Reset the router to factory defaults
A reset is the recovery when the admin password is lost. It is also destructive. Wi-Fi names, the admin password, port forwards, and ISP login details stored in the router all go back to the factory state.
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1
Confirm you are allowed to reset it
Reset equipment you own. An ISP optical modem may need the provider to come back online afterward, because the broadband username lives in that box.
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2
Find the reset control
It is usually a recessed hole labeled Reset, not the power button and not the WPS button. WPS only starts a wireless join. It does not clear the admin password.
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3
Hold reset while powered on
With the router plugged in, hold the button for about 10 seconds. Lights usually flash or go dark, then the router reboots. Pulling the power cord is not a reset.
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4
Join the factory Wi-Fi and log in
Use the network name and key printed on the sticker. Open the factory IP, such as 192.168.1.1, 192.168.0.1, 192.168.8.1, or 192.168.31.1. Sign in with the factory admin value, then set your own passwords again. Guide: change the Wi-Fi password.
Write these down before you hold the button
- The broadband username, if your ISP uses PPPoE and it is saved only in this router.
- Any port forward you still need.
- The new Wi-Fi name you will recreate, so old devices are easier to find.
If the sticker is missing, the brand guide still lists the usual IP and the usual factory login. A missing sticker does not mean the reset failed.
Frequently asked questions
Will a reset delete the Wi-Fi password?
Yes. Both the wireless key and the admin password return to the factory values, which are on the sticker or in the brand guide.
I held the button and the address will not open.
The IP may have returned to the factory one, which is different from the one you had customized. Check the gateway again with find your router IP.
Can I reset without the button?
Only if you can still log in. The admin page has a restore-defaults command that does the same thing. If you cannot log in, the button is the path.