Router Default Passwords for Windows
Router Default Passwords is a portable free software for Microsoft Windows devices that is a little helper application for discovering a router's IP address and listing default passwords.
Most Windows PCs are connected to routers or modems for Internet connectivity. While most users leave routers or modems alone most of the time, it may sometimes be necessary to access the admin dashboard of these devices.
Access may be necessary to set up new services, manage the network configuration, change the wireless password, set up port forwarding, configure the built-in firewall, or for other administrative tasks.
Experienced users may know the IP address of the router/modem, or use ipconfig to look it up if they don't. The password, on the other hand, is another story. If it was never changed, it is the default password the device shipped with. If you are lucky, you find a sticker on the device that lists it or you detect it in the manual or a small note that came with the product. If not, you need to search for default passwords and try them to gain access to the admin dashboard.
Router Default Passwords
Router Default Passwords is a portable program that you may run after download and unpacking; installation is not required. The program is compatible with all supported versions of Windows which are Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 at the time of writing on the client side.
The program attempts to detect the IP address of the router on start and turns it into a link. A click opens the IP address in the default browser in hopes that the admin interface of the device is loaded.
The process worked well on a test device, but your mileage may vary as it depends on your network configuration. It appears that Router Default Passwords lists the default gateway as the router IP.
The program does not identify the router itself but lists the network adapter instead. A list of default passwords is displayed as favorites by default.
To look up the default password of the router, click on the pulldown menu and select your Internet provider or router manufacturer from the listing.
Your router or provider may not be on that list but that does not necessarily mean that the program is useless. What you may want to do is check if other devices by the company are listed to try the default authentication data. Many manufacturers and companies use identical authentication data for different devices.
Another interesting option provided by Router Default Passwords is that you may add new model, username and password data sets to the app. This works by editing a file in a text editor right now, but you can access it with a click on menu > change list.
You may add your own router or modem to the list, or fill it with default passwords for devices that are not supported by default.
Closing Words
Router Default Passwords is a handy helper application for Windows. While it does not reinvent the wheel, as you can search on the Internet for default passwords for routers, it comes bundles with a huge list of router passwords so that you may not have to run searches.
Now You: Do you know your router's password? (thanks Robert)
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At some point you may want to read your password, and if it contains L,l,1,I,i,O,o or 0, be sure your font or handwriting distinguishes these characters clearly. FYI
Guys, I would like to thank you all for the comments and advice you gave promptly when I explained my problem.
Fortunately I was able to retrieve my password, it was well hidden in a LastPass safe note.
Again, thank you very much!
@ SCBright
By resetting the router to factory defaults, you will lose your Internet connection from your ISP and will need to reset your router settings as per your ISP’s configuration, in order to regain Internet access.
……. No doubt, by resetting the router to factory defaults will let you regain access to your router, after having forgotten your router password, ie by using the factory default username and password, eg “admin” and “admin”, but this may be not enough for router recovery.
In my case, when I first subcribed for Internet access from my ISP, their technician came to my house to set up the router and Internet connection. Afterwards, he told me my ISP account’s username and password and Wifi password for my router.
……. The ISP provides each subscriber with his/her acct’s username and password which are needed to set the router for Internet access from the ISP.
……. The router’s username and password are only for accessing the router and its settings, ie not specifically for Internet access, eg to set the Internet connection, to set Wifi connections, to disable WPS or WDS, for Remote Access Management, MAC filtering, to set firewall rules, etc.
After resetting the home router to factory default, you need to also reset your router settings by accessing the router’s Admin dashboard or menu which usually has a Quick Setup page; …
…. select PPPOE and PVC = 0 to 35, you need to then enter your ISP account’s username and password, and set your Wifi connections(eg WPA2-PSK/Personal encryption and Wifi password)
So, besides knowing your router’s default username and password, you also need to know how to reset your home router for Internet access from your ISP before you reset your router to factory defaults by pressing the Reset button for 5 esconds through a pinhole.
This isn’t true in every case. It depends on ISPs and their hardware choices (as well as cable vs dial-up).
That said, people should be aware of this if they have a setup similar to yours.
You have a modem router combo, right?
@SCBright: Then you’ll have to reset your router to factory defaults (usually by using a pen to press that little button, and hold it for 5 seconds), look at the Internet, by searching for your routers manufacturer!
I changed it long time ago and really don’t remember the password :(
Well you can always reset ;)