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Forum Discussion
Nighthawk Admin and password for Genie app?
Hi! I have an R8500 that I've been using for some time. I've changed the web admin username and password some time ago as well. Today I wanted to try out the more advanced parental controls which app...
There is a setup CD that comes with the router. When I used that CD initially to setup the router, it had an application that would seek out the router via wireless and then configure it for first use (unnecessary of course, but I thought it was cool and would try it). It created a different username other than "Admin" for the webui. The username is $1$mXSmT1Ly$KKln/O06uKlgJO7iAJrud0
Since I have done that, I cannot use "Admin" to login using the web interface, I have to use the login name above.
Now, if I want to use the Genie app on my desktop to configure OpenDNS/Parental Controls, the "admin" name is hardcoded. I suspect thats why it doesn't work since my username is different? Or, maybe web usernames are different than router admin logon names? Is that possible? If not, how do I proceed?
zonearc wrote:
Or, maybe web usernames are different than router admin logon names? Is that possible?
I think you have hit it.
We see regular questions here about logins to different places. There was another one yesterday from someone who wanted to regain control of their remote access. They seem to have the view that it was the login to the Netgear website that was what mattered. In reality the picture is complicated.
Here are the Netgear logins that I can recall:
- Browser access to the modem/router (always username admin, default password is password).
- The wifi (defaults SSID and passwords on the back of the thing)
- Login to the My Netgear site where you register your hardware (you set that yourself)
- Login to My Netgear account to "manage remotely" from an Android app
- Login to Parental Controls (you have to set that up as described in the manual)
- Login to this forum to while away the hours (login details are also down to your choice)
I may have missed some!
Oh dear, I have just remembered another place to login. You earlier talked about accessing parental controls. You do not need the genie to get into that. You can start here:
https://netgear.opendns.com/sign_in.php
I'm not familiar with how the setup CD works. My stuff is either too old to have used it, or it is newer and I got it in a beta programme. Maybe this CD setup is what forced that eccentric username on you.
My guess is that the one that is causing you grief is the My Netgear account. You can access that by going to my.netgear.com in a browser, through the Android app (probably iThing too).
Only you will know if the password for Admin is the same as that for My Netgear. The setup process almost certainly left it untouched.
zonearc wrote:
Since I have done that, I cannot use "Admin" to login using the web interface, I have to use the login name above.
I do not understand this. If you are using your browser for local access, then the username is admin. It may be that you have not actually changed the password that is associated with that. Have you tried password?
If that does not work, then your only option if you want to get into the browser interface is to reset the hardware to factory settings. Then you will be able to use the default access details.
Perhaps you set up password recovery for your R8500. Read about it on page 103 of the manual:
>>> R8500 | Product | Support | NETGEAR <<<
I feel that a fundamental breakdown in communication hereis that I say 'I changed the logon name to the webUI for the router' and you don't believe me, so you instead say that I must be talking about the Netgear website, or other places. So, I did a screen recording logging on to my router:
Please look at the IP, the browser, logon name, etc. I'm logging on to the ROUTER.
I then replace the logon name in the video with "Admin" keeping the same password since that obviously works ... and no go.
Now, look at the Netgear Genie app and how it has a hardcoded "Admin" logon name. I keep clicking and it won't let me edit that .. only the password can be changed:
This is the root of my problem.
zonearc wrote:...I say 'I changed the logon name to the webUI for the router' and you don't believe me
Because you cannot do that if you have Netgear's standard firmware.
So I was looking for alternative explanations.
I realise that you don't believe me, so perhaps these messages will help:
Netgear C3000 i cannot find the place to change ro... - NETGEAR Communities
Want to change the login username for security pur... - NETGEAR Communities
Not able to change user name help - NETGEAR Communities
There are plenty more where they come from, but you seem to be convinced, so there's not much more that I can suggest beyond a factory reset.
Oh, and your subject line says "genie app". The term app is usually used to describe the standalone device or the Android/iThing app. The browser interface may be called the genie, but it isn't an app.
""Genie App" refers to the Genie Desktop Application for Windows that I show during the second video.
I'm running V1.0.2.100_1.0.82 of firmware which is an official release. If you look at the video you can see I'm not running DD WRT or any other 3rd party release. Like I said, the software on the CD that it comes with has a utility that changes the admin account as a part of the wizard. I'm guessing most people don't use the setup CD?
Either way, guess no one knows the solution. Factory defaults are likely the way to go.