How to find your router's exact model number
Short answer: check the label on the bottom or back of the router first. It lists a model number separate from the marketing name on the case. If the label is worn or missing, log into the admin page and look under system, status, or device info, where most brands repeat it.
It’s not the name on the front of the router
Router boxes and the plastic case itself usually carry a marketing name: “Nighthawk,” “Archer,” “Velop.” That name tells you the product line, not the specific unit. The model number is a separate string, often a mix of letters and numbers, and it’s what firmware downloads, default-password lists, and support documentation actually index by.
Mixing the two up is an easy mistake. A search for “Nighthawk firmware” returns dozens of unrelated models; a search for the actual model number returns the one file that fits your router.
Where the label actually is
Check these in order:
- Bottom or back panel. Most routers have a sticker here with the model number, a hardware or revision number, a default SSID and password, and sometimes a serial number. It’s usually the largest string on the label, printed right after “Model” or “Model No.”
- Inside the box. The same sticker is often reprinted on the box itself, along with the quick-start guide, if you still have either.
- Underside of a wall-mounted unit. For mesh nodes and wall-mounted access points, the label can be on the mounting bracket side rather than the visible face. Check both sides before giving up.
Where to find it without touching the router
If the physical label is gone, scratched off, or the router is somewhere inconvenient to reach, the admin page has the same information.
- Log into the router’s admin page. The guide to router admin logins covers finding the gateway address and brand-specific login screens if you need that first.
- Look for a page called System, Status, Device Info, or About. The exact label varies by brand, but nearly every router surfaces this somewhere in the first menu level.
- Note both the model number and any hardware or revision suffix shown alongside it, such as “v2” or “Rev. B1.”
The full router login directory lists the admin address and default login per model, which is worth bookmarking once you know your exact model.
Why the exact model matters
Two reasons this is worth getting right rather than guessing from the box art:
Firmware. Firmware files are built for a specific model and often a specific hardware revision. Installing the wrong one can fail outright or, in rarer cases, leave the router in a broken state. The firmware update guide walks through checking your current version against the manufacturer’s site once you have the right model number in hand.
Default passwords. If you’re trying to recover a forgotten login or you’ve just reset the router, default credentials are also published per model, not per product line. The default password guide is organized by brand and model for this reason; searching it by the name on the case instead of the model number is the most common way to land on the wrong row.
Reading the version suffix
A model number followed by a short suffix, like “v2,” “v3,” or “Rev B,” means the manufacturer changed something about the internal hardware while keeping the same product name. Software and hardware inside that version can differ meaningfully from an earlier or later revision, even though the box looks identical on a store shelf.
When you search for firmware, a password list, or a support page, include the version suffix if your label has one. Dropping it is the most common reason a search turns up a page for a router that looks right but isn’t quite yours.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my router show two model numbers?
That's usually the model name and a separate hardware version, like 'v2' or 'rev B'. Manufacturers change internal hardware without changing the model name, so the version number tells you which exact build you have. Firmware files are often version-specific, so include it when you search.
What if the label on my router is too worn to read?
Log into the admin page instead. Most brands list the model under a system, status, or device info screen. If the admin page is also unreadable or you've forgotten the login, the original box or purchase receipt usually has the same number printed on it.
Is the model number the same as the serial number?
No. The model number identifies which product you have, like it would for any other device, and is shared by every unit of that model. The serial number is unique to your specific unit and is mainly used for warranty claims, not firmware or password lookups.