Cannot login to Asus RT-AX86U Pro via IP address. Why?

[Tattz The Bear]

Just installed an Asus RT-AX86U Pro with a couple of AX68U's as AImesh nodes. Everything went smoothly and the system works great.
However, I can no longer log on to the router via the 192.168.50.1 address. I can get in via the router.asus.com method but if I try the IP address I get ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED.
I've tried different browsers, disabled AV and firewalls, flushed the DNS cache and other suggested internet methods but nothing works. It's not a showstopper, just inconvenient.
Obviously being a new router lots of settings got fiddled with so assume I might have screwed something up.
Any suggestions on what might have gone wrong and how to fix it? I'm trying to avoid a factory reset if possible.
I did install the install Asus certificate it recommended into the "Trusted Root Certification Authorization" store. Could this be a factor?
Look forward to any helpful suggestions.

 

[Pocah.H]

I have not a clue. I am generally clueless, by the way. BUT! Did you download the Asus Device Discovery utility for locating network devices?

 

[Tattz The Bear]

I have not a clue. I am generally clueless, by the way. BUT! Did you download the Asus Device Discovery utility for locating network devices?

No I didn't but am willing to give it a go. I'll seek it out unless you have a URL hanging around

 

[bbunge]

http://www.asusrouter.com/Main_Login.asp

 

[bennor]

However, I can no longer log on to the router via the 192.168.50.1 address.

What specific firmware are you running on the router? If you have installed Asus-Merlin firmware then try using 192.168.1.1 for the router IP address. If you change the router's LAN - LAN IP to something else during setup then use that new IP address. Another way to find the router's IP address is to check the network settings of a non Guest Network Pro network client that uses DHCP to obtain it's IP address from the router. That will give one the base IP address subnet (ex: 192.168.2.x) the router is using assuming the network client is not assigned to a VLAN/SDN. Those network settings may also indicate a "gateway" which can also be the router's IP address.

PS: Also note that this subform typically discusses AC router series not the AX series. There is a separate subforum for discussing the AX series of routers:

ASUS AX Routers & Adapters (Wi-Fi 6/6e)

Use this forum for posts related to the ASUS 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6/6e) devices, such as the RT-AX88U

www.snbforums.com

 

[dave14305]

Are both http and https enabled in the router’s gui, or just https? If browsing the IP, make sure the protocol matches what’s enabled in the GUI. Many browsers will try to upgrade the connection to https, but will also leave plain http for IPs unless specified as https. Experiment.

 

[Tattz The Bear]

Thanks to all, the problem has been solved.
What Asus don't tell you, or at least make very clear, is that after installing a certificate you have to manually change the access configuration from default to HTTPS.

Had this been highlighted I would have had more hair than I do now!