Change your router password through the admin panel on any device

Your router password is the code that stops neighbors and strangers from connecting to your Wi-Fi. It is different from your Wi-Fi password — this one protects the router's settings themselves. To change it, you log into your router's admin panel (usually through a web browser on your phone or computer), find the password field, enter a new one, and save the change. The whole process takes about five minutes and works the same way on most routers.

You will need your current router password to start. If you have never changed it, the default password is usually printed on a sticker on the back or bottom of the router itself. If you have changed it before and forgotten it, you will need to factory reset the router, which erases all your settings — we cover that below.

Key Takeaways

  • Your router password protects access to the router's settings, not your Wi-Fi connection — these are two separate passwords.
  • You access the password change screen by typing your router's IP address (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) into a web browser.
  • The default router password is printed on a sticker attached to your router if you have never changed it before.
  • After you change the password and save it, you will be logged out and must log back in with the new password to access settings again.
  • If you forget the new password, a factory reset is the only way to regain access, and it will erase all your router settings.

Find your router's IP address and log in

Open a web browser on any device connected to your Wi-Fi — a phone, tablet, or computer. In the address bar at the top, type 192.168.1.1 and press Enter. This is the most common IP address for routers. If that does not work, try 192.168.0.1 instead.

A login screen will appear asking for a username and password. The username is usually admin. For the password, use the one printed on the sticker on your router. If you have changed the password before and remember it, use that one. If you do not know the password, you will need to factory reset the router first — see the section below on what to do if you are locked out.

After you enter the correct username and password, click the login button. You are now inside your router's admin panel, where all the settings live.

Locate the admin password or management password field

Once you are logged in, the screen you see depends on your router's brand and model. Look for a section labeled Administration, System Settings, Advanced, or Management. Different manufacturers put this in different places.

Inside that section, find a field that says Admin Password, Management Password, Router Password, or Device Password. Do not confuse this with the Wi-Fi password field, which is usually in a section called Wireless or Network. The admin password is what you are changing right now.

If you cannot find the password field after looking through the main sections, try clicking on Advanced Settings or a gear icon. Some routers hide this option one level deeper.

Enter your new password and save the change

Click in the admin password field and delete the current password (or leave it blank if the field is empty). Type your new password. Make it at least 12 characters long and mix in uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols like ! or # — this makes it much harder for someone to guess.

Some routers ask you to enter the new password twice to confirm you typed it correctly. If that field appears, type the same password again in the second box.

Look for a button labeled Save, Apply, or OK and click it. The router will process the change. You may see a message saying the settings have been saved, or the page may refresh on its own.

Log back in with your new password

After the change is saved, you will usually be logged out automatically. The login screen will appear again. This time, enter admin as the username and your new password in the password field. If you log in successfully, the change worked.

Write down your new password somewhere safe — a password manager, a locked drawer, or a note in your phone's secure notes app. If you forget it again, you will have to factory reset the router and lose all your custom settings.

You can now close the browser tab or window. Your router password has been changed, and only someone who knows the new password can access the admin panel.

What to do if you are locked out of your router

If you have forgotten the admin password and cannot log in, the only way to regain access is to factory reset the router. This erases all your settings — your Wi-Fi name, Wi-Fi password, port forwarding rules, and anything else you have customized — and returns the router to the state it was in when it left the factory.

To factory reset, locate the small reset button on the back or bottom of the router. It is usually recessed so you cannot press it by accident. Use a paperclip, pen, or the tip of a thumbtack 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, and the router will restart. When it finishes restarting, the admin password will be back to the default printed on the sticker.

After a factory reset, you will need to set up your Wi-Fi name and password again, and you can then change the admin password to something new. This is why writing down your new password is important — a factory reset is inconvenient and erases your settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the router password the same as my Wi-Fi password?

No. The router password protects access to the router's settings. The Wi-Fi password is what guests use to connect to your internet. You can change them separately, and they should be different. If someone knows your Wi-Fi password, they can use your internet but cannot change your router settings. If someone knows your router password, they can change everything.

What if I change the admin password and then forget it?

You will need to factory reset the router using the reset button on the back. This erases all your settings and returns the password to the default. You can then log in with the default password and set a new one. Write down your new password to avoid this happening again.

Can I change the router password from my phone?

Yes. Open any web browser on your phone, type the router's IP address (192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) into the address bar, and log in the same way you would on a computer. The steps are identical.

Do I need to restart my router after changing the password?

No. The change takes effect immediately after you click Save or Apply. Your internet will keep working, and you do not need to restart anything. You will just be logged out of the admin panel and need to log back in with the new password.

Will changing the router password disconnect my devices from Wi-Fi?

No. Changing the admin password does not affect your Wi-Fi connection. Your phone, computer, and other devices will stay connected to the internet. Only access to the router's settings panel requires the admin password.