, the login password is not a PPoE password, PPTP password or L2TP password, and not even a password for your wireless network

  

  Step 3. Enter a new password

  While all routers work a little differently, in most cases you just need to enter your password in the Password field and re-enter it in the Enter your password again. Press the "Apply" or "Submit" button to confirm.

  

  Step 4. Log in using your new password

  Most routers will kick you out of the settings page and ask you to enter a new password. Enter a new password to make sure it works.

  After you have verified that it works, write down the password and keep it where you can find it. You can write it on a card, which can then be glued to the router. Along with the password, write the username and IP-address so that you do not have to search for them again in the future

  Warnings

  To keep your network secure, change the router password every 6 or 12 months. If you still have the default password, change it immediately.