How to access your router's settings

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Sometimes you need to know how to access your router's settings. Merely really, that moment comes along so infrequently that it's easy to forget just how to practise so.

If yous're like virtually Americans with broadband Internet, you probably have a router at abode which broadcasts the Wi-Fi network that your devices use. Many people hire a modem from their Internet provider which has a Wi-Fi router built in, just it's as well common to buy one of the all-time cable modems and router to avoid paying your ISP rental fees. Plus, the all-time Wi-Fi routers offering great functioning and actress security features.

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No affair what router you take, when you want to fiddle with its settings you'll almost certainly need to punch into it remotely using a web browser on a device continued to its Wi-Fi network.

This can be a catchy process, as you'll need to find your router'southward IP address to access it at all, then provide the proper username and password to log in and start irresolute settings.

Following the steps outlined below, which are written with the supposition you have access to a Windows PC, should brand the process a little smoother. If you meet any problems, contact your router'southward manufacturer for help with troubleshooting.

How to access your router's settings: Cheque your IP address

one. To change your router's settings you'll need to exist able to talk to it, and to do that you need to know its IP address. Many routers use 192.168.one.ane every bit their default IP accost, only yours might exist unlike.

To find out for sure, connect a PC to your router's Wi-Fi network; this is near easily accomplished with a laptop, since many desktop PCs don't come with Wi-Fi connectivity built in.

ii. Once you have a Windows PC connected to the Wi-Fi network in question, open the Control Prompt (virtually easily achieved past hit the Start button and typing "command", and so selecting Control Prompt from the results) and type ipconfig into the command line.

Scroll down the results until you meet a section that reads Ethernet adapter or Wireless LAN adapter; this is your connection to your router, and the address listed side by side to Default Gateway is your router's IP address.

Bonus: If yous're running Windows 10 you can look up your router'south IP accost without accessing the Control Prompt. Instead, open the Network & Internet department of your Windows ten Settings card by hitting the Start key and typing "settings", hit Enter, and so navigating to Network & Internet > Status > "View hardware and connectedness properties."

Scroll downwardly the Properties listing until you see an entry for Default gateway — the number listed next to it should be your router's IP address.

How to admission your router's settings: Log into your router

1. Once y'all know your router's IP address, logging in should be pretty piece of cake: just type the IP address into the address bar of your browser, and your router should ship you to a folio asking for your login and password.

Remember, yous have to do this on a device connected to your router, either via Wi-Fi or an Ethernet cable!

2. Ideally you lot remember the login and password for your router, then this part is smooth sailing. But we live in a world of realities, not ethics, and the truth is most of us have a difficult time remembering our router login details.

If you tin't remember your username and countersign for the router, take heart: you may never have established any, so you may be able to log in using the router's default username and password.

Many routers ship with admin and password every bit their default username and password, respectively; if those don't work on your router, you lot can too try looking information technology upwards on Router Passwords, which maintains a big database of default router logins.

three. If you can't seem to detect the correct username and password to log into your router, you should be able to reset it instead. Some routers offer an option to help you recover your password, oft triggered once you fail to log in correctly. This often requires providing your router's serial number, which tin can typically be plant on the dorsum or lesser of the router.

Other routers just tell you to reset the router if you lot can't remember your login credentials, which is usually achieved by pressing the router's reset button for x seconds. Virtually routers have small reset buttons inset into their dorsum or bottom, though you'll often need a pen or paperclip to press and agree the button down.

Once you've reset the router, yous should be able to log into it with the manufacturer's default username and countersign.

How to admission your router's settings: Change router settings

1. Once y'all've logged into your router via a continued browser, you should have free reign to modify whatever settings you wish. Most modern routers will offering an array of tweakable options in a simplified graphical interface, so it should be pretty straightforward to alter settings like the Wi-Fi countersign, the Wi-Fi network name, which websites are blocked, whether there's a guest Wi-Fi network, and more.

Many modern routers offering automated guides to at to the lowest degree some of these settings, and we recommend you lot consult the router's documentation (or Google) before irresolute anything you don't understand.

If something catastrophic happens and your router no longer works the style you want, you tin always reset it (using the afore-mentioned reset push) back to factory default settings.

two. One time you've accomplished whatever yous came to practise, consider taking a moment to look over your router's security settings and make sure they're upwards to snuff.

For instance, if you're still using the router'due south default username and password, y'all should modify them post-haste — if you lot can await up your router's login details on the Internet, other people could besides!

Cheque out our guide to how to secure your Wi-Fi and ameliorate your router'due south security for more ideas on how to amend your network's defenses.

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Alex Wawro is a lifelong tech and games enthusiast with more than a decade of experience covering both for outlets like Game Developer, Black Hat, and PC Earth magazine. He currently serves as a senior editor at Tom's Guide covering all things computing, from laptops and desktops to keyboards and mice.