First, Know What You're Looking For
The router admin login (a username and password) opens the settings page at an address like 192.168.1.1. It is not the same as your Wi-Fi password, which connects devices to the network — even though both are sometimes printed on the same label. The username for most routers is simply admin; the password is the part that varies.
1. Check the Sticker on the Router
This works for the majority of routers made in the last several years. Flip the router over or look at the back panel for a label listing some combination of:
- Admin username (usually
admin) - Admin password — often a unique per-device string, not a generic word
- Default Wi-Fi name (SSID) and Wi-Fi password — separate from the admin login
- The admin URL or IP address
On many ISP gateways the label calls it a "Device Access Code", "admin password", or "WiFi Security Key" — read the labels carefully so you use the admin one, not the Wi-Fi one.
2. Check the Manual or Setup Card
The quick-start guide, the manual, or the card your ISP left at installation usually states the default login. No paper copy? Search the manufacturer's support site for your exact model number (also printed on the sticker).
3. Use the Brand Default
If there's no sticker and no manual, fall back to the brand-wide default. The most common combinations:
| Brand | Username | Password |
|---|---|---|
| Netgear | admin | password |
| TP-Link | admin | admin (or set at setup) |
| Linksys | admin | admin (or blank) |
| ASUS | admin | admin |
| D-Link | admin | (blank) |
| Arris / Motorola | admin | password / motorola |
For the full list across every brand and ISP gateway, see default router passwords. Mind case sensitivity and the 0-vs-O mix-up.
4. Don't Know the IP to Log In To? Find It First
You need the router's admin IP to reach the login page at all:
- Windows: Command Prompt →
ipconfig→ Default Gateway. - macOS: System Settings → Network → Details → TCP/IP → Router.
- Phone: Wi-Fi settings → your network → Router/Gateway.
Full steps: how to find your router's IP address.
When the Login Doesn't Work
If the sticker or default credentials are rejected, the admin password was changed at some point. Try anything you set during installation or that your ISP supplied. If it's genuinely lost, a factory reset restores the default username and password — but wipes every setting. See forgot router password and the factory reset guide. If the page won't even load, that's a different problem — see router login not working.
Once You're In: Change It Immediately
Default credentials are published in public databases, and bots scan for routers still using them. The first thing to do after logging in is replace the default:
- Set a unique, strong admin password — see change router admin password.
- Keep the admin and Wi-Fi passwords different.
- Update the firmware and confirm WPA3/WPA2 security is enabled.
- Save both passwords in a password manager so you're not back here next month.
Brand-Specific Login Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is my router's username and password?
Check the sticker on the router first — most modern units print the default admin username and a unique password there. Otherwise check the manual or the brand default (commonly admin/admin or admin/password).
What is the default username for most routers?
It's admin for the large majority. A few use the model name, user, or a blank username. The password is what varies most by brand.
Is the router login the same as the Wi-Fi password?
No. The admin login opens the settings page; the Wi-Fi password connects devices. They're separate credentials, even if both are on the same sticker.
What if the sticker credentials don't work?
The admin password was changed. Try any password you set at install or that your ISP gave you; if it's lost, a factory reset restores the sticker defaults but erases all settings.