How to Access a Router

Find router address (Windows)

Make sure your computer is connected to the internet. Once your computer is on the router's network, you can use your computer's settings to determine the router's address and thereby open its settings.

If there are problems with the wireless connection, you can connect directly to the router.

Open Start. Click on the Windows logo located in the lower left corner of the screen.

Click on Settings. This icon is located in the lower left corner of the Start window.

Click on Network & Internet. It's the sphere icon located on the Settings page.

Click View your network properties . This option is near the bottom of the page. You may have to scroll down to find it.

Note the number next to "Default gateway". This is the router's address, and you'll use it to access its settings online.

Find router address (Mac)

Make sure your computer is connected to the network. Once your computer is on the router's network, you can use your computer's settings to determine the router's address and then open its settings.

If there are problems with the wireless connection, you can connect directly to the router.

Open the Apple menu, located in the upper left corner of your Mac screen.

Click System Preferences . This option is near the top of the Apple drop-down menu.

Click Network . It's the spherical icon located on the System Preferences page.

Click Advanced . This button is located in the middle of the page.

Click the TCP/IP tab . This tab is located in the Advanced window.

Note the number next to '" Router :" . This is the router's address. We will use it to access the router's settings online.

Access your router's settings (Windows and Mac)

Open a browser. To access your router's settings, you will have to go online.

Enter your router's address. Type that address into the address bar on your browser and press the key ↵ Enter. Thanks to this, you will be redirected to the router's page.

Enter username and password when prompted. If you haven't set up a username and password, the username here is most likely "admin" and the password is "password".

Refer to your router's user manual for more information about default usernames and passwords.

If you've changed your router's username and/or password but can't remember what they are, you can reset the router back to its factory settings.

Take a look at your router setup. Router interface pages will vary slightly, but in general, you can usually find the following information:

Setup – View your router's setup, from your password and current connection strength to the type of security your connection is using.

SSID – Your network name. This is the name you and others see when you connect to Wi-Fi.

Connected devices – See a list of all devices connected to your network, as well as recently connected devices.

Parental controls – Review your router's parental settings, such as device time limits or blocked sites.

Change your wireless network name. Editing the "SSID" section will change the wireless network name. Remember that doing so will cause all devices using the network to lose connection and you will have to reconnect to the newly named network.

Usually you will have to open the router's Setup page to do the renaming.

Secure your network. Most modern routers support multiple types of wireless encryption. Use WPA2 to ensure network key security.

If changing your password, use a combination of letters, numbers and symbols. Avoid basing your password on personal information (such as your date of birth).

Set a new username and password for the router. You will use it for your next visit. Default names and passwords are very insecure, because anyone connected to your network can easily access the settings and compromise its security.

Micah Soto

Update 25 October 2023