Learn the meaning of each number on the sticker of your router
In this article, I will explain what all the numbers on your router sticker mean. The goal of this post is to help you understand all the information on your router sticker. Some of the information that appears there is very important for you and will help you, among other things, access your router’s control panel or change your Wi-Fi password. Don’t miss it!
Before we begin, it’s important to make one thing clear: not all routers are created equal. Similarly, the labels vary as well. Before I started writing this content, I took a picture of the sticker on my router. Here’s what I found:
The information shown in this image is very brief. Now, other routers include a lot more information, including the model number and even the serial number. To make this guide as comprehensive as possible, I will not only take into account the sticker on my router but also the sticker shown in this guide. Here is the screenshot:
What does each of the data mean? Let's see.
- IP address
An IP address is like your home address, but for devices on your network. In the case of routers, the most commonly used IP address is 192.168.1.1. This number identifies the router inside your home network, even though it is not on the outside. What is its purpose?
This address allows you to access your router settings via a web browser. Simply enter this number into the address bar to access the settings panel. It is important that you are connected to your WiFi network or router using an Ethernet cable. What username and password should you use? This information is usually also found on the router sticker.
- Username and password to access the router settings
Another piece of information you will see on the sticker is the username and password to access the router’s configuration panel. On most modern routers, the default credentials are:
User: admin
Password: admin
Other common passwords might be 1234 or password. It is necessary to change this password to a more secure one to prevent unauthorized people from accessing the router. However, remember that in order to access the configuration panel, the device must first be connected to a WiFi network or via cable. This means that you must know the network password or have physical access to the router.
- Energy
Among the technical data mentioned on the router label, we also find the power. This indicates the amount of power the router needs to operate properly. In the image above as an example, a 12V and 1A input is needed. In case you lose the original adapter, this will help you choose the right one.
- IMEI
IMEI is a unique number that identifies your mobile device. If you look at the sticker, the IMEI number is 868260051834191. Not all routers have this number, as it is only assigned to GSM devices. Only routers that connect to the internet via 4G or 5G have an IMEI number.
- Serial number
The serial number is located in the S/N field. It is a unique identifier assigned to each product by its manufacturer. It allows inventory tracking and management, as well as warranty and technical support. Each manufacturer uses a different pattern to identify its devices. On the other hand, this information does not always appear on the label, since it is generally irrelevant to the user.
- MAC address
A MAC address is a unique identifier assigned to a device's network interface. If you look at the picture, the MAC address is F8:5E:3C:48:AE:9C. Although every router has its own address, the format of all of them is very similar. This address is used for communications within a local network and is necessary to assign an IP address and manage traffic on the network.
- Network SSID and password
The SSID is the name of the WiFi network that the router broadcasts. In the example image, the SSID is WIFI-48AE9C. This name becomes visible to devices searching for available Wi-Fi networks and allows users to identify and connect to the network.
On the other hand, in the sample sticker, the Wi-Fi network does not have a password, which means that any device can connect without the need for a key. This is not normal at all. Usually, the default password will be printed on the sticker, along with the network name.
- QR code
Another important element that you will find on the labels of most modern routers is the QR code. This is what allows you to access a Wi-Fi network without entering the password. All you have to do is point your phone’s camera at the code and the device will connect automatically.
- Other information on the router label
In addition to all of the above, you may find other information on the sticker on your router. There may be some numbers that only make sense to the manufacturer. For this reason, they are not grouped with the rest, and it is not very clear what they mean.
It is also common to see logos of regulatory bodies for each region. An example of this is the CE logo, which indicates that the router is legally sold in the European Economic Area because it has been assessed to meet high safety, health, and environmental protection requirements.
Additionally, you may also see the manufacturer's logo, the exact model of the router, and other user-relevant information.