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Forum Discussion

MaryT103's avatar
Dec 14, 2018

Recover Password

I just got a Chrome Book but I can't use it because the router password isn't working.  I have wireless capability on another laptop, cell phone, satellite.  I never have to use the password to sign on.  It just does it automatically.  But, with this new computer, I can't sign on, using the password that always worked before.  Ironically, when my brother visited recently, neither he nor his wife could sign on their cell phones, using the given password.  I didn't change my password, so I thought I could do that now.   I tried the http://routerlogin.net, which shows a popup asking for Username and Password.  I put in "admin" and "password" and get an error code 401, which says basically "Unauthorized".  So I tried the password I have - no luck.  I tried the SSID - no luck.  I tried a combination of all - no luck.  What are they asking for????  It says "Username".  Do they mean the SSID or the Centurylink username or the email address?  I give up. I thought about doing a factory default reset, but I'm reluctant to do that, as I don't want to jeopardize un-connecting all the other things.  Does anyone know how to fix this problem?

1 Reply

  • > [...] I tried the http://routerlogin.net, which shows a popup asking
    > for Username and Password.  I put in "admin" and "password" and get an
    > error code 401, which says basically "Unauthorized".  So I tried the
    > password I have - no luck. [...]

       There's more than one "the password".  This is explained better in

    User Manuals for models newer than yours.  For example, visit
    http://netgear.com/support , put in "R7000" as the model number, and
    look for Documentation.  Get the User Manual.  Look for "Types of
    Logins".  (Repeat for your own model number.)

       "admin" and "password" are the default credentials for the management
    web site ("routerlogin.net", et al.), but that password could have been
    changed.  ("admin" is the only valid user name, however.)

    > [...] with this new computer, I can't sign on, using the password that
    > always worked before.  Ironically, when my brother visited recently,
    > neither he nor his wife could sign on their cell phones, using the given
    > password. [...]

       "given password"?  The simple explanation for a password not working
    is that that isn't the password (now).

    > [...] I thought about doing a factory default reset, but I'm reluctant
    > to do that, as I don't want to jeopardize un-connecting all the other
    > things.  Does anyone know how to fix this problem?

       Sadly, if you've set and lost that "admin" password (or the router

    has corrupted it somehow), then a settings reset may be the only way
    forward.  And that _will_ require reconfiguring the router.

       If you remember your old wireless-network credentials (SSID,
    passphrase), or if you can extract them from some working client device,
    then you could reconfigure the router accordingly, and those devices
    should work again.  (The SSID should be visible before the reset, of
    course.)  Otherwise, you'd be forced to create a new wireless
    passphrase, and reprogram your client devices accordingly.