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Netgear router login: how to log in and tweak your settings
In this Netgear router login guide, we show you how to log in to your router, and what options you should be tweaking to ensure you're getting the fastest – and most secure – wireless internet speeds possible.
In this Netgear router login guide, we show you how to log in to your router, and what options you should be tweaking to ensure you're getting the fastest – and most secure – wireless internet speeds possible.
Maybe you bought your Netgear router, set it up, and haven’t ever had any reason to go back into the router’s setup or configuration menus ever since. And now you need to pop back in to change something – maybe you’ve stuck with the same broadband provider for ages, and finally decided to switch to a better deal – but you’ve entirely forgotten how to log in to the Netgear device.
This article is for those who are in this or any similar predicament. Whatever your reason for wanting to log in to your Netgear router, we’ll show you how to do this in clear and easy steps.
Following that, we’ll take a bit of time to go over some common settings you might want to tweak once you’re in the router’s menus, such as adjusting QoS options for example.
There are two main ways you can log in to your Netgear router: either from your PC using a web browser, or from your phone (or tablet) using a dedicated app. Let’s tackle those options in that order.
How to log in to your Netgear router from a PC
Netgear router username and password primary method
The usual way to log in to your Netgear router (Image credit: Netgear)
(Image credit: Future)
routerlogin . net
Alternatively, you can also type:
routerlogin . com
You should then see the router login window, which asks for your username and password. If so, skip to step 3. If your router login window fails to appear, proceed to step 2 which is an alternative method of logging in.
Note that Orbi mesh networking routers use orbilogin . net or orbilogin . com.
Alternative Netgear router login method
This is an alterntive way to log in to your Netgear router (Image credit: Netgear)
The IP address is a four figure number, with periods between each number, and you can think of it as a digital address showing where your router is located on the local network. Typically, it will be something like 192.168.xxx.xxx where those last two numbers (xxx) can differ slightly.
This IP address might be written down in your router’s instruction booklet somewhere, but if not, you can find it out easily enough using your PC.
In Windows 10, go to the search box (just next to the Start button), type in ‘C’, and suggestions beginning with the letter ‘C’ will appear above: click on Command Prompt. (On earlier Windows versions, click Start, click in the search field – or on the magnifying glass icon – and type in cmd then click Command Prompt).
A window will pop up – simply type the following into that window (known as the command line) and press Enter:
ipconfig
A string of numbers will appear below. Make a note of the one which is labelled Default Gateway (it’s usually at the bottom).
Simply type this number exactly as it is written (including the periods between the numbers) into your browser’s address bar, and you’ll be golden.
Enter user credentials for Netgear router login
Enter your user name and password to log in to the Netgear router (Image credit: Netgear)
(Image credit: Future)
You can now move on to the (optional) section at the bottom of this article on common settings to take a look at once you’re inside the Netgear router’s menus.
There’s one potential stumbling block here, and that’s if you’ve forgotten either your username or password. You did change these from the default values, right – or at least the password?
Those default values are username ‘admin’ and the password is ‘password’ (these defaults are written on the bottom of your router somewhere) – but because they’re so insecure (and known to anybody), you should always change them.
Nevertheless, if you’re not sure what on earth your password details are, you might as well try these default values just in case. Just be sure to change them afterwards. Failing that, you’ll need to perform a password recovery.
Netgear router login password recovery
Recover your password (Image credit: Netgear)
You’ll need to fill in your router’s serial number (written somewhere on the device, likely the underside), and answer some security questions. Once that’s done, the password will be displayed for you to see.
If you didn’t enable password recovery, or have forgotten the answers to the security questions, then we’re afraid you’re out of luck. You will simply have to start from scratch by performing a factory reset on your Netgear router, which will reset the username and password to the defaults (as discussed above).
To carry out a factory reset, make sure the router is turned on, then find the reset button (it will almost certainly be on the rear of the device). This is a small hole which you have to insert a paperclip into and press down for seven seconds (maybe a few more for good measure).
The router will then be reset, but note that you will have lost all of your settings (you will need to set up the device again from scratch).
Netgear router login via mobile app
Netgear router login via mobile app
The Netgear app lets you log in to your router (Image credit: TechRadar/Shutterstock)
Download and install it on your phone or tablet. After it’s installed, run the application, and agree to the terms and conditions. You must also then decide whether to allow the app to access your device’s location services (which enables the app to automatically connect your phone to your network if you change the network name).
Orbi router owners should use the Orbi app, of course, which is employed when first setting up the mesh networking system.
Netgear router login via mobile app step 2
Create an account through the app (Image credit: TechRadar/Shutterstock)
Otherwise, press 'Create Account' and provide the appropriate details (name, email, password).
You will then be asked if you need to install a new router – unless you are setting up your router for the very first time, you should select 'No'.
Netgear router login via mobile app step 3
Use the app to log in to the Netgear router (Image credit: TechRadar/Shutterstock)
If you’ve forgotten your password, there’s a link presented to a Netgear support article which discusses what to do next – but you can also see the help advice in steps 3 and 4 in the above instructions for logging in to your Netgear router from a PC, as you’ll be following the same procedure.
Common settings
Inside a Netgear router's configuration menus (Image credit: Netgear)
Common settings
Okay, so you’ve successfully logged in to your Netgear router, and sorted out whatever you need to sort. While you’re here, it might be helpful to outline a few commonly used options you can look at and potentially tweak (we’ve a few useful tips on why it might be handy to do so, as well).
Here, we are using a Nighthawk XR700 router which runs DumaOS, and while the interface for your particular model of Netgear router may look different, the core options should be the same or very similar, broadly speaking.
If you’ve logged in to your router from the Nighthawk smartphone app, the UI will of course be very different, but the settings use the same (or similar) names. However, do note that there’s one exception in that you can’t reach QoS from the mobile application.
Device Manager
Device Manager displays a visual map of your network in DumaOS (Image credit: Netgear)
QoS
The QoS settings let you adjust the bandwidth priority for all your different devices (Image credit: Netgear)
In DumaOS, you can simply click-and-drag any of the percentage numbers for any device outwards to give it proportionally more bandwidth (or even 100% of the bandwidth). Remember, though, that what you’re giving to any particular device, you’re taking away from the others. By default, everything is balanced equally between every piece of hardware, and you can click on Reset Distribution to go back to this default picture.
Guest Network
Setting up a guest network can be very useful (Image credit: Netgear)
To set it up, simply head to Guest Network (Guest Wi-Fi on the smartphone app) via the main menu (although in DumaOS, you’ll find this option under Settings > Setup > Guest Network). Just click Enable Guest Network to do just that (which can be either a 2.5GHz or 5GHz Wi-Fi network), rename the network if you like, and choose WPA2 [AES] for security (or whatever WPA2 option is present).