First: which password did you forget?

The fix depends on which of the two passwords you need.

  • Admin password (router login): what you type after opening 192.168.1.1, 192.168.0.1, 10.0.0.1 or similar in a browser. On AT&T gateways it is called the Device Access Code.
  • Wi-Fi password (network key): what you type on a phone or laptop to join your wireless network.

If you lost the Wi-Fi password, jump to finding your Wi-Fi password: you almost certainly do not need to reset anything.

Option 1: Check the device label

If the admin password was never changed, the factory value still works. Look on the bottom, back or side of the router for fields such as:

  • Admin Password or Router Password
  • Web Password or Login Password
  • Device Access Code (AT&T)

Most current routers and ISP gateways use a unique password per device. Older consumer routers often used shared defaults such as admin/admin or admin/password, and some newer models have no default at all and ask you to create one at first login. The default router passwords page lists common defaults by brand, but the label on your specific device always takes priority.

Option 2: Check saved passwords

If you have logged in before, your browser or password manager may have saved the credentials. Search for the router's IP address (for example 192.168.1.1) or hostname (such as routerlogin.net or tplinkwifi.net) in:

  • Chrome: Google Password Manager
  • Safari / macOS / iOS: the Passwords app or Settings → Passwords
  • Edge and Firefox: their built-in password lists
  • Any third-party manager you use

Option 3: Use your ISP's app or account

If your router is a provider-supplied gateway, you may not need the admin password at all. The provider's app signs you in with your account credentials and lets you view or change Wi-Fi settings:

  • Xfinity: the Xfinity app shows and edits your Wi-Fi details. See the Xfinity guide.
  • Spectrum: the My Spectrum app or website manages Spectrum Wi-Fi routers. See the Spectrum guide.
  • AT&T: the Smart Home Manager app manages the gateway; the Device Access Code is on the label. See the AT&T guide.
  • Verizon Fios: the My Fios app manages router Wi-Fi settings. See the Verizon Fios guide.
  • Cox: Cox's app manages Panoramic Wifi settings. See the Cox guide.
  • T-Mobile Home Internet: the T-Mobile Internet app manages the gateway. See the T-Mobile guide.

If you are still stuck, your provider's support can walk you through regaining access or reset the gateway for you. They cannot tell you a custom admin password you set, since that is stored only on the device.

Option 4: Factory reset

When none of the above works, a factory reset restores the label credentials. It also erases your Wi-Fi name and password, port forwarding and other custom settings. The short version:

  1. Find the recessed Reset button on the back or bottom of the router.
  2. With the router powered on, press it with a paper clip.
  3. Hold it for 10 to 30 seconds (model-dependent) until the lights change.
  4. Release and wait several minutes for the restart.
  5. Log in with the credentials from the label, or complete the setup wizard.

The full walkthrough, including what to do afterward, is in the router reset guide.

Finding a forgotten Wi-Fi password

If you lost the Wi-Fi password rather than the admin password, use any device that is still connected:

  • Windows: in Command Prompt, run netsh wlan show profile name="YourNetwork" key=clear and read Key Content. Recent versions of Windows 11 also show it under Settings → Network & internet → Wi-Fi → your network's properties.
  • macOS: search for the network name in Keychain Access, or in the Passwords app on recent macOS versions.
  • iPhone/iPad (iOS 16 or later): Settings → Wi-Fi → (i) next to the network → tap Password.
  • Android (10 or later): open the network in Wi-Fi settings and tap Share; the password is usually shown beneath the QR code.

You can also find it in your ISP's app or in the router admin page under the wireless settings. If no device is connected and you cannot log in, the label shows the original Wi-Fi password, which only works if it was never changed.

Once you are back in

  1. Set a new admin password of at least 12 characters and save it in a password manager right away.
  2. Restore your Wi-Fi settings if you reset. Reusing your previous network name and password lets most devices reconnect on their own. See how to change your Wi-Fi password.
  3. Re-create other settings you rely on, such as port forwarding or custom DNS.

How to avoid this next time

  1. Use a password manager for both the admin and Wi-Fi passwords. Free options are available, and most phones and browsers include one.
  2. Export a configuration backup after setting up your router, if it offers one, and store the file safely.
  3. Keep a written copy somewhere secure at home. Low-tech, but it works.

Frequently asked questions

Can I recover my router admin password without a reset?

Only in a few situations. (1) If you never changed it, the factory password on the device label still works. (2) If you saved it in a browser or password manager, it may be stored under the router's IP address. (3) On many ISP gateways, you can manage Wi-Fi from the provider's app with your account login, so you may not need the admin password at all. If you set a custom admin password and have no record of it, the router cannot reveal it: a factory reset is the only way back in.

I forgot my Wi-Fi password, not the admin password. How do I find it?

Any device already connected can usually show it. On Windows, open Command Prompt and run netsh wlan show profile name="YourNetwork" key=clear, then read Key Content. On a Mac, open Keychain Access (or the Passwords app on recent macOS) and search for the network name. On iPhone (iOS 16 or later), go to Settings → Wi-Fi, tap (i) next to the network and tap Password. On Android 10 or later, open the network in Wi-Fi settings and tap Share to display a QR code, which often shows the password too. You can also read it in your ISP app or the router admin page.

Will a factory reset cancel my internet service?

No. A reset only erases the router's own settings: Wi-Fi name and password, admin password, port forwarding and similar. Your ISP account is untouched. ISP gateways restore their connection settings automatically after the reset, though it can take some time. A router you bought yourself usually reconnects automatically on cable and most fiber connections; if your service uses PPPoE, you will need to enter those credentials again.

The label has several passwords. Which one is the admin password?

Router labels often list several things side by side. The Wi-Fi password may be labeled Wireless Key, Network Key, WPA Key or Wi-Fi Password; it lets devices join the network. The admin password may be labeled Admin Password, Router Login, Web Password or, on AT&T gateways, Device Access Code; it unlocks the settings page. They are different values even when they look similar.

My router has no password on the label. Where do I look?

Older consumer routers often shipped with a shared default instead of a unique one, so the label might not list it. Check the quick-start guide or manual for your model, or our default router passwords list. Some brands (TP-Link and Linksys on many newer models, for example) have no default admin password at all and ask you to create one during first setup. If you created one and lost it, a factory reset will bring back that first-time setup screen.

Can my internet provider tell me my router password?

For provider-owned gateways, support can often help you regain access, for example by guiding you through the app, showing your Wi-Fi password in your online account, or resetting the gateway remotely. What they cannot do is tell you a custom admin password you created yourself, because it is stored only on the device. For a router you bought, your ISP has no access to it at all.