I’m Jon, a home networking enthusiast with lots of experience logging into routers. I put together this guide to help you log into your Centurylink router.
So, let’s walk through how to access it!
What You Need Before Accessing Centurylink Router
Before you can access your Centurylink router, you need to complete and verify a few basic things first. Follow the two steps below before attempting to log in.
Internet Connection
To login to the Centurylink router, it must have a connection to the Internet.
Look at the router’s indication lights on the front of it to verify. If the “WAN” or “Internet” light is lit up and solid, then your router has an Internet connection. If it doesn’t, troubleshoot your connection or check with Centurylink customer service for support.
If it has an Internet connection, connect to its network.
Connection to Your Network
To access your Centurylink router’s login page, you will need to connect to its network with Wi-Fi or Ethernet. Ethernet is the best choice since it is more stable, but Wi-Fi will work fine 99.9% of the time (assuming you’re close enough).
Steps to Access Your Centurylink Router
After verifying your Centurylink router is connected to the Internet and your device is connected to its login page, you can log into it.
Follow the quick steps below to access your router’s login page.
#1 Open your browser and load up the network configuration page
Open any web browser and type http://192.168.0.1 into its URL bar, and hit Enter/Return. If that doesn’t work, look for an IP address label on your router. Or you can find your router’s IP address from any computer connected to its network:
- On Windows PCs – open the command prompt, type “IPCONFIG,” and press Enter. Look for the field that says “Default Gateway.” Your router’s IP address is after this. [1]
- On Apple computers– go to System Preferences, click Network, select “Advanced,” navigate to the “TCP/IP” tab, and find your router’s IP address next to “Router.”
If your router’s login page won’t load or you’re having trouble accessing it, read our router access guide.
#2 Log in with the default credentials
Once the login page for your Centurylink router loads, you will have to enter the username and password. The default username and password are on a sticker on the router. [2]
If that username and password don’t work, try a different web browser and disable your firewall when you try to log in.
But, if you accessed your router before and changed the password, the default will no longer work. If you don’t remember your username and password, you must do a hard reset on the router. Press the reset button on the back of the router for 15 seconds to reset it.
Resetting your router will allow you to use the default username and password to log into it. However, it will delete all of your custom settings, including your SSID, Wi-Fi password, etc.
#3 Access your administration page
Once you successfully log in to your Centurylink router, you can configure and adjust several network settings. The admin page will have several menus you can access to change them.
What You Can Configure in Your Centurylink Router Settings
Since you’re in the admin panel of your Centurylink router, you can configure various settings to improve your network experience. Here are a few of the items you can and should change now:
Change Wi-Fi Password
The password to your Wi-Fi network is the only thing stopping unauthorized people from accessing your network. If they crack it, they can get access to your personal data and wreak havoc on your network.
That is why changing it once every few months is a great idea. When you change your password, use a combination of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. But, make it something easy to remember but hard to guess.
For example, use a passphrase of two to three words that don’t go together normally, like “pink” and “sun,” along with numbers, symbols, etc.
While in the admin panel, change the router’s login credentials too. Otherwise, anyone that can see the default login on the side of the router could access it and change your Wi-Fi password.
Adjust Various Settings
You can change several settings along with your password to improve your Centurylink network’s security. Here are the most important ones you can easily change:
- Automatic updates: Leaving automatic updates on allows you to get the latest firmware from Centurylink with the best security and protection from viruses and malware.
- Network name (SSID): The name of your network doesn’t have to change from the default, but you can change it to something more unique to find it faster. This helps if you live in an apartment with lots of Wi-Fi networks.
- Network segmentation: You can create VLANs (Virtual Local Area Networks) to help separate devices on your network. This helps with isolating compromised devices and is also suitable for making guest networks.
Maintenance Tips for Your Centurylink Router and Modem
Here are some tips for maintaining a good experience with your Centurylink router and modem.
Change Your Password
If your Wi-Fi password is still the default password, you need to change it. Changing the WI-Fi password once every other month is an excellent practice to improve your home network’s security. That way, nobody with ill-intent can access your network and steal data.
Power Cycle
Power cycling your Centurylink modem and router is a great way to maintain its health and extend its lifespan. To power cycle them, just unplug each device for 15 seconds and plug them back in.
They will take a while to boot back up and restore their connection and network, so I suggest power cycling them before you leave for the day.
FAQs for Centurylink Router Login Page
Here are the most common questions about Centurylink’s router login page.
What happens if I get stuck on the login page?
If you changed your router’s login credentials from the defaults, you will have to do a hard reset on the router. To do this, you must press and hold the reset button for 10-15 seconds. This will delete all custom settings, so only use it as a last resort.
Alternatively, you can contact Centurylink and ask them to change the settings. They may be able to access it remotely.
How do I reset my Centurylink Router?
To reset your Centurylink router, find the reset button on the back of the unit. The button is usually tiny and recessed, so you will need a paperclip to push it. Once you find it, press and hold the button for 10-15 seconds.
The router will shut down, turn on, and flash a series of lights before reestablishing its default settings and connecting to the Internet.
Once the reset completes, you can access your router with the default username and password.
What is the best modem and router for Centurylink?
Depending on your home’s size, budget, Internet plan, and the number of devices on your network, the best Centurylink router and modem for you will vary.
To find the best options for you, read our best routers for Centurylink and best modems for Centurylink guides.
Final Thoughts
You can access your Centurylink router once you connect to its network and type http://192.168.0.1 into your browser’s URL bar.
When the login page loads, enter the default login credentials from the sticker on your router (or the new credentials you changed it to).
Once you log in, you can change various settings, including SSID, Wi-Fi password, automatic updates, and more.
If you need help increasing the range of your router, check out our guide on the best Centurylink Wi-Fi boosters.
