NETGEAR Router Setup | NETGEAR Firmware Update | NETGEAR VPN Setup

NETGEAR Router Setup

Here in this article, we shall discuss how to get your NETGEAR router setup and all the problems and their respective solutions you may encounter while trying to setup your NETGEAR router, especially for the first time. Get to know how to a NETGEAR router setup works using different methods, update NETGEAR router Firmware and troubleshoot issues related to the NETGEAR router setup.

NETGEAR makes use of the www.routerlogin.net web app for all troubleshooting purposes. So, when connected to the network your router is broadcasting, you’ll need to point a web browser there. To log in, use the default password and username of ‘admin’ and ‘password’, respectively. If not, review the manuals that came with your router or look for it on a label someplace on the hardware itself.

How to get your NETGEAR router physically setup?

To setup your NETGEAR router physically, follow these steps:

  1. Launch a web browser from any device linked to the network of your router.

  2. Type routerlogin.net or 192.168.1.1. in the address bar

  3. The router login screen appears.

  4. Enter the router administrator’s user name and password.

  5. ‘admin’ is the user name. The password is the one you entered throughout the setup process. The case of the user name and password is essential.

  6. If you don’t remember your NETGEAR admin password, read. How do I retrieve my NETGEAR admin password?

  7. The BASIC Home screen is visible.

How to setup a NETGEAR router using different methods?

Now, let us discuss some common methods to setup older and new NETGEAR router’s.

Steps for installing your NETGEAR router using the router web interface:

  1. Link the modem to the yellow Internet port on your NETGEAR router’s back with an Ethernet wire.
  2. Connect your PC to any of your router’s Ethernet ports.
  3. On the router, press the Power button.
  4. The router’s LEDs illuminate.
  5. Open a web browser and type in ‘routerlogin.net’ into the address bar.
  6. You are asked to log in.
  7. The user name is set to ‘admin’ by default. The default password is ‘password’.
  8. The character case of the user name and password is essential.
  9.  Choose ADVANCED > Setup Wizard as the next option.
  10. Click Next after selecting the Yes radio box.
  11. Your Internet connection gets detected by the router.
  12. You are asked to log in.
  13. Enter and confirm your new password.
  14. Choose and respond to two security questions.
  1. Now, click Next.
  2. The page saying ‘Congratulations!’ appears.
  3. You can click on Print to get a copy of your network settings.
  4. Next, click on the Next button.
  5. The Firmware Update Assistant appears.
  6. Click OK if a firmware update is not available.
  7. Your router is configured.
  8. If a firmware update is available, click Yes to install it.
  9. The firmware is updated.
  10. The router restarts.
  11. You are asked to log in.
  12. Enter admin and the newly generated password.
  13. The BASIC page appears.
  14. Your router is now finally up.

Note: If you’re having trouble connecting to the Internet, consider rebooting your network. For further information, visit How do I power cycle my home network?

How to setup a NETGEAR Nighthawk router using the NETGEAR Nighthawk app?

The Nighthawk app is the most user-friendly method to configure your NETGEAR router. The Nighthawk app can also be used to check the devices on your network, conduct speed tests, and control your WiFi settings. Read about: How to get your NETGEAR WiFi extender setup?

NETGEAR Nighthawk router setup using the NETGEAR Nighthawk app
  1. First and foremost, download and install the Nighthawk app.
  2. Connect your modem to any of the Internet ports on your router using the included antennas (if any). Visit to know about Netgear Modem Router setup.
  3. Turn on your router.
  4. Wait for the WiFi LED to turn on.
  5. Look for your router’s WiFi network name (SSID) and network key on the label (password).
  6. Your router’s label is located on the back or bottom.
  7. Tap Settings > WiFi on your iOS or Android device.
  8. Connect your mobile device to the network stated on the label of your router and enter your password.
  9. Open your mobile device’s NETGEAR Nighthawk app.
  10. Install your router and connect to the Internet by following the directions in the Nighthawk app.

Note: If you’re having problems connecting your mobile device to your router’s network, try power cycling it. Repeat Steps 4-8 after rebooting your router.

Steps for installing your older NETGEAR router using a wireless device:

  1. Shut down your DSL or cable modem.
  2. Connect the yellow LAN port of your cable or DSL modem to the yellow Internet port of your NETGEAR router with an Ethernet cable.
  3. Turn on your DSL or cable modem and wait for all of the LEDs to turn solid green.
  4. Turn on your NETGEAR router and wait for all of the LEDs to turn solid green.
  5. Open the WiFi connection manager on your wireless device and find your NETGEAR router’s default WiFi network name.
  6. Note: The WiFi network’s password and name are located on a sticker on your router.
  7. Connect to your router’s WiFi connection.
  8. Start an Internet browser go to http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.
  9. Fill up the default user name and password.
  10. ‘admin’ is the default user name, while ‘password’ is the default password.
  11. To finish the installation, follow the on-screen directions.
NETGEAR router physicall setup image

Note: Before you can set up your NETGEAR router, you may need to obtain your login credentials (user name and password) from your Internet Service Provider (ISP) if you have DSL service.

Now, let us discuss some common troubleshooting problems encountered during the NETGEAR router’s setup.

For troubleshooting wireless network problems:

Refer to the installation instructions and user manual that came with the router, especially for new routers that have yet to be attached to the Internet. Online manuals are also available on the NETGEAR Support page.

What should you do if you are getting a “router not found error” when installing your NETGEAR router using the Nighthawk app?

Go to Settings > Wi-Fi on your mobile device and join your router’s default Wi-Fi network.

Note: Your router’s default Wi-Fi network is placed on a sticker on your router. Tap Try Again in the app.

If you still encounter router issues:

  1. Tap ‘Still having issues?’ from the “Router Not Found” screen.
  2. Tap on each issue for recommended steps for resolving that issue.

The following list of possible issues displays:

  • Wi-Fi Off: Your router’s Wi-Fi is disabled. Press the Wi-Fi On/Off button if you have a Nighthawk router. The Wi-Fi LED lights will turn on. The ring LED on an Orbi router is solid magenta. Consult the Cannot Access the Internet section of your Orbi product’s user handbook. See ‘Where I can find information about my NETGEAR product?’ for additional details.
  • Cellular data: Often known as mobile data, is a type of data that is transmitted through your mobile device. Your router may be using cellular data. Turn off your cellular data and try the app again. For more information, and ‘How do I turn off mobile data on my smartphone if I get an error during installation?’
  • Foreign Network: You may be connecting to your router’s guest network. Connect to your primary home network and retry using the app.
  • Device Connectivity: Your mobile device may be linked to another network or access point with the same Wi-Fi network name. If other networking hardware’s Wi-Fi is on, try disconnecting it and connecting to your router’s network.
  • Bridge Mode: Your router may be in bridge mode. The Nighthawk or Orbi apps do not support bridge mode.
reset NETGEAR router login

Perform a factory reset if this is your first time installing your router, and try installing through the Nighthawk app again. For further assistance, visit ‘How do I perform a factory reset on my NETGEAR router?’.

If you are not installing the software for the first time, you activated bridge mode, lost the Internet connection, disable bridge mode, and tried again.

  1. Start a web browser from a computer or mobile device connected to your router’s Wi-Fi network. 
  2. Type in http://www.routerlogin.net for the Nighthawk app.
  3. The login screen appears.
  4. Type in the router’s password and user name.
  5. The default user name is admin, and the password is password. Both of them are case-sensitive.
  6. BASIC Home screen will appear.
  7. Now, click ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Wireless Bridge.
  8. The Wireless Bridge page appears.
  9. Ensure that the Enable Bridge Mode checkbox is unticked.

What to do if you are unable to update NETGEAR router Firmware?

Doing upgrade of your router’s firmware manually:

NETGEAR Genie wizard
  1. Use an Ethernet cable for connecting your computer with your router.
  2. Go to NETGEAR Support.
  3. Type in your router’s Product Name or Model Number.
  4. Click on Downloads.
  5. Now, select a firmware version and click on Download.
  6.  If needed, Unzip the file.
  7. Type in routerlogin.net into a web browser.
  8. A login page will appear.
  9. The default user name and password is admin and password, respectively. Both of them are case-sensitive.
  10. Now, the BASIC Home screen will appear.
  11. Now, click on ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Wireless Bridge.
  12. Select Firmware Update or Router Update.
  13. Select Choose File or Browse, then locate and select the firmware file that ends in .img or .chk.
  14. Click the Upload button.
  15. After you click the UPDATE button.
  16. Do not try to go online.
  17. Turn off the router.
  18. Please do not do anything else to the router until it finishes restarting.

The firmware update will start, and the router will restart. It takes about two minutes for the firmware update process.

What are the steps for a NETGEAR VPN router setup?

A virtual private network (aka VPN) enables you to access your network from anywhere over the Internet securely. You must install the Open VPN software on each Windows PC that will be used to connect to your network through VPN. VPN connects to your router using a Dynamic DNS account. Before you can use the VPN, you must first enable Dynamic DNS. For additional information on enabling Dynamic DNS, go here. How to set up Dynamic DNS on a NETGEAR router using www.no-ip.com.

  1. Start an Internet browser from your PC or smartphone device that is already connected to your router’s network.
  2. Type in http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens.
  3. The default user name and password is admin and password, respectively. Both of them are case-sensitive.
  4. Now, the BASIC Home screen will appear.
  5. Now, click on ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Wireless Bridge.
  6. The VPN Service page will appear.
  7. Choose the Enable VPN Service check box and then click on Apply.
  8. Mention your specific VPN service settings on that page.
  9. To download the OpenVPN configuration files, click For Windows.
  10. See http://openvpn.net/index.php/download/community-downloads.html for downloading the OpenVPN client utility. 
  11. Double-click the openVPN-install-xxx.exe link in the Windows Installer section of the page.
  12. Click the openVPN-install-xxx.exe file to download and install the Open VPN software on your computer.
  13. Click on Next.
  14. Then, click I Agree afterreading the License Agreement.
  15. Leave the checked boxes selected.
  1. Click Next
  2. Click Browse and select the destination folder To specify the destination folder.
  3. Next, click on Install
  4. The window displays the installation progress and the final installation page.
  5. Finish by clicking the Finish button.
  6. Unzip the configuration files you downloaded and place them in the folder where you installed the VPN client on your device.
  7. The VPN client is installed by default on a client device running 64-bit Windows in C:\Programfiles\OpenVPN\config\
  8. Modify the VPN interface name on Windows client devices to NETGEAR-VPN: a. Navigate to the Networks tab on your PC.
  9. In Windows 10, go to Start > Settings > Network & Internet > Ethernet.
  10. In Windows 7, visit Start > Control Panel > View network status and tasks.
  11. Choose Change adapter settings.
  12. Locate the local area connection with the device name of the TAP-Windows adapter in the list of local area connections.
  13.  Choose the local area connection and rename it (not the device name) to NETGEAR-VPN.
  14. The VPN tunnel connection fails if the VPN interface name is not changed.

Having trouble accessing my NETGEAR router, what do I do?

If you are unable to connect to your NETGEAR router, attempt the following troubleshooting steps.

To troubleshoot your router, perform the following steps:

  1. Connect your PC and router using an Ethernet wire.
  • Connect each end to a LAN port on the router.
  • Verify that the router’s Internet LED is illuminated.
  • If the LED is not illuminated, see How to Resolve Amber LEDs or a Blinking Power LED on NETGEAR Routers for additional details.
  • Verify that the LEDs for the ports with cables are illuminated.
  • If they are not illuminated, switch the wire to a different port. If there are still no lights, check the status of the lights.
  • Verify that the Ethernet adapter’s LED is illuminated.
  1. Use the command prompt on your computer to connect to your router.
  2. If none of the above techniques has worked, deactivate proxies. Proxy servers are added to your web browser to mask your IP address.
  3. Attempt to connect to the router using a different computer or browser.
  4. Remove all cookies*.
  5. Turn off your router and then turn it back on.
  6. Examine the computer’s IP address and DHCP configuration.

*NOTE: Do not do this if the websites you visit requires cookie identification.

NOTE: The IP address should be 192.168.0.x range and DHCP must be enabled. See What is the IP address of my NETGEAR router? for additional information.

If you’re using Windows:

The prompt is a dark screen with the term “user” and your name in white letters at the top.

  • Go to Start > Run
  • Enter cmd
  • In the address bar, enter ping 192.168.1.1

If you’re using Mac OS:

The prompt consists of a white screen with the Mac model shown on the screen’s top area.

  • Navigate to the Applications folder.
  • Launch Utilities.
  • Select Terminal and double-click it.
  • If the notice “Request timed out” appears, type ping 192.168.0.1.

If the notification remains, your PC is not syncing with the router.

If you are using Internet Explorer, do the following: 

  • To view your proxy settings, do the following:
  • Choose Tools > Internet Options > Connections > LAN Settings from the menu.
  • Click the box next to “Use a proxy server for your LAN…” to untick it.

If you’re using Safari, do the following:

  • Go to Tools > Internet Options > Delete Files.
  • Click OK after selecting Delete all offline content. (This is done to clear any previous router log on page.)

See Why is my NETGEAR router not connecting to Internet? for more information.

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