Forgot Your Router Password? How to Recover It Before You Reset

If you forgot your router’s admin password, do not reset the router first. Check the label, password manager, browser, setup card, or the manufacturer’s recovery feature. The admin password is different from the Wi-Fi password and your ISP account password. A factory reset is the last resort because it erases router settings and may require your ISP details again.

Last verified: 2026-09-04.

Which router password did you forget?

The admin password opens the router’s settings page. The Wi-Fi password connects phones, computers, and other devices to the wireless network. An ISP account password belongs to your internet provider. These credentials are separate, so first identify which one is missing. If Wi-Fi still works but the settings page rejects your login, you forgot the admin password rather than the Wi-Fi password.

Use the admin-password path when the router’s settings page rejects your login. Do not assume that a Wi-Fi password, ISP password, or account password will open the router’s administration page.

Where can you find the password you already have?

Check the router label, setup card, password manager, and browser-saved passwords before changing anything. A current router may have a unique default admin password on its label. Some labels show Wi-Fi details instead, so read the field name carefully. If you changed the password yourself, the password manager or setup card is more likely to contain the current value.

Check these sources in order:

1. Read the label on the router and identify whether it says admin password, login password, or Wi-Fi password.
2. Search your password manager for the router brand, model, or local router address.
3. Check saved browser passwords and the setup card supplied with the router or ISP gateway.
4. If the router uses a manufacturer account, check the manufacturer’s official support instructions.

Avoid a universal default-password list. Defaults vary by model and firmware, and a password printed for Wi-Fi may not be the admin password.

Does your router offer official password recovery?

Some routers can recover an administrator password without erasing settings, but the recovery feature usually must be configured before the lockout. Linksys uses a Recovery Key on supported parent-router labels. NETGEAR can use a serial number and security questions. TP-Link can use Password Recovery when it was configured in advance. If the required feature was not enabled, the manufacturer may require a factory reset.

Use the instructions for your exact model. A brand name alone does not prove that every model supports the same recovery feature.

When is a factory reset the official last resort?

Use a factory reset only when the password is truly unavailable and no supported recovery method works. A reset restores factory settings, removes the custom admin password, and erases personalized router configuration. That can include the Wi-Fi name, Wi-Fi password, security settings, and internet settings. Before resetting, save any ISP username, password, or special connection details, or ask your ISP where to find them.

Before pressing Reset, record any settings you may need later:

• ISP username, password, or special connection requirements.
• Wi-Fi name and password that your devices currently use.
• Custom DNS, port forwarding, parental-control, or other settings.
• The router model and hardware version.

The exact reset-button timing varies by model. Follow the official support page for your router. Do not unplug the router while a reset is running. Afterward, use the factory setup process and create a new admin password.

A reset does not guarantee that internet service will return without additional setup. ASUS specifically advises saving required internet account details or asking the Internet Service Provider before restoring factory defaults.

Is WPS a safe way to recover a router password?

WPS is not an official router-admin-password recovery method. CISA documented a design weakness in the WPS external-registrar PIN exchange that can permit practical brute-force attacks against vulnerable access points. WPS may expose wireless credentials rather than recover an admin password. If your router supports it, check the manufacturer’s security guidance and disable WPS when appropriate; the exact behavior varies by access point.

Do not use WPS as a password-recovery shortcut. CISA reports that an attacker may guess a vulnerable WPS PIN and obtain wireless credentials. CISA recommends checking for firmware updates and disabling WPS where possible. The setting and its behavior depend on the access point.

What should you do after regaining access?

Create a new, unique admin password and store it in a password manager. Keep the admin password separate from the Wi-Fi password and ISP credentials. Record the router model and firmware version with the saved entry. If you changed Wi-Fi settings, reconnect devices carefully. Do not reuse the router password on another service.

1. Change the admin password if the router still uses a default or temporary value.
2. Store the new password with the exact router model and login address.
3. Save a configuration backup if the manufacturer provides one.
4. Update firmware through the manufacturer’s official process.
5. Record ISP connection details separately from router credentials.

Frequently asked questions

Can I recover a changed admin password without resetting the router?

Sometimes. Check the manufacturer’s recovery feature first. Linksys, NETGEAR, and TP-Link document recovery paths with conditions. If the feature was not configured, or recovery fails, the official fallback may be a factory reset.

Will a factory reset erase my Wi-Fi password?

It can. A factory reset removes personalized settings. Official vendor documentation warns that Wi-Fi settings and other router configuration may be cleared. Save the information you need before resetting.

Will I lose internet access after a factory reset?

You may need to re-enter ISP credentials or special connection settings. The result depends on your internet service and router setup. ASUS advises saving the required information or asking your ISP before restoring factory defaults.

Can WPS recover my admin password?

No. WPS is a wireless setup mechanism, not an official admin-password recovery method. Its PIN design has documented security weaknesses on vulnerable access points.

What if the label password does not work?

Check whether the label identifies a Wi-Fi password or an admin password. Then check your saved credentials and the official recovery instructions for the exact model. Do not assume a password from another model applies.

Next steps

Start with the least destructive option: identify the password type, check saved credentials, and try the official recovery feature. Reset only after confirming that recovery is unavailable and recording the ISP and router settings you may need.