fritz.box There is no admin / admin. Use the FRITZ!Box password printed on the bottom label, or the password you set yourself.
FRITZ!Box models
All current FRITZ!Box models share the same address and login method. The label on the bottom lists the FRITZ!Box password, Wi-Fi name and network key.
| Model | IP | Username | Password | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FRITZ!Box 4060 | 192.168.178.1 | — | on label | Router (no modem) |
| FRITZ!Box 4040 | 192.168.178.1 | — | on label | Router (no modem) |
| FRITZ!Box 7590 AX | 192.168.178.1 | — | on label | DSL modem-router |
| FRITZ!Box 7530 AX | 192.168.178.1 | — | on label | DSL modem-router |
| FRITZ!Box 5590 Fiber | 192.168.178.1 | — | on label | Fiber gateway |
How to log in to a FRITZ!Box
1. Connect to the FRITZ!Box
Join its Wi-Fi (default names look like FRITZ!Box 7590 XX) or connect a cable to one of the LAN ports. If the FRITZ!Box sits behind your ISP gateway, make sure your device is on the FRITZ!Box network.
2. Go to fritz.box or 192.168.178.1
Either one opens the FRITZ!OS login page. Our 192.168.178.1 guide explains the address range and what to do when it does not respond.
3. Enter the password
Type the FRITZ!Box password from the label, or the one you chose later. The first time, a setup wizard walks you through language, region and internet connection. When the FRITZ!Box is behind another router or modem, choose the option for connecting to an existing router or modem via LAN.
Change the Wi-Fi password on a FRITZ!Box
- Open Wi-Fi → Security (older versions call the section WLAN).
- Under encryption, choose WPA2 + WPA3 for the best compatibility and security.
- Enter a new Wi-Fi network key.
- Click Apply. Connected devices will drop and need the new key.
Built-in WireGuard VPN
On FRITZ!OS 7.50 and later, go to Internet → Permit Access → VPN (WireGuard), add a connection for a single device, and scan the QR code with the WireGuard app. Remote access needs a reachable public address: if your ISP uses CGNAT, as some fixed wireless and 5G home internet services do, incoming VPN connections may not work.
Resetting a FRITZ!Box
- From the interface: System → Backup → Factory Settings. Save a backup first if you want to restore your settings later.
- Forgot password: the login page links to a reset option when you no longer know the password.
- Phone code: on models with a FON port, dial
#991*15901590*from a connected analog phone.
Common FRITZ!Box problems
fritz.box does not open
Your device is probably using another DNS server or is connected to a different network.
Use 192.168.178.1, or connect by cable and try the emergency address
169.254.1.1.
Double NAT behind an ISP gateway
If the FRITZ!Box runs behind a US ISP gateway, both devices perform NAT. That is fine for browsing but can affect gaming, the VPN and port forwarding. Either bridge the ISP gateway or set the FRITZ!Box to use the existing connection as an IP client so the ISP gateway does the routing.
Firmware update takes long
Leave the FRITZ!Box powered on until the Info LED stops flashing. Interrupting an update can leave it unbootable; AVM provides a recovery tool on its support site for that case.
Frequently asked questions
Why does a FRITZ!Box use 192.168.178.1 instead of 192.168.1.1?
AVM, the German company behind the FRITZ!Box, uses the 192.168.178.x range on its devices. Because almost no other vendor uses it, a FRITZ!Box rarely conflicts with a modem or ISP gateway placed in front of it, which typically uses 192.168.1.1, 192.168.0.1 or 10.0.0.1. You can also reach the device by name at fritz.box. If you change the IP and lose track of it, every FRITZ!Box also answers on the fixed emergency address 169.254.1.1 from a computer connected by cable.
What is the default FRITZ!Box password?
There is no shared default. Current FRITZ!Box models ship with an individual FRITZ!Box password printed on the label on the bottom of the device (and often on an included service card). It is different from the Wi-Fi network key on the same label. Recent FRITZ!OS versions may also show a username field filled in with an automatically created user; you can usually leave it as is. If someone changed the password and you do not know it, use the "Forgot password?" option on the login page or a factory reset.
Can I use a FRITZ!Box in the United States?
AVM designs FRITZ!Box models mainly for European networks and does not sell them through official US retail channels. Router-only models such as the FRITZ!Box 4060 and 4040 work behind any modem, cable gateway or fiber ONT, so they can be used in the US like any other router. DSL and cable models are a different story: US cable providers only activate modems on their own approved lists, and DSL standards and provisioning differ by country. If you brought a FRITZ!Box from Europe, plan to use it as a router or access point behind your ISP equipment.
How do I factory reset a FRITZ!Box?
Most FRITZ!Box models do not have a classic reset pinhole. The options are: (1) in the web interface, System → Backup → Factory Settings; (2) the "Forgot password?" link on the login page, which offers a reset to factory settings; (3) on models with a telephone (FON) port, dial #991*15901590* from a connected analog phone and hang up. All methods erase your configuration; afterward you log in with the password on the label again.
Does the FRITZ!Box support a VPN?
Yes. Since FRITZ!OS 7.50, FRITZ!Box models with current firmware include a built-in WireGuard VPN server, configured under Internet → Permit Access → VPN (WireGuard). You create a connection, scan the QR code with the WireGuard app on your phone or import the configuration file on a computer, and you can reach your home network from anywhere. It needs a public IPv4 address or working IPv6; behind CGNAT incoming connections may not work.