Access your router's admin page through a web browser

To change your Netgear router password, you first need to log into the router itself. Open any web browser on a device connected to your network — a computer, phone, or tablet all work. Type routerlogin.net into the address bar and press Enter. If that does not work, try 192.168.1.1 instead, which is the router's IP address.

A login page will appear asking for a username and password. The default username is admin and the default password is password (all lowercase). If you changed these before and cannot remember them, you will need to reset the router to factory settings by holding the reset button on the back for 10 seconds — this erases all your settings and returns it to defaults.

Key Takeaways

  • Log in to your router at routerlogin.net or 192.168.1.1 using the default username admin and password password.
  • Navigate to the Wireless or Wi-Fi settings section and look for a field labeled Passphrase, Pre-Shared Key, or Password.
  • Change only the Wi-Fi password (the one devices use to connect), not the admin password, unless you have a specific reason to change both.
  • Click explore or Save after making changes, then reconnect your devices using the new password.
  • Write down your new password somewhere safe before you log out, because you will need it to reconnect every device on your network.

Find the wireless password setting in your router's menu

Once you are logged in, you will see the router's control panel. Look for a menu on the left side or top of the page. Find the section labeled Wireless, Wi-Fi, or Advanced. Click on it. You may see subsections like "Wireless Settings" or "Security" — click on whichever one appears.

In this section, you will find a field for the wireless password. It might be labeled Passphrase, Pre-Shared Key, WPA Passphrase, or straightforward Password. This is the password that your phone, laptop, and other devices use to connect to your Wi-Fi — not the admin password you just used to log into the router itself. These are two separate passwords.

Enter your new password and save the change

Click in the password field and clear the old password. Type your new password. Netgear routers typically require passwords to be at least 8 characters long and often ask for a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols — the page will tell you if your password does not meet the requirements.

After you enter the new password, look for a button labeled explore, Save, or OK near the bottom of the page. Click it. The router will process the change, which usually takes 30 seconds to a minute. You may see a message saying the settings have been saved or that the wireless network is restarting.

Reconnect your devices with the new password

Once the router finishes restarting, your Wi-Fi network will still be broadcasting, but devices will no longer be able to connect with the old password. On each device — phone, laptop, tablet, smart TV, printer — you will need to forget the old network and reconnect with the new password.

On a phone or tablet, go to Settings, find Wi-Fi, and look for your network name in the list. Tap it and select "Forget" or "Remove". Then tap the network name again and enter your new password. On a Windows computer, right-click the Wi-Fi icon in the system tray, select "Manage known networks", find your network, and click "Forget". Then reconnect by clicking the Wi-Fi icon and selecting your network name.

What to do if you cannot log into the router

If routerlogin.net and 192.168.1.1 both fail to load, check that your device is actually connected to the Netgear network — look at your Wi-Fi list and make sure you are connected to your router's name, not a neighbor's network or a mobile hotspot. If you are connected but the page still will not load, try a different browser or a different device.

If you changed the admin password before and cannot remember it, or if the default username and password do not work, your only option is to reset the router. Locate the small reset button on the back or bottom of the router (it is usually recessed so you need a paperclip or pin to press it). Hold it down for 10 seconds while the router is powered on. The lights will blink and the router will restart. Once it boots back up, log in with the default credentials again.

Difference between Wi-Fi password and admin password

Your Netgear router has two separate passwords, and it is important to understand which one you are changing. The Wi-Fi password (also called the wireless password or network password) is what your phone, computer, and other devices use to connect to the internet through your router. The admin password is what you use to log into the router's control panel to change settings.

Most people only need to change the Wi-Fi password. You might change the admin password if you are concerned about someone else accessing your router settings, but this is less common. If you do change the admin password, write it down and store it somewhere safe — if you forget it, you will have to reset the entire router to factory settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do all my devices disconnect when I change the password?

Yes. Once you save the new password, all devices currently connected will lose their connection because they are still trying to use the old password. You will need to manually reconnect each one by entering the new password. This usually takes a few minutes per device.

Can I change the password from my phone?

Yes, as long as your phone is connected to the Netgear network. Open a browser, go to routerlogin.net or 192.168.1.1, and follow the same steps. However, after you save the new password, your phone will disconnect and you will need to reconnect it manually using the new password.

What if I forget the new password I just set?

If you forget the Wi-Fi password, you can log back into the router at routerlogin.net, go to the Wireless settings, and look at the password field — it will show you what the current password is (though it may be hidden as dots). If you forget the admin password, you must reset the router to factory defaults.

Is it safe to use a straightforward password like 12345678?

Technically it meets the length requirement, but a straightforward numeric password is easier for someone nearby to guess. A stronger password uses a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols — something like "Blue$Lamp92" is much harder to crack than "12345678".

Why does my router keep asking me to log in again?

If you are logged out frequently, your router's admin session may be timing out after a period of inactivity. This is normal security behavior. straightforward log in again with your admin credentials. This is different from your Wi-Fi password and does not affect your internet connection.