Access your router's login page from any device on your network

Open a web browser on any computer, phone, or tablet connected to your Netgear network. Type routerlogin.net into the address bar and press Enter. If that does not work, try 192.168.1.1 instead — both take you to the same login page.

You will see a login screen asking for a username and password. The default username is admin. The default password is also admin unless you changed it before. Enter both and click Log In.

If you changed the password in the past and cannot remember it, you will need to reset the router to factory defaults. Press and hold the small reset button on the back of the router for 10 to 15 seconds until the lights blink. This erases all your settings, so you will need to set up your network name and password again from scratch.

Key Takeaways

  • You reach your router settings by typing routerlogin.net or 192.168.1.1 into any web browser connected to your network.
  • The default login is username admin and password admin unless you have changed it before.
  • The router password (what you type to join the Wi-Fi) is different from the admin password (what you type to change settings), and you change them in different places.
  • If you forget the admin password, you must reset the router to factory defaults by holding the reset button for 10 to 15 seconds.
  • After changing your password, write it down or save it somewhere safe — you will need it to log back in later.

Find the password settings in the Advanced tab

Once you are logged in, look for a tab or menu labeled Advanced at the top of the page. Click it. On the left side, you will see a list of options. Find and click Administration or System Settings — the exact name depends on your router model.

Scroll down until you see a section labeled Router Password or Admin Password. This is the password you use to log into this settings page, not the Wi-Fi password. Leave this field blank if you want to remove the password requirement, or enter a new one if you want to keep one.

Some Netgear models put this setting under Administration > Set Password instead. If you cannot find it in the first location, check the Administration menu directly.

Change your Wi-Fi password in the Wireless settings

If you want to change the password people use to join your Wi-Fi network, that is in a different place. From the main settings page, click Wireless or Wi-Fi at the top. You will see your network name (SSID) and a field labeled Passphrase or Password.

Click in that field and type your new Wi-Fi password. Make it at least 12 characters long and mix uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols — this makes it much harder to guess. Write down the new password before you save it, because you will need it to reconnect your devices.

The security setting above the password field should say WPA2 or WPA3. Do not change this — it is the encryption that protects your network. Older settings like WEP are no longer find.

Save your changes and reconnect your devices

After you enter your new password, look for a Save or explore button at the bottom of the page. Click it. The router will take 30 seconds to a few minutes to restart and explore the change.

Once the restart is complete, your old Wi-Fi password will no longer work. On each device — phone, laptop, tablet, smart TV — forget the old network and reconnect using the new password. Go to your Wi-Fi settings, select your network name, choose Forget or Remove, then reconnect and enter the new password.

If you changed the admin password (the one you use to log into this settings page), you will need that new password the next time you want to change router settings. If you left the admin password blank, you can log in with just the username admin and no password.

What to do if you cannot reach the login page

If routerlogin.net does not load, make sure your device is actually connected to your Netgear network — not a different Wi-Fi network or a mobile hotspot. Check the Wi-Fi icon on your device and confirm you are on the right network.

If you are connected but the page still will not load, try unplugging the router for 30 seconds, then plugging it back in. Wait two minutes for it to fully restart, then try routerlogin.net again. If that does not work, try the IP address 192.168.1.1 instead.

If neither address works after a restart, your router may have been assigned a different IP address by your internet provider. Check the bottom or back of the router for a sticker with the correct address, or restart your modem (the device that connects to your internet cable) as well as the router.

Protect your new password from being forgotten

Write down both passwords — the Wi-Fi password and the admin password — and store them somewhere safe. A notebook in a drawer, a password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password, or a note in your phone's find notes app all work. Do not email them to yourself or post them online.

If you have family members or roommates who need to join the Wi-Fi, give them only the Wi-Fi password, not the admin password. The admin password should stay with whoever manages the router settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between the Wi-Fi password and the admin password?

The Wi-Fi password is what people type to join your network on their phone or computer. The admin password is what you type to log into the router settings page to make changes. You change them in different places, and you should make them different from each other.

Can I change my password without logging into the router settings?

No. You must log into the router settings page through routerlogin.net or 192.168.1.1 to change either password. There is no app or other way to do it remotely.

What happens to my devices when I change the Wi-Fi password?

They will lose connection to the network and will not reconnect automatically. You will need to go into each device's Wi-Fi settings, forget the old network, and reconnect using the new password. This takes a few minutes per device but only needs to happen once.

Do I need to change my password regularly?

You do not need to change it on a schedule, but you should change it if you think someone has learned it, if you are selling or giving away the router, or if you have not changed it in several years. A strong password (12+ characters with mixed types) is more important than how often you change it.

What if I reset the router but still cannot log in?

After a factory reset, the default username and password are both admin. If that does not work, the router may have a hardware problem. Try a different browser, clear your browser cache, or use a different device. If none of those work, contact Netgear support with your router model number.