Frequently Asked Question
QNAP NAS password: change a user password or recover admin access
QUICK ANSWER
If you can sign in, change the NAS account password from the user menu or have another authorised administrator edit the user. If you are locked out, identify the QTS or QuTS hero version before recovery: newer systems use the device Cloud Key as the default admin password after a qualifying reset.
Applies to: QNAP QTS and QuTS hero NAS accounts. A QNAP ID, NAS user account and Wi-Fi password are separate credentials.
Change a password while signed in
- Sign in to the correct NAS over a trusted connection. Open the user-name menu and its password or account options. Enter the existing password and the new password as requested, then apply the change.
- To reset a local user’s password as an authorised administrator, open Control Panel > Privilege > Users, select that user and edit the account profile. Domain or LDAP users may need their identity administrator instead.
- Use a unique password that meets your configured policy. Reconnect file shares, backup jobs and applications that legitimately use this account. Update stored credentials through the appropriate secure settings, not by sending the password to a support ticket.
Genuine earlier QTS interface. Current versions may use different menu names and stronger password policies; follow the policy shown on your NAS.
Default admin credentials depend on firmware
| QTS / QuTS hero version | Default admin password for the applicable initialisation or reset |
|---|---|
| 5.2.0 / h5.2.0 and later | Device Cloud Key in uppercase, with special characters removed. This is not your QNAP ID password. |
| 4.4.2 through 5.1.x | First network interface MAC address in uppercase, with separators removed. |
| 4.4.1 and earlier | Older systems used admin. Upgrade planning and account hardening are important. |
These defaults do not replace a custom password simply because you upgrade firmware. They also do not apply to a separately named administrator you created. Find the Cloud Key on the device label or original documentation; if it is missing, use the manufacturer’s supported recovery route.
If you cannot sign in
First confirm the NAS address, username, keyboard layout and whether another authorised administrator can help. A 3-second basic reset can restore admin and network defaults on supported QNAP models, but also changes network and security settings. Arrange local access, record the current network setup and check the exact model’s reset instructions before using it. A longer advanced reset is a different operation and is not a routine password-change step.
Confirm the result
The correct account signs in with the new password and required applications reconnect. Review network and security settings after any recovery, create another named administrator where appropriate and disable the default admin account when it is no longer needed.
Before going further: Do not initialise the NAS, remove drives to experiment, try repeated guesses or use an advanced reset just to change a password. A Cloud Key or MAC address must not be posted publicly.
If you need help
Include the exact NAS model, QTS/QuTS hero version, account type, whether another administrator works and the exact login error. Never include a password, Cloud Key or recovery code in a public screenshot.
Updated 261108