Routers are a critical part of any network, but they can also be frustratingly difficult to configure and manage. Knowing how to reset routers is also important.
A typical router reset can take anywhere from 5-30 minutes, and if you’re not familiar with the process it can be incredibly difficult to get your router working properly again.
Edon Lazaj‘s guide on how to reset routers will walk you through the entire process step-by-step. We’ll show you how to identify the problem, determine the cause, and then fix it in just a few minutes.
What’s a router?
A router is a hardware device that connects two or more computer networks. Routers are commonly used to connect home and office networks together, as well as to connect those networks to the Internet.
If you’re having trouble connecting to the Internet, or if your network seems slow or unreliable, resetting your router may help. Resetting your router will clear any custom settings you’ve made, including passwords, port forwarding, and DNS settings. It will also restore the router to its factory default settings.
FBI said about routers reset
“The FBI recommends any owner of small office and home office routers reboot the devices to temporarily disrupt the malware and aid the potential identification of infected devices. Owners are advised to consider disabling remote management settings on their devices, and ensure that passwords used to access the device are strong.”
Reboot and reset comparison
A reboot simply turns the device off and then back on again. This can be done through the routers web interface, or by unplugging the power cord and plugging it back in. A reset takes the router back to its factory default settings. This can also be done through the web interface, or by pressing and holding a button on the router itself. Be aware that performing a reset will clear any custom settings you’ve made, including passwords, port forwarding, and DNS settings.
Guide to reset a router
To reboot your router
- Locate the power button on your router. This will usually be on the back or side of the device.
- Press and hold the power button for 30 seconds.
- Release the button and wait for the router to reboot. This may take a minute or two.
- Once the router has rebooted, try reconnecting to the Internet. If you’re still having trouble, proceed to the next section.
To perform a factory reset
- Locate the reset button on your router. This will usually be on the back or side of the device.
- Press and hold the reset button for 30 seconds.
- Release the button and wait for the router to reboot. This may take a minute or two.
- Once the router has rebooted, try reconnecting to the Internet. If you’re still having trouble, proceed to the next section.
- If you can’t connect to the Internet after performing a factory reset, it’s likely that your ISP has provided you with new settings that you need to enter manually. Contact your ISP for assistance.
Next, we will guide you 2 ways to reset your router.
2 ways to reset router
Reset Router From Configuration Page
Most routers have a web-based configuration page that you can access by typing the router’s IP address into your web browser. The exact location of this varies from router to router, but it’s usually in the router’s documentation or on the manufacturer’s website.
For example, many Linksys routers use 192.168.1.1 as their default IP address.
To reset your router from the configuration page:
- Open your web browser and type your router’s IP address into the address bar.
- Press Enter. You should see the router’s login page appear.
- Enter your username and password, then click Login. If you’re not sure what your username and password are, check your router’s documentation or the manufacturer’s website.
- Once you’re logged in, look for a section labeled Reset, Restore, or something similar.
- Click the reset button.
- Confirm that you want to reset the router.
- Wait for the router to reboot. This may take a minute or two.
- Try connecting to the Internet again. If you’re still having trouble, proceed to the next section.
Reset Router From Command Prompt
If you can’t access your router’s configuration page or you have forgotten your login details, you can reset the router from the command prompt.
To do this, you’ll need to know your router’s IP address and the login details for your router. These are usually printed on a label on the bottom or back of the router.
If you can’t find your router’s IP address or login details, check the documentation or the manufacturer’s website.
- Open the command prompt by pressing Windows+R, then typing cmd and pressing Enter.
- Type ipconfig and press Enter. This will display a list of all the network adapters on your computer, as well as their IP addresses.
- Look for the adapter that is connected to your router. The adapter will usually be labeled “Ethernet” or “Wi-Fi.”
- Once you’ve located the correct adapter, note down the IP address next to it. This is your router’s IP address.
- Type the following command, replacing with your router’s IP address: telnet
- Press Enter. You should see a blank screen appear.
- Type admin for the username and press Enter.
- Type password for the password and press Enter.
- Type reboot and press Enter. This will reboot your router.
- Wait for the router to reboot, then try connecting to the Internet. If you’re still having trouble, proceed to the next section.
How to Reset a Modem or Network
If you’re still having trouble connecting to the Internet after resetting your router, it’s possible that there is an issue with your modem or network. Try unplugging both your router and modem for 30 seconds, then plugging them back in.
If you have more than one router on your network, try resetting the other router as well.
If you’re still having trouble, contact your ISP for assistance. They may need to send a technician to check your equipment.
Guide to reset routers to restore default settings
- Disconnect the power cable from the back of the router.
- Locate the reset button on the back of the router. This is usually a small, recessed button.
- Use a paperclip or other sharp object to press and hold the reset button for 30 seconds.
- Release the reset button, then reconnect the power cable to the back of the router.
- Wait for the router to reboot, then try connecting to the Internet again. If you’re still having trouble, proceed to the next section.
- If you can’t connect to the Internet after performing a factory reset, it’s likely that your ISP has assigned a new IP address to your router. To find out what the new IP address is, contact your ISP. They should be able to provide you with the new address.
- Once you have the new IP address, type it into your web browser’s address bar and press Enter. This will bring up the router’s configuration page.
- Enter your username and password, then click Login. If you’re not sure what your username and password are, check your router’s documentation or the manufacturer’s website.
- Once you’re logged in, look for a section labeled Reset, Restore, or something similar.
- Click the reset button or link. This will restore your router to its default settings.
- Once the reset is complete, try connecting to the Internet again. If you’re still having trouble, contact your ISP for assistance. They may need to send a technician to check your equipment.
Restart that doesn’t change your settings
There is a fundamental difference between resetting a router or modem and restarting or rebooting one. When you reset your router, it will erase all the custom settings you have made – including the password you use to log in. This is why it’s important to remember to write down any custom settings before you reset your router.
However, when you restart or reboot your router, it will not erase any of your custom settings. Therefore, if you’re experiencing problems with your router, restarting it is a good place to start.
A Reset Reverts to Factory Settings
To reset a router or modem is the short version of a factory reset of the device, meaning it removes all customizations and settings you may have changed on your router or modem. This includes your password, IP address, Wi-Fi name, etc.
A reboot or restart, on the other hand, means to power off the device and then turn it back on again. This does not erase any settings or reset the device to factory default settings.
Reboot: The simplest troubleshooting step
Restarting (also known as rebooting) is one of the simplest troubleshooting steps . When you have a problem with your computer, phone, or tablet, one of the first things you should try is restarting it. This is especially true when you’re experiencing problems with your Internet connection.
Rebooting your router or modem can fix a number of problems, including:
- Slow or intermittent Internet connections
- Unresponsive websites
- Websites that load partially
- Connections that time out
- IP address conflicts
How to Avoid Router Reboots
One of the simplest ways to avoid having to reboot your router is to use a router that supports Quality of Service (QoS). QoS automatically schedules how much bandwidth is allocated to each device on your network. This ensures that no single device can hog all the bandwidth and slow down your network.
Another way to avoid reboots is to use a router with advanced features like VPN passthrough, port forwarding, and dynamic DNS. These features allow you to set up your network in such a way that you don’t have to constantly reconfigure your router when you want to use new applications or services.
Finally, make sure you keep your router’s firmware up to date. Router manufacturers regularly release new firmware updates that can fix bugs and improve performance. Outdated firmware can lead to all sorts of problems, so it’s important to make sure your router is running the latest version.
F.A.Q How to reset routers
How do you reset Wi-Fi router?
There are two ways to reset your router: via the web interface or by pressing the reset button on the back of the router. Follow our abovementioned guide to do it.
What happens when you reset your router?
When you reset your router, it will erase all the custom settings you have made – including the password you use to log in. This is why it’s important to remember to write down any custom settings before you reset your router.
Why do routers need to be reset?
There are a number of reasons why you might need to reset your router. These include:
- Slow or intermittent Internet connections
- Unresponsive websites
- Websites that load partially
- Connections that time out
- IP address conflicts
Can I just reset my router?
Yes, you can reset your router. However, it’s important to remember that this will erase all of your custom settings – including the password you use to log in. This is why it’s a good idea to write down any custom settings before you reset your router.
Conclusion
If you are experiencing issues with your router, resetting it may be the solution. In this blog post, we have provided instructions on how to reset routers for a variety of different models. If these instructions do not work for your specific router, please consult the manufacturer’s website or customer service line for more help. Have you tried resetting your router? Did it fix the issue? Let us know in the comments below.