How To Change Nat Settings On Router

How to access your router'due south settings

(Image credit: Asus)

Sometimes you need to know how to admission your router's settings. But really, that moment comes along so infrequently that it's like shooting fish in a barrel to forget just how to practice so.

If you're like almost Americans with broadband Cyberspace, y'all probably have a router at domicile which broadcasts the Wi-Fi network that your devices use. Many people rent a modem from their Internet provider which has a Wi-Fi router built in, but it'south too common to buy i of the best cable modems and router to avert paying your Internet service provider rental fees. Plus, the best Wi-Fi routers offer nifty performance and extra security features.

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No matter what router you take, when you want to fiddle with its settings yous'll almost certainly need to dial into it remotely using a spider web browser on a device connected to its Wi-Fi network.

This tin can be a tricky procedure, as you lot'll need to find your router'due south IP address to access it at all, and and so provide the proper username and password to log in and start changing settings.

Following the steps outlined beneath, which are written with the assumption you have access to a Windows PC, should make the procedure a little smoother. If y'all run into any issues, contact your router'due south manufacturer for assistance with troubleshooting.

How to access your router'due south settings: Check your IP address

one. To modify your router's settings you lot'll need to be able to talk to it, and to do that you need to know its IP address. Many routers apply 192.168.1.1 as their default IP accost, simply yours might be dissimilar.

To notice out for certain, connect a PC to your router's Wi-Fi network; this is most easily accomplished with a laptop, since many desktop PCs don't come up with Wi-Fi connectivity built in.

two. Once you lot have a Windows PC connected to the Wi-Fi network in question, open the Command Prompt (most easily accomplished by hitting the Offset button and typing "command", then selecting Command Prompt from the results) and type ipconfig into the control line.

Roll downwardly the results until you see a department that reads Ethernet adapter or Wireless LAN adapter; this is your connection to your router, and the address listed side by side to Default Gateway is your router'due south IP address.

Bonus: If you're running Windows ten you can await up your router's IP address without accessing the Command Prompt. Instead, open the Network & Internet section of your Windows x Settings card by hit the Get-go key and typing "settings", striking Enter, and then navigating to Network & Net > Status > "View hardware and connection backdrop."

Roll down the Properties list until you see an entry for Default gateway — the number listed side by side to it should be your router's IP accost.

How to access your router'south settings: Log into your router

one. In one case you know your router's IP address, logging in should be pretty piece of cake: but blazon the IP accost into the accost bar of your browser, and your router should send you to a page asking for your login and countersign.

Remember, you lot accept to practise this on a device connected to your router, either via Wi-Fi or an Ethernet cable!

ii. Ideally y'all remember the login and countersign for your router, so this part is smoothen sailing. But we alive in a world of realities, non ethics, and the truth is most of us accept a hard time remembering our router login details.

If you can't remember your username and countersign for the router, have heart: you may never have established any, so y'all may exist able to log in using the router's default username and password.

Many routers send with admin and password as their default username and password, respectively; if those don't work on your router, you tin as well endeavour looking information technology upwardly on Router Passwords, which maintains a large database of default router logins.

three. If you can't seem to observe the correct username and password to log into your router, you should be able to reset it instead. Some routers offer an selection to assistance you lot recover your countersign, often triggered once you fail to log in correctly. This often requires providing your router's serial number, which can typically be constitute on the back or bottom of the router.

Other routers just tell you to reset the router if you lot can't recollect your login credentials, which is usually accomplished by pressing the router's reset button for 10 seconds. Near routers have modest reset buttons inset into their back or bottom, though y'all'll often demand a pen or paperclip to printing and agree the button down.

In one case you've reset the router, yous should be able to log into it with the manufacturer's default username and password.

How to access your router's settings: Alter router settings

1. One time you've logged into your router via a connected browser, you lot should accept gratuitous reign to change whatever settings you lot wish. About modern routers volition offering an array of tweakable options in a simplified graphical interface, so information technology should be pretty straightforward to change settings similar the Wi-Fi password, the Wi-Fi network proper noun, which websites are blocked, whether in that location's a guest Wi-Fi network, and more.

Many mod routers offering automated guides to at least some of these settings, and we recommend y'all consult the router'southward documentation (or Google) earlier irresolute anything you don't understand.

If something catastrophic happens and your router no longer works the style you want, yous can always reset information technology (using the afore-mentioned reset push) back to manufacturing plant default settings.

ii. Once y'all've accomplished whatever you came to do, consider taking a moment to expect over your router'due south security settings and make certain they're up to snuff.

For example, if you lot're still using the router's default username and password, you should change them post-haste — if you can look up your router'south login details on the Internet, other people could too!

Bank check out our guide to how to secure your Wi-Fi and improve your router's security for more ideas on how to better your network'southward defenses.

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Alex Wawro is a lifelong tech and games enthusiast with more a decade of experience covering both for outlets like Game Programmer, Black Lid, and PC World magazine. He currently serves every bit a senior editor at Tom'due south Guide covering all things computing, from laptops and desktops to keyboards and mice.