Forgot Your Router Password
A forgotten router admin password is a common problem with a clear solution. There is no password recovery email or security question - the only paths are trying default credentials or doing a factory reset.
Your Two Options
Router admin passwords cannot be recovered - there is no "forgot password" link and no way to read the stored password from outside the admin panel. You have exactly two options, and which one applies depends on whether the password was ever changed from factory default:
If nobody ever changed the admin password, the router still uses its factory default. Check the label on the router or search the default passwords database. Takes 30 seconds.
If the password was changed and you do not have it, a factory reset is the only option. This restores all settings to factory defaults including the original admin credentials. Takes 2 minutes.
Step 1 - Try Default Credentials
Before factory resetting and losing all your router settings, check whether the password is still the factory default. Look at the sticker on the bottom or back of your router - it almost always shows the default admin username and password. Common default combinations:
| Brand | Default Username | Default Password | Admin IP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Netgear | admin | password | 192.168.1.1 / routerlogin.net |
| TP-Link (older) | admin | admin | 192.168.1.1 / tplinkwifi.net |
| TP-Link (2020+) | admin | set on first login | 192.168.1.1 |
| Asus | admin | admin | 192.168.1.1 / router.asus.com |
| Linksys | admin | admin | 192.168.1.1 / myrouter.local |
| D-Link | admin | blank (empty) | 192.168.0.1 / dlinkrouter.local |
| Xfinity/Arris | admin | password | 10.0.0.1 |
| Fritz!Box | none (leave blank) | Printed on device label | fritz.box / 192.168.178.1 |
| Huawei LTE | admin | admin | 192.168.8.1 / hi.link |
| BT Smart Hub | admin | Unique - on hub label | 192.168.1.254 / bthub.home |
Search the full default passwords database for your specific model →
Important distinction: The router has two separate passwords - the admin password to log into the settings panel, and the Wi-Fi password for connecting devices. This guide covers the admin password. If you only need the Wi-Fi password and can connect to the network, see how to find the Wi-Fi password in the admin panel.
Step 2 - Factory Reset (If Defaults Fail)
A factory reset wipes all custom settings - Wi-Fi network name, Wi-Fi password, port forwarding rules, DNS settings, parental controls - and restores the router to the exact state it was in when new. After reset, you will need to reconfigure everything.
The reset button is usually a small pinhole on the back or bottom of the router, labelled "Reset" or "Restore". You need a straightened paper clip, a SIM card eject tool, or a toothpick to press it.
With the router powered on, press and hold the reset button. Most routers require 10 seconds. Asus requires 5-10 seconds. Netgear requires 7 seconds. Hold until the power LED flashes or all lights briefly turn off and back on - that is the reset confirmation.
The router reboots into factory defaults. Do not power cycle it during this process. When the power LED returns to solid, the reset is complete.
The admin password is now the factory default printed on the label. Connect to the router's default Wi-Fi network (also on the label) and navigate to the admin IP. Log in and immediately change both the admin password and Wi-Fi password.
Full details per brand: Complete factory reset guide →
After Resetting - Reconfigure Essentials
- Change admin password from the factory default immediately - anyone on your network can access the panel otherwise
- Set your Wi-Fi name (SSID) and password - use at least 12 characters with mixed character types
- Enable WPA3 or WPA2-AES encryption - reject WPA or WEP
- Re-enter your ISP credentials in WAN settings if your connection type was PPPoE (DSL connections)
- Recreate any port forwarding rules, DNS settings, or DHCP reservations you had before
FAQ
Does factory reset change my ISP/internet connection?
On cable internet (DHCP): no - the router gets its WAN IP automatically from your ISP, so internet returns immediately after reboot. On DSL (PPPoE): yes - you need to re-enter your ISP username and password in WAN settings before internet works again. Contact your ISP if you do not have these credentials.
I reset the router but the default password is not working
Two possible causes: (1) The reset did not complete - the hold time was too short. Try again with a firm hold of 15 seconds. (2) The label password applies to the Wi-Fi, not the admin panel. On some routers, the label shows a unique Wi-Fi password that is different from the admin credentials. Try admin/admin or admin/password on the admin panel even if the label shows something different.
Can I reset without losing my Wi-Fi settings?
No. A factory reset erases everything including Wi-Fi settings - that is the nature of the operation. If you need to change only the admin password without erasing Wi-Fi settings, the only way is to know the current admin password and change it through the panel. See: Change router admin password. There is no middle ground between the two options.