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How to Access and Change Your Wi-Fi Router's Settings

This document provides a step-by-step guide on how to access and change your Wi-Fi router's settings, including finding the router's IP address, logging in with credentials, and modifying network settings. It emphasizes the importance of changing default usernames and passwords for security and offers tips for creating strong passwords. Additionally, it covers reviewing and updating Wi-Fi passwords and security settings to ensure a secure home network.

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Shahid Aziz
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28 views

How to Access and Change Your Wi-Fi Router's Settings

This document provides a step-by-step guide on how to access and change your Wi-Fi router's settings, including finding the router's IP address, logging in with credentials, and modifying network settings. It emphasizes the importance of changing default usernames and passwords for security and offers tips for creating strong passwords. Additionally, it covers reviewing and updating Wi-Fi passwords and security settings to ensure a secure home network.

Uploaded by

Shahid Aziz
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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How to Access and Change Your Wi-Fi Router's

Settings
Here is how to sign into your router to change your home network's name, password,
security options, and various wireless settings.

by Lance Whitney

Your router stores the settings for your home Wi-Fi network. To change something on your
network, you have to log into your router's software, also known as firmware. From there,
you can rename your network, change the password, adjust the security level, and set up or
alter a variety of other options.

But before you can do all that, you first need to gain access to your router. The process for
logging into your router should be the same whether you use your internet provider's router
or you purchased your own router. It should also be the same whether you use a dedicated
router or a combination modem/router supplied by your provider.
Find Your Router's IP Address

You log into your router's firmware through a browser. At the address field, type the IP
address of your router. Most routers use an address of 192.168.1.1, but that is not always
the case, so you may first want to confirm the address of your router.

To find your router's IP address, type cmd in the Windows search bar to open the Command
Prompt. Type ipconfig at the prompt and press the Enter key on your keyboard. Scroll
through the information until you see a setting for Default Gateway under Ethernet adapter
or Wireless LAN adapter. That is your router, and the number next to it is your router's IP
address.
You can also find your router’s IP address in Windows. In Windows 10, go to Settings >
Network & Internet > Status > View hardware and connection properties. In Windows
11, go to Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Hardware and
connection properties.

Details regarding your network connections are displayed. Look for the entry named Ethernet
or Wi-Fi, then find the Default Gateway setting to locate your router’s IP address. Once you
have the correct address, type it into your browser's address field and press Enter.

Enter Your Login Credentials

After you type the IP address, you are asked for a username and password to access your
router's firmware. This is either the default username and password for your router, or unique
credentials that you may have created when you set up the router. If you do not remember
your login credentials, signing in becomes a bit trickier.

Some routers offer a password-recovery feature. If this is true of your router, this option
should appear after you enter the wrong username and password a certain number of times.
Typically, this window will ask for your router's serial number, which you can find on the
bottom or side of the router.

If you never changed the router's login credentials, many use the default
username admin and the default password password. Try that combination to see if it
works. Otherwise, your best bet is to run a web search for the default username and
password for your router brand, such as Netgear, Linksys, Asus, or TP-Link.
Another option is to visit the Router Passwords website, where you can select the
manufacturer of your router to get a list of default usernames and passwords. Try each of the
suggestions to see if one of them works.

If you still cannot log into your router's firmware, you will need to reset the device to revert all
settings back to their defaults. You will usually find a small reset button on your router. Using
a pointed object, like a pen or paper clip, push in and hold the reset button for around 10
seconds. You should now be able to log into your router using the default username and
password.

Change Router Settings


After you gain access to your router's firmware, you will be free to change whatever elements
you think should be modified. These include the router name and password, the security
level, and the Wi-Fi password. You can also set up parental controls, create a guest network,
and manage attached devices. Just remember to apply any changes before you move on to
the next screen.

While we cannot walk you through every process for your specific device, manufacturer
documentation and built-in help should be available to assist you with the different options if
you are not sure how to set them. Most current or recent routers also have setup wizards that
can take care of some of this labor for you.

Change Router Login Credentials

You should change your router's username and password if they are still set to the default
values. Look for an option usually nested under the Administration tab. The screen will likely
ask for your current router password before letting you change it. Note that some routers only
let you change the password, not the username.

As you create the new password, remember the usual recommendations for creating
a secure password—not so difficult that you cannot remember it but complex enough that it
is not easy to guess. A passphrase with a combination of easy-to-remember words is also a
good option.

Be sure to remember the new password so you do not have to reset the router in the future.
Your router’s firmware may also ask you to set up security questions and answers, another
handy way to prove your identity. You will then have to apply the settings and log back into
your router.
Review Wi-Fi Password

You should also review your Wi-Fi password and username to make sure it is strong and
secure. To do this, look for a Wireless or Wi-Fi section in the router's firmware. You will see
your current Wi-Fi name and password listed.

Create a more secure password if you feel the current one is too weak. Again, keep the
usual password recommendations in mind as you do this. You may also want to change the
default Wi-Fi name if it is still using the brand name of the router. Try to come up with a
unique name to distinguish it.

Checking your security settings is another item on the to-do list. Under Security Options, or a
similar section, make sure the security for your network is set to at least WPA2-PSK [AES],
which will be the strongest level available for most home routers.

Newer routers with the latest Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E technology will offer the more
secure WPA3 option. If your router has it, use that option. Apply your new settings and close
the browser window when finished.

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