Forgot the router admin password (not the Wi-Fi password)

Symptoms

• Can connect to Wi-Fi fine but can't log into the router's settings page
• Admin username and password combination is rejected repeatedly
• Never changed the admin password but it's not the one printed on the label
• Need to change a setting but can't get past the login screen

Likely causes

• CommonAdmin password was customized and not written downMany people change this once during setup for security and forget it later.
• PossibleDefault admin credentials were changed by a previous owner or installerIf the router was set up by an ISP technician or previous resident, the default may not apply.
• CommonConfusing the Wi-Fi password with the admin passwordThese are two separate credentials serving different purposes, which is a common point of confusion.

What to do

1. Check the sticker on the router for default admin credentials, often 'admin/admin' or 'admin/password', and try those first.
2. Check any notes, password manager, or setup email from when the router was first configured or from your ISP if they set it up.
3. If you have a device still logged into the admin page in a browser tab, use it to view or change the password before it logs out.
4. If nothing works, press and hold the physical reset button on the router for 10–15 seconds to restore factory default settings, including the default admin login.
5. After a factory reset, log in with the default credentials and immediately set a new admin password you'll remember or store safely.
6. Reconfigure your Wi-Fi network name and password and any other custom settings, since a factory reset erases them all.
7. Going forward, store the admin password in a password manager separate from the Wi-Fi password to avoid this issue again.

When to call a pro

Not usually needed for this issue.

Safety