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Forum Discussion
Changing Router Password Name
I purchased a Netgear Nighthawk RAX50 Router. My neighbor recently discovered the password by accident. I want to change the original passoword (labeled on the bottom of the router but cannot do th...
thesams wrote:I purchased a Netgear Nighthawk RAX50 Router. My neighbor recently discovered the password by accident. I want to change the original passoword (labeled on the bottom of the router but cannot do this. I tried to go into www.routerlogin.net and I entered admin and password, but this site will not allow me get in to change a password. I went to Netgear and they asked two security questions that I never remember ever answering. When I entered the only two logical answers, the system replied that these were not the correct answers. I only want to change the password on my router but cannot find any way into the system that will allow me to do this.
I am not that tech savvy and don't have the app installed on my phone.
This cannot be this difficult but I am running into roadblocks the entire way. Please help!!!
There are several passwords associated with Netgear routers.
The first is a Netgear account password that needed to be setup to register your device for warranty and to install the mobile application. The username for your Netgear account is usually your e-mail address. There is no default password here, you had to setup a password when you created the account.
When you first applied power to your router it booted up and started broadcasting a Wi-Fi signal. To connect to that Wi-Fi signal, you would need the Wi-Fi broadcast SSID and password printed on the label on the bottom of the router. In practice it is not a good idea to leave the Wi-FI SSID and password as default in case someone has physical access to your router. They would simply turn over the router and read the information on the label. Sounds like a lesson learned on your part.
Once you connected to the Wi-Fi being broadcast from your router, access to the setup and configuration of your router is via a default username of admin and password of password. A web browser program is used with the address of routerlogin.net or the IP address of 192.168.1.1. When you first accessed your router setup, the program required you to change the default password of "password". Along the way it asked you some security questions needed to reset this configuration program password. If you skipped the security questions or do not remember the answers you are now at a dead end.
The only way to recover and gain access to the user configuration interface is to perform a firmware default (factory) reset of your router. The user configuration interface is where you would change the Wi-Fi SSID and password. The firmware default reset is accomplished with the router powered on and by physically pressing and holding the recessed reset button on the back of your machine. You hold the reset button for several seconds or until the LED indicators start flashing. After the reset your router reboots and you will have to do a complete setup and configuration from scratch.
If you have not done so, recommend you go to the top of this page to the Downloads section and download the user manual for your specific model router. It is worth reading the sections on setup and configuration. When you establish passwords you have to pay attention to the requirements for the number and type of characters (no spaces). A pencil and paper is a good tool to have and use during the process.