How to Log in to a Netgear Router

Find your Netgear router's default login user name and password

By Robert Earl Wells III
Updated on September 8, 2021
Reviewed by
Ryan Perian
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Reviewed by Ryan Perian
  • Western Governors University
Ryan Perian is a certified IT specialist who holds numerous IT certifications and has 12+ years' experience working in the IT industry support and management positions.
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What to Know

  • Go to routerlogin.net and enter the username and password, which is on your router.
  • Use the Nighthawk Netgear app to configure your router settings from your phone (it only works for some routers).
  • If you can't log in because someone changed the default login credentials, you can reset the router to factory settings.

This article explains how to log in to a Netgear router using a web browser. If you have a Netgear Nighthawk router, you can also use the Nighthawk app to configure your home Wi-Fi network.

How to Log in to a Netgear Router

Follow these steps to log in to your router through a computer:

  1. Open any web browser and go to routerlogin.net.

  2. Enter the user name and password for your router. You can usually find this information on the underside of the router.

    User name and password on a Netgear router

    Netgear router login user names and passwords are case sensitive.

  3. The Netgear administrator interface will display in your browser. From here, you can view connected devices, set up a guest network, configure parental controls, and more.

    Netgear router admin interface

How Do I Access My Netgear Nighthawk Router?

You can log in to Netgear Nighthawk routers using the method above, or you can use the Nighthawk mobile app. Install the Nighthawk app for Android or the Nighthawk app for iOS, then follow the instructions in the app. After setting up a Netgear account, you'll need to scan the QR code on the router. The app should handle everything else.

Near Nighthawk app set up screens

What Is the Default Login for Netgear Routers?

For most Netgear routers, the default user name is admin, and the default password is password. This information is on the underside of the router. If you can't log in because a user changed your Netgear router's default login credentials, you can reset the router to factory settings.

The router user name and password are not the same as the Wi-Fi network and the network key.

How Do I Find the IP Address of My Netgear Router?

You can also access your router by entering its IP address in the URL bar of any web browser. The IP address is on the bottom of the router, or you can look up your router's IP address using Command Prompt (on Windows) or Terminal (of Mac or Linux).

Why Can't I Log Into My Netgear Router?

There are a number of things you can try when you can't connect to Wi-Fi, but here are some troubleshooting steps for when you can't log in to your router:

  1. Use a different web browser. Netgear supports most browsers, but maybe not all.

  2. Connect to your router with an Ethernet cable. If you're having trouble connecting wirelessly, plug your PC directly into the router.

  3. Restart your router. Give your router a fresh start to fix temporary technical hiccups.

  4. Delete your browser's cookies. Clear out temporary files which could be causing conflicts with your browser.

  5. Disable web proxies. Privacy protections you've set up could be preventing you from accessing the router.

  6. Connect with Command Prompt or Terminal. On Windows, open the Command Prompt and enter ping 192.168.1.1. On Mac, open the Terminal app and enter ping 192.168.0.1.

  7. Reset your modem. If you can't access the router because someone changed the password, or if none of the steps above have worked, reset it to the factory defaults.

FAQ
  • How do I change my Netgear router's login password?

    To change your Netgear router's login password, type http://www.routerlogin.net into a web browser, then enter the router username (default is admin) and password (default is password). On the BASIC home page, select Wireless, enter the network name and your new password, then click Apply.

  • How do I change my Netgear router's "admin" login name?

    While you can change your network name (SSID) and password, the default router username of admin is rooted into the firmware and can't be changed in Netgear consumer router models. Business-class routers, however, will offer the ability to change the username.

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