Linksys router cannot change default password

08
2014-07
  • Jessica M.

    My wireless internet suddenly stopped working today. I have Windows 7 and Lindsys WRT54G router. I tried to log into the Linksys setup router page by typing in www.192.168.1.1 into firefox and it prompted me for a username and password as usual. The problem is when i tried to enter my regular username and password it did not work. I finally solved my problem when I came across this post here and the very last post solved my problem.

    It suggested I try username: root / password: admin. For some reason the username and password has been changed. When i tried username: root / password: admin , it worked and allowed me to get into the Linksys setup page. The problem is I can't change the username or password anymore. Every time I want to log into my Linksys setup page I have to enter username: root / password: admin. I can't change the "WPA shared key" (password). For the security settings I selected WPA2Personal + AES.

    Also the post said "If the firmware was upgraded to non-linksys firmware - the default will be different" . The problem is I didn't update anything and I'm worried that someone installed a virus or something or somehow changed the firmware on my router. How did I get non-Linksys firmware on my router?

    EDIT: I figured out how to change the password when I log into the Lynksys setup page. Administration --> Management --> password. I still don't understand if my router firmware was changed or who changed it or if it happened by mistake.

    • Answers
  • Spiff

    You probably hit a bug, not a virus or malicious firmware load. Did the web-based admin UI have a Linksys logo on it? And did it look like the UI you remember from previous times you've use it? If so, then it was probably from Linksys. It probably wouldn't be legal for third-party firmware distributions to include Linksys's logo without permissions, and I doubt Linksys would give permission.

    If I were you, I would follow Linksys' instructions for fully resetting your router to the factory default settings, then I would follow the instructions for downloading and installing the latest firmware for your particular hardware revision of the WRT54G, then I would set it up from scratch and see if it'll let me change the admin password.

    Please note that the wireless network security password (WPA[2] Pre-Shared Key a.k.a. PSK) is not the same thing as the admin password you use to log into the web UI. The wireless PSK is what allows devices to join your network, but the admin password is the one that allows you to change settings on your router.


    • Related Question

    Linksys WRT54G router access page inaccessible
  • studiohack

    When I type 192.168.1.1 into Firefox, it brings up a window that asks for the username and password. The default for this router (Linksys WRT54G) is admin, admin. However, the network is unsecured, and I can't find a way in!

    any questions, please ask.

    THE RESET OPTION HAS ALREADY BEEN TRIED.


    • Related Answers
  • Ciaran

    This answer may suck, but someone may have saved your default firmware with a different admin password. Hence, a "factory reset" will just set it back to whatever they set it with. Unfortunately, if this is the case, you'll need a new box

  • 8088

    You can reset the router to factory default.

    enter image description here

    However keep in mind that ALL settings will be default and you may have to reconfigure the router according to your ISPs requirements.

  • CoffeeBean

    1. Make sure you have a wired connection to the router from the computer you're using for access. Wireless routers cannot be configured wirelessly this way.

    2. If you're getting a login, but the known combo isn't working, perform a reset as Molly illustrated above.

    3. If you're still not getting anywhere, try another port.

    4. If you're still not getting anywhere - the router could be going south. Especially if you bypass it and all works well with the Cable/DSL modem only.

  • chris

    I believe the default is no username, pwd admin. You should connect to it via a wired connection.

    If resetting the box doesn't work, try reinstalling the latest firmware from Linksys.

  • Lara Dougan

    Have you installed an alternative firmware on it? If so, then the default password would change to whatever the firmware you installed uses. For example DD-WRT uses root/admin.