How To Access Your Internet Settings

How to Log In to Your Router

Access your router'southward settings with this elementary guide.

Apr 14, 2022 Share
Equipment Guides, FAQ

Accessing your router'southward settings may seem daunting and highly technical, only logging in to your router is really a uncomplicated process. We'll walk you through each step and so you'll be switching up your network settings, changing Wi-Fi passwords, and updating your firmware in no time.

Here are the iii steps for logging in to your router:

Connect to your router
Find your router's IP address
Log in using a web browser

Pro tip:

If you're logging in to your router to troubleshoot speed issues, take an internet speed test first. That way you lot'll know your baseline and tin can compare results as you tweak your settings.

1. Connect to your router

You lot can connect to your router in two means: wirelessly or using an Ethernet cablevision . If you're using your home internet right at present, and then you're already continued to your router.

2. Get your router'southward default IP address

This is the about technical stride in this whole process, only it'due south non complicated. The good news is that you lot may have what you lot need already printed right on the router. For example, Linksys provides a elementary web accost—linksysmartwifi.com—on the bottom of its routers. Merely blazon that into a web browser, and yous're skilful to go.

If the router'southward IP address or URL isn't printed on the router, then you'll need to go your hands dirty. The easiest way is to search "[router model] default IP" in a search engine. If you come up empty-handed, you can obtain the address through your device's operating system, as we volition outline below.

Pro tip:

Routers have two IP addresses. Your net modem assigns a "public" address to your router, chosen the Wide Area Network interface (WAN). The second is a "private" accost facing your abode network, called the Local Expanse Network interface (LAN). The "private" address is what you need to admission the router'due south settings.

Finally, well-nigh modern routers provide mobile apps for accessing their settings, like TP-Link Tether , Xfinity app , or D-Link Wi-Fi . These apps typically provide the router'south LAN IP address. For instance, the Linksys app places this data in Advanced Settings > Local Network Settings.

Find your router's IP address in Windows

Footstep 1: Right-click on the Start push button and select Windows PowerShell on the Power User Bill of fare.

Step 2: The Windows PowerShell window appears on your screen. Type "ipconfig" and press the Enter key.

Step 3: Write down the number displayed next to Default Gateway. That is the individual IP address you need to admission the router's settings.

Observe your router'south IP address in MacOS Large Sur

MacOS Find Router IP Address

Footstep 1: Click on the Apple logo in the upper left corner and choose System Preferences. Alternatively, click on the Arrangement Preferences icon located on the Dock (if available).

Step ii: Select Network.

Step 3: Select your network listed on the left—Wi-Fi or Ethernet.

Footstep 4: Click on the Advanced button.

Step 5: Select the TCP/IP tab.

Stride 6: Write down the number displayed side by side to Router. That is the private IP accost you need to access the router's settings.

Observe your router's IP address on Android

Android Find Router IP Address

These instructions apply to stock Android 11, although we add steps for Samsung phones. These instructions may exist slightly different on Android devices from HTC, Lenovo, and 16 other smartphone and tablet manufacturers.

Pace one: Swipe a finger downwards from the acme to aggrandize the Notification Shade and tap the Cog icon.

Pace 2: With the Settings panel open, tap Network & Net. On Samsung phones, tap Connections instead.

Pace three: Tap Wi-Fi.

Footstep four: Tap on the Cog icon listed next to your network.

On Samsung phones, skip to Step 6.

Stride v: Tap Avant-garde and write downwardly the number listed under Gateway. That is the private IP accost you lot demand to access the router'due south settings.

Step 6: Tap Manage Router and select a web browser.

Step seven: Write down the number displayed in the address bar. That is the private IP accost yous need to access the router'southward settings.

Find your router's IP address on iOS and iPadOS

iPadOS Get Router IP Address

Footstep 1: Tap to open the Settings app.

Stride 2: Tap Wi-Fi.

Stride 3: Tap on your network.

Step 4: Write downward the number displayed adjacent to Router. That is the private IP accost you need to access the router's settings.

3. Log in using a web browser

At present that you have the router'due south IP address, open whatsoever web browser and type (or paste) the IP address into the address bar. Your router's login panel volition so load within the browser window.

If this is your first time, you'll demand the router's default login credentials. You tin find this information in your router'south user manual, printed on a label stuck to the device, or by searching the internet.

Try this commencement to encounter if you tin can gain access:

User name: admin

Password: password

Many routers use this combo as the default username and password, and then it's worth a get if you don't know your login info off the top of your caput. Only remember to change it to something more challenging to guess once you're in.

Pro tip:

If you previously set a custom username or password and tin can't recover them, hard reset your router—holding downwards the recessed Reset button for almost ten seconds should practice the play a trick on. After that, you tin can utilize the default login credentials. Keep in listen that a hard reset volition reset your Wi-Fi network and password likewise.

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Author - Rebecca Lee Armstrong

Rebecca Lee Armstrong has more than six years of experience writing about tech and the cyberspace, with a specialty in hands-on testing. She started writing tech product and service reviews while finishing her BFA in creative writing at the Academy of Evansville and has found her niche writing almost abode networking, routers, and net admission at HighSpeedInternet.com. Her work has also been featured on Summit Ten Reviews, MacSources, Windows Central, Android Fundamental, All-time Company, TechnoFAQ, and iMore.

Editor - Cara Haynes

Cara Haynes has been editing and writing in the digital space for 7 years, and she's edited all things cyberspace for HighSpeedInternet.com for five years. She graduated with a BA in English and a minor in editing from Brigham Young Academy. When she'due south not editing, she makes tech accessible through her freelance writing for brands like Pluralsight. She believes no one should experience lost in internet land and that a good cyberspace connection significantly extends your life span.