US internet provider gateways
If your router came from your internet provider, start here. The admin password on these devices is usually unique and printed on the gateway, so the table tells you where to look rather than giving a shared value where none exists.
| Provider / device | IP | Username | Password | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xfinity (Comcast) gateway | 10.0.0.1 | admin | password | You are asked to change it on first login. Xfinity app also manages Wi-Fi. |
| Spectrum router | 192.168.1.1 | On label | On label | Many newer Spectrum routers are managed mainly through the My Spectrum app. |
| AT&T gateway (fiber and DSL) | 192.168.1.254 | (none) | Device Access Code on label | The Device Access Code is unique to each gateway. |
| Verizon Fios Router | 192.168.1.1 | admin | On label | Admin password is unique per unit on current models. Also reachable at myfiosgateway.com. |
| Cox Panoramic Wifi gateway | 192.168.0.1 | admin | password (if never changed) | Cox steers most settings to the Panoramic Wifi app; check the label first. |
| T-Mobile 5G Home Internet gateway | 192.168.12.1 | admin | On label or set in the app | Most settings live in the T-Mobile app; web access varies by gateway model. |
Router brands
For routers you bought yourself, or installed behind your provider's equipment. Defaults change between model generations and firmware versions, so treat this as a starting point.
| Brand / model | IP | Username | Password | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TP-Link (Archer, older models) | 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 | admin | admin | Newer models ask you to create a password on first login. Also tplinkwifi.net. |
| TP-Link Deco (mesh) | Assigned by the Deco app | — | Set during app setup | Uses your TP-Link ID; no shared factory password. |
| ASUS (RT, ROG, ZenWiFi) | 192.168.50.1 or 192.168.1.1 | admin | admin (older) / set at setup | router.asus.com works on any ASUS router on your network. |
| Netgear (Nighthawk) | 192.168.1.1 | admin | password | Also routerlogin.net. Recent models prompt you to change it. |
| Netgear Orbi (mesh) | 192.168.1.1 | admin | password | Also orbilogin.com; the Orbi app is the usual setup path. |
| Linksys (older WRT/E series) | 192.168.1.1 | admin (or blank) | admin | Velop and newer Smart Wi-Fi models use a password set during setup. |
| D-Link | 192.168.0.1 | admin | (blank) | Newer models print a password on the label or setup card. |
| FRITZ!Box (AVM) | 192.168.178.1 | — | On label | Also http://fritz.box. Each unit has its own password on the base. |
| Huawei (4G/5G routers) | 192.168.8.1 | admin | admin or on label | Varies by model and carrier firmware. |
| Huawei (fiber ONT) | 192.168.100.1 | On label | On label | Many ISP-supplied ONTs are locked by the provider. |
| ZTE | 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 | admin | admin or on label | ISP-branded ZTE units often use a unique label password. |
| Tenda | 192.168.0.1 | admin | admin (older) / set at setup | Also tendawifi.com. |
| Belkin | 192.168.2.1 | (none) | (blank) | Older models; set a password on first login. |
| Arris SURFboard / Motorola cable modem | 192.168.100.1 | admin | Varies (password / motorola) | Modem status page only. Newer firmware asks you to set a password. |
| eero / Google Nest Wifi | No web admin page | — | Managed in the app | Configured entirely from the eero or Google Home app. |
How to change the admin password
Sign in with the default, then look for the password setting. Its location depends on the brand and firmware, but it is usually under one of these:
- Administration or System → Password / Router Password
- Advanced → System Tools or Administration
- Settings → Admin Account or Login
- On some ISP gateways, a Change Password link on the home or security page
Enter the current password, type the new one twice and save. The router may log you out; sign back in with the new password to confirm it took. Some ISP gateways handle admin access through the provider's app instead, or only let you change the Wi-Fi password.
If the default doesn't work
Work through these from least to most disruptive:
- Read the label again. Make sure you are using the admin password, not the Wi-Fi password, and watch for look-alike characters (0 and O, 1 and l).
- Check saved passwords in your browser or password manager, in case someone in the household set one.
- Use your ISP's app if you have a provider gateway. Many everyday changes, including the Wi-Fi password, do not need the admin password there.
- Factory reset. Hold the recessed Reset button (usually 10 to 30 seconds, depending on the model) until the lights change. The router returns to its label defaults and you lose custom settings such as the Wi-Fi name, password and port forwards. See the reset guide first.
Frequently asked questions
Why doesn't admin / admin work on my router?
Because most routers made in recent years no longer ship with a shared password. Manufacturers and ISPs moved to a unique password per device, printed on the label, or a password you create during setup. Security laws pushed this along: California's IoT security law (SB-327, in effect since 2020) and Oregon's similar law require connected devices sold there to have a unique preprogrammed password or force the user to set one. If the table value does not work, the label on your device is the authority.
Where is the password on my router's label?
Look on the back or bottom of the device. Labels often show two different passwords: one for Wi-Fi (called "Wi-Fi Password", "Network Key", "WPA Key" or similar) and one for the admin page ("Admin Password", "Router Login", "Device Access Code" on AT&T, or "Admin" on Verizon). Use the admin one at the login prompt. If the label is missing or unreadable, some ISP apps show the details, or a factory reset gets you back to the defaults.
I changed the admin password and forgot it. Can I recover it?
Not from the router itself. Your options: check your password manager or browser's saved passwords; for an ISP gateway, try the provider's app, which manages many settings without the admin password; or do a factory reset, which brings back the label defaults but erases your Wi-Fi name, password and other custom settings. More in forgot router password.
Is the admin password the same as the Wi-Fi password?
No. The Wi-Fi password lets devices join your network; the admin password unlocks the router's settings. Change both: changing only the Wi-Fi password still leaves anyone who knows the default admin password, and is on your network, able to get into the settings. See how to change your Wi-Fi password.
What do "(blank)", "On label" and "Set at setup" mean in the table?
(blank): leave the password field empty on first login (some older D-Link and Belkin models). On label: the password is unique to each unit and printed on the device, so no table can list it. Set at setup: there is no factory password; the router asks you to create one the first time you open it, or during app setup.
Are default password lists a security risk?
Shared defaults such as admin / admin have been published for years, which is exactly why they are risky: anyone who can reach your router's admin page can try them. In practice that means someone on your Wi-Fi, or anyone on the internet if remote management is switched on. If your router still uses a shared default, change it and turn off remote management unless you need it.
How strong should my router admin password be?
Aim for at least 12 characters, unique to the router and not reused anywhere else. A passphrase of four or more random words is easy to type and hard to guess. Avoid names, birthdays and the network name. Store it in a password manager; a sticky note on the router defeats the purpose.
What is the default password for my cable modem?
A standalone cable modem usually has a basic status page at 192.168.100.1 that shows signal levels and logs. On older Arris SURFboard and Motorola modems it often opened without a login or used admin with password (Arris) or motorola (Motorola). Newer firmware asks you to set a password. Wi-Fi settings live on your router, not the modem.