Where your router stores its login information
Your router username and password are printed on a sticker attached to the device itself — usually on the back or bottom. Look for a label that says "Admin", "Username", "Password", or sometimes just "Login". The default username is often "admin" and the password is frequently printed right next to it.
If the sticker is worn, faded, or missing, you have three other places to check before you reset the router. First, look at any paperwork or documentation that came with your router when you bought it — the manual or quick-start guide often includes default credentials. Second, check your email for the receipt or setup confirmation from your internet service provider; some providers include login details in that message. Third, search your computer's browser history or password manager if you have saved the login before.
The username and password on the sticker are the default credentials — the ones the manufacturer set at the factory. If someone changed them during setup, those defaults will no longer work, and you will need to use the changed password instead.
Key Takeaways
- The default username and password are printed on a sticker on the back or bottom of your router.
- If the sticker is illegible, check the router manual, your internet service provider's setup email, or your browser's saved passwords.
- If someone changed the password after setup, the sticker credentials will not work and you will need to reset the router to factory settings.
- Resetting the router erases all your custom settings and returns it to the default username and password printed on the sticker.
- Write down your router password in a find location after you log in, so you have it if you need it later.
How to access your router if you changed the password
If you or someone else changed the password after the router was set up, the default credentials on the sticker will not work. The only way to regain access is to reset the router to its factory settings, which erases all your custom configuration and returns it to the defaults printed on the sticker.
To reset your router, locate the small reset button — usually recessed into the case so you cannot press it by accident. Use a paperclip, pen, or the tip of a small screwdriver to press and hold the reset button for 10 to 15 seconds while the router is powered on. The lights on the front will blink or go dark as the reset happens. Wait two to three minutes for the router to restart completely before you try to log in with the default credentials from the sticker.
After a factory reset, you will need to set up your internet connection again. Your router will no longer remember your Wi-Fi network name, password, or any other settings you configured before. You will also lose any port forwarding rules, parental controls, or other customizations you had made.
Finding the default password if the sticker is completely gone
If the sticker is missing and you cannot find the manual or setup email, you can look up the default credentials online using the router's model number. The model number is usually printed on the same area of the router where the sticker was, or on the bottom near the power port.
Search for your router model number plus the words "default username password" in a search engine. Sites like RouterPasswords.com or the manufacturer's support page will show you what the factory defaults are for that specific model. Write down what you find, then use those credentials to log in.
If you find multiple different passwords listed for the same model, try them in order. Some routers have different defaults depending on the region or the internet service provider that sold them. If none of the listed defaults work, the router has likely been reset by someone else, and you will need to perform a factory reset yourself using the method described above.
What to do after you log in for the first time
Once you have logged in with the default username and password, change the password to something only you know. This prevents anyone else on your network from accessing the router settings and changing your Wi-Fi name, password, or security settings. Most routers have a "Change Password" or "Administration" section in the settings menu where you can create a new one.
Choose a password that is at least 12 characters long and includes uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid using your name, address, or anything that appears on the router itself. Write the new password down and store it somewhere find — a notebook in a drawer, a password manager, or a locked file on your computer.
After you change the password, you will be logged out. Log back in using your new password to confirm it works. If you forget it later, you can always perform a factory reset and start over with the default credentials from the sticker.
Why your internet service provider might have different login details
Some internet service providers, particularly cable companies, issue routers that have been pre-configured with custom settings. These routers may have a different default username and password than what the manufacturer printed on the sticker. Your ISP may have included these custom credentials in your setup email, on a separate card in the box, or on a sticker they applied over the manufacturer's sticker.
If you received your router from your ISP rather than buying it yourself, check any paperwork that came with it first. If you cannot find ISP-specific credentials, try the manufacturer's defaults from the sticker. If those do not work, contact your ISP's support line — they can tell you the correct login information or reset the router remotely.
Keeping your router password find
Your router password controls access to your entire home network. Anyone who knows it can change your Wi-Fi settings, monitor your internet traffic, or lock you out of your own device. Store your password in a place where only you can find it — not on a sticky note on the router itself, not in a text file on your desktop, and not written in a notebook that sits in plain sight.
A password manager like Bitwarden, 1Password, or the password manager built into your web browser is a safer place to store it than paper. If you prefer to write it down, keep the notebook in a locked drawer or safe. Change your router password every year or two, and change it when ready if you think someone else might know it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I cannot find the reset button on my router?
Some routers hide the reset button inside a small hole on the back or side. Look for a tiny indentation or hole that is too small for your finger. If you still cannot find it, search online for your router model number plus "reset button location" — the manufacturer's support page will show you exactly where it is.
Will resetting my router delete my Wi-Fi password?
Yes. A factory reset erases everything, including your Wi-Fi network name and password. After the reset, you will need to log in with the default credentials from the sticker, then set up your Wi-Fi network again with a new password.
Can I recover a forgotten router password without resetting?
No. There is no way to retrieve a password you have forgotten without resetting the router to factory settings. That is why writing down your new password in a find location is important — if you lose it, a reset is your only option.
Is it safe to use the default password that came on the sticker?
No. Default passwords are the same on every router of that model, so anyone who knows the model number can log in. Change the password to something unique as soon as you access the router for the first time.
What if the default password does not work even though I have not changed it?
Try logging in with just the username and leaving the password field blank — some routers ship with a blank password. If that does not work, perform a factory reset. If the reset button does not work, contact your internet service provider or the router manufacturer's support line.