Question Can't log in to router's settings

[birdfather]

I can't log in to my TP-Link Archer C6 v2 router's settings. I've tried the following things:

• connecting via wifi and ethernet cable
• going to http://tplinkwifi.net - I get a TP-Link error page (Trying to configure the Router? It looks like you aren't connected to your TP-Link network.)
• connecting to http://192.168.0.1 and http://192.168.1.1 - both time out
• looking up the actual IP address via control panel (192.168.3.1) and connecting - I get the message ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED
• turning the router off and on again
• resetting the router - it won't reset, no matter how long I hold the button down with a paperclip
• using the TP-Link Tether app - it can't detect the router, and I think it isn't supported
• connecting from my phone
• disconnecting devices other than my laptop
• allowing the three IP addresses above in Windows Firewall
• pinging the IP addresses: 192.168.0.1 times out; 192.168.1.1 returns the message "Reply from 192.168.1.200: Destination host unreachable."; 192.168.3.1 pings perfectly in 1 ms

The router otherwise works fine. The internet is stable. Does anyone have any ideas, please?

 

[kanewolf]

I can't log in to my TP-Link Archer C6 v2 router's settings. I've tried the following things:

• connecting via wifi and ethernet cable
• going to http://tplinkwifi.net - I get a TP-Link error page (Trying to configure the Router? It looks like you aren't connected to your TP-Link network.)
• connecting to http://192.168.0.1 and http://192.168.1.1 - both time out
• looking up the actual IP address via control panel (192.168.3.1) and connecting - I get the message ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED
• turning the router off and on again
• resetting the router - it won't reset, no matter how long I hold the button down with a paperclip
• using the TP-Link Tether app - it can't detect the router, and I think it isn't supported
• connecting from my phone
• disconnecting devices other than my laptop
• allowing the three IP addresses above in Windows Firewall
• pinging the IP addresses: 192.168.0.1 times out; 192.168.1.1 returns the message "Reply from 192.168.1.200: Destination host unreachable."; 192.168.3.1 pings perfectly in 1 ms

The router otherwise works fine. The internet is stable. Does anyone have any ideas, please?

The "192.168.1.200" is interesting. If that is your PC's IP address, that is inconsistent with trying to get to 192.168.3.1.
Is your PC plugged directly into the TP Link?

 

[birdfather]

The "192.168.1.200" is interesting. If that is your PC's IP address, that is inconsistent with trying to get to 192.168.3.1.
Is your PC plugged directly into the TP Link?

Thanks for the reply. No, that's not my IP address. It's very similar to some routers' IP addresses, which is strange. I can't connect to that either, though it pings successfully in 1 ms. Yes, I've tried connecting both through wifi and an ethernet cable. No luck!

 

[kanewolf]

Thanks for the reply. No, that's not my IP address. It's very similar to some routers' IP addresses, which is strange. I can't connect to that either, though it pings successfully in 1 ms. Yes, I've tried connecting both through wifi and an ethernet cable. No luck!

I think you need to figure out where that is coming from. There might be another router on your network with a DHCP server enabled. Having two DHCP servers on a network can be very confusing.

 

[JohnMGotts]

If my router wouldn’t reset via the push pin, I’d say it was defective.

 

[Ralston18]

This router?

https://static.tp-link.com/2020/202007/20200727/1910012811_Archer A6&Archer C6_UG.pdf

= = = =

On your computer run "ipconfig /all" (without quotes) via the Command Prompt.

Post the results.

You should be able to copy and paste the results without needing to retype everything.

After a reset (if successful) the router's default IP address should be 192.168.0.1 and default login name and password both likely being "admin".

Reference:

https://www.tp-link.com/in/support/faq/426/

Use a browser to directly log into the router via 192.168.0.1 and the applicable default login name and password.

Part of the problem may be the use of TP-Link's "remote management"/"web based utility" to configure the router. The process can be confusing and problems result for any number of reasons.

Actually you do not need to use the web-based utility to manage the router and my belief is that that should not be done anyway. The options are sometimes not all that clear.

 

[birdfather]

This router?

https://static.tp-link.com/2020/202007/20200727/1910012811_Archer A6&Archer C6_UG.pdf

= = = =

On your computer run "ipconfig /all" (without quotes) via the Command Prompt.

Post the results.

You should be able to copy and paste the results without needing to retype everything.

After a reset (if successful) the router's default IP address should be 192.168.0.1 and default login name and password both likely being "admin".

Reference:

https://www.tp-link.com/in/support/faq/426/

Use a browser to directly log into the router via 192.168.0.1 and the applicable default login name and password.

Part of the problem may be the use of TP-Link's "remote management"/"web based utility" to configure the router. The process can be confusing and problems result for any number of reasons.

Actually you do not need to use the web-based utility to manage the router and my belief is that that should not be done anyway. The options are sometimes not all that clear.

I can't get the link to work, but it's the Archer C6, yes. Here are the results:

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : LenovoLaptop
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : lan

Ethernet adapter Ethernet:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : lan
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek PCIe GbE Family Controller
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 54-05-DB-08-E4-EB
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Unknown adapter Local Area Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Private Internet Access Network Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-FF-58-60-C7-18
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Wireless LAN adapter Local Area Connection* 1:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 38-68-93-56-1B-B7
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Wireless LAN adapter Local Area Connection* 2:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter #2
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 3A-68-93-56-1B-B6
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : lan
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) Wireless-AC 9560
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 38-68-93-56-1B-B6
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : fd93:66da:12c7::86b(Preferred)
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : 06 November 2022 11:00:17
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : 07 November 2022 21:09:52
IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : fd93:66da:12c7:0:2516:39a8:f92:6c44(Preferred)
Temporary IPv6 Address. . . . . . : fd93:66da:12c7:0:2c83:5d0b:9406:1c32(Deprecated)
Temporary IPv6 Address. . . . . . : fd93:66da:12c7:0:385e:4615:a673:edb2(Preferred)
Temporary IPv6 Address. . . . . . : fd93:66da:12c7:0:a0a1:9a70:b571:3418(Deprecated)
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::2516:39a8:f92:6c44%8(Preferred)
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.3.216(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : 06 November 2022 11:00:20
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : 07 November 2022 21:09:49
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.3.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.3.1
DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 70805651
DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-26-D7-9E-C2-54-05-DB-08-E4-EB
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : fd93:66da:12c7::1
192.168.3.1
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

Ethernet adapter Bluetooth Network Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Bluetooth Device (Personal Area Network)
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 38-68-93-56-1B-BA
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

_

I notice that my VPN (PIA) is listed there though the main programme isn't actually running.

 

[bill001g]

So what happens if you disable the wifi and plug a ethernet cable in. In most cases if you plug in both the ethernet and the wifi it will use the ethernet but I would disable the wifi just to be 100% sure.

It is hard to say for sure but a lot of routers can only be administered via ethernet. This is considered good security practice because it is unlikely someone could ever get onto a ethernet cable to hack you.

 

[Ralston18]

From "ipconfig /all"

Ethernet adapter Ethernet:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : lan
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek PCIe GbE Family Controller
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 54-05-DB-08-E4-EB
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

The Ethernet adapter is not now being used.

For what ever reasons the Wireless adapter is currently looking for a Gateway at 192.168.3.1 and being provided a DHCP IP address of 192.168.3.216

Again, if the router was successfully reset any devices connecting to the Archer C6 router should be configured to the Default Gateway 192.168.0.1

Question (from the Original Post):

"looking up the actual IP address via control panel (192.168.3.1) " :

Where in Control Panel are you seeing that 192.168.3.1 IP address? Screenshot please, post via imgur (www.imgur.com).

Try connecting an Ethernet cable per the preceding post. "ipconfig /all" should then indicate that the Ethernet adapter is connected (if it is) and that the wireless network adapter is disconnected. The wireless adapter should be disconnected, but may not be - you must verify ("to be 100% sure") that the wireless adapter is disabled. There should not be two network adapters of any sort enabled at the same time.

With the Ethernet cable connected again run and post "ipconfig /all" again.

And I likewise find that 192.168.1.200 IP address interesting.

Also, run and post the results of "arp -a" via the Command Prompt.

 

[birdfather]

Thanks, all. This is ipconfig through ethernet, with wifi disabled:

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : LenovoLaptop
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : lan

Ethernet adapter Ethernet:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : lan
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek PCIe GbE Family Controller
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 54-05-DB-08-E4-EB
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : fd93:66da:12c7::d57(Preferred)
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : 07 November 2022 20:36:20
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : 08 November 2022 08:36:20
IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : fd93:66da:12c7:0:f0f6:fe77:d9de:4bd9(Preferred)
Temporary IPv6 Address. . . . . . : fd93:66da:12c7:0:d513:efc7:59dd:9345(Deprecated)
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::f0f6:fe77:d9de:4bd9%9(Preferred)
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.3.119(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : 07 November 2022 20:36:29
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : 08 November 2022 08:36:28
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.3.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.3.1
DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 106169819
DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-26-D7-9E-C2-54-05-DB-08-E4-EB
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : fd93:66da:12c7::1
192.168.3.1
fd93:66da:12c7::1
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

Unknown adapter Local Area Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Private Internet Access Network Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-FF-58-60-C7-18
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Wireless LAN adapter Local Area Connection* 1:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 38-68-93-56-1B-B7
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Wireless LAN adapter Local Area Connection* 2:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter #2
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 3A-68-93-56-1B-B6
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : lan
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) Wireless-AC 9560
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 38-68-93-56-1B-B6
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Ethernet adapter Bluetooth Network Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Bluetooth Device (Personal Area Network)
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 38-68-93-56-1B-BA
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I got 192.168.3.1 from Control Panel > Network and Sharing Centre > Ethernet > General > Details. I read somewhere that IPv4 Default Gateway is the router's actual IP address. Don't know how true that is!

imgur link

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Results of "arp -a" using ethernet:

Interface: 192.168.3.119 --- 0x9
Internet Address Physical Address Type
192.168.3.1 00-31-92-b8-eb-59 dynamic
192.168.3.179 cc-d3-c1-ae-66-41 dynamic
192.168.3.216 38-68-93-56-1b-b6 dynamic
192.168.3.255 ff-ff-ff-ff-ff-ff static
224.0.0.22 01-00-5e-00-00-16 static
224.0.0.251 01-00-5e-00-00-fb static
224.0.0.252 01-00-5e-00-00-fc static
239.255.255.250 01-00-5e-7f-ff-fa static
255.255.255.255 ff-ff-ff-ff-ff-ff static

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

By the way, thank you all for responding. I've had zero help from TP-Link!

 

[bill001g]

Not sure what this would not just work. The mac address for 192.168.3.1 comes back to tplink does not really mean a lot but at least it matches.

I would try both

HTTP://192.168.3.1

HTTPS://192.168.3.1

I would also try it from different browsers just to be sure.

What is very strange is that you can not get the box to reset. Most you just hold the reset switch until the lights on the front flash and then you release it. Make sure you are actually hitting the switch inside the hole you can most times feel if you hit the switch or if you miss.

 

[gggplaya]

I'm with BILL on this one. Try https://192.168.3.1 and if it gives you an error popup for your connection not being private, click on advanced and proceed.

 

[birdfather]

Thanks, all. 192.168.3.1, whether http or https, gets me an error page: 'Unable to connect'. It's the same over wifi or ethernet, in Firefox or Edge, with cookies cleared or in a private browsing window.

I think I'm ready to give up on this. The router is most likely defective. I won't be buying a TP-Link product again - more due to the lack of customer service than the quality control.

Thanks for your help!