The router is a major element of your home’s internet setup. There are numerous configuration options available if you choose to utilize the device’s complexity. Changing your router’s current settings can have an adverse effect on the speed and reliability of your home internet.
You may want to reset a router to factory default settings for several reasons. You may want to sell your device and look for a new one with an upgraded and latest version, reset your IP address, forget your password for the router, not access the router, In any case, here’s how to reset your router but the first thing you need to know is the differences among reset, restart and reboot before you reset your home router.
What is a router?
In fact, the term “router” comes from the fact that these devices are responsible for directing traffic between networks and for transferring data between digital devices. When you read your email on your laptop at home, for example, the messages typically arrive via equipment that came with your internet service or that you purchased when you set up internet service.
Reset? Restart? Reboot?
The terminology can be somewhat complicated. People interchangeably use the phrase “reboot,” “restart” and “reset” but these terms can indicate very different things.
The terms “restart” and “reboot” refer to the same thing: turning a device off and then on again. When you begin using the word “reset,” the real problem can arise.
When using your home router, the “reset” button is normally a pinhole button on the back of your router that removes all the customized settings and retrieves the factory reset.
You can reset the router by pressing the “reset” button, renaming your network, or even taking you offline completely.
Note:
- All custom settings of the router will be removed when you reset your router.
- The username and password of the router will be reset as shown on the router label to restore factory settings.
- Custom Wi-Fi settings, including the Wi-Fi name and password that you created, shall be removed. Until you reconfigure your router and update your devices with the same custom Wi-Fi settings, your Wi-Fi network will not be accessible.
How to reset router?
In order to reset the router:
1. Find the Reset button on the back of your router.
2. When the router is on, press and hold the Reset button for 10 seconds to 30 seconds using the pointed end of the paperclip or similar item.
3. Wait until the router resets and restores power.
The default factory configuration of the router was restored. To use the same customized settings, reconfigure the router, and update the WiFi devices.
How to reset the router from the configuration page?
- Type the IP address of your router into the search field of any web browser or visit What’s my Router IP site to know your current IP address.
- An alert will pop up with username and password, enter your admin username and admin password. You can find the default username and default password at the bottom or at the back of the router if you haven’t changed them.
- Go to the System Tools > Reboot. Depending on the router you have, this will differ.
- Next step, click Reboot to reset.
- Wait for the rebooting router.
Note:
Please be aware that the steps outlined above will differ based on the manufacturer and model of your router. Routers provided by your ISP (Internet Service Provider) may be able to block or restrict certain procedures. You may need to ask for additional help if your situation requires it.
Locate your router and modem
Antennas are probably visible on your wireless router. You can think of it as the hub of your wireless network. Your modem, which connects to your Internet service provider, is where your router plugs in.
It’s possible that these are one and the same device. Depending on your internet service provider, you may only need to reboot one device.
Find your wireless router and see where it’s connected if you’re unsure. Plugging it directly into an outlet indicates that it is most likely a combined unit. Your modem and another device are both connected if it’s plugged into another device and then into an outlet.
When should I factory reset my router?
A factory reset makes sense in a number of situations. Take a closer look at each of these scenarios.
When the router won’t let you log in
Creating a password for an account can be a pain if you lose or misplace it. Your router needs to be reset to its factory default settings the most often for this reason. If you’re unable to log into your router, your only option is to reset it to the factory settings.
Your router’s username and password will revert to the default values you set when you first received it if you factory reset it. It also makes your router less secure, but we’ll cover that in more detail in a moment.
To be safe, try logging in with the router’s default username and password before performing a reset. A sticker on your router, or the router’s user manual, will tell you what your default username and password are. Most people don’t even bother to change their router’s default password.
If you can’t log in to your router with the default user name and password, you’ll need to perform a factory reset.
Poor performance of the router
If you’re having problems with your home internet service, it’s possible that the problem is with your router.
When it comes to your home internet, you can’t do without a router. Internet connections that lag or fail to connect on a regular basis could be the result of an incorrect configuration setting.
Before going back to the default settings on your router, try the following things. The first thing you should do is turn OFF and On the power switch and restart your router (you can even set it to automatically reboot your router on a schedule if you have consistent issues). Try rebooting your modem if that doesn’t fix the issue.
If you’ve tried both of those options and nothing has worked, you may want to consider performing a factory reset. If nothing else works, try resetting your router to its factory defaults.
Remember that sometimes, even performing a reset will not solve your problem. If you have an old router, for example, its performance will deteriorate over time, necessitating its replacement.
When you’re unsure of your router’s fault
Your router, as previously mentioned, has a lot of configuration options. You have complete control over how it’s set up. This has the drawback of making it difficult to keep track of all the changes you’ve made to your settings.
Changing your router settings may result in a slower internet connection, but how do you know which setting is to blame?
It’s difficult to tell unless you’re an expert in the field. It’s much simpler to start over if you have a completely blank slate to work with. You can do this by performing a factory reset on your device.
It’s best to only make a few changes to your router’s settings at a time to avoid affecting the speed of your connection. Test your internet’s performance after you’ve made some adjustments to your settings. Changes can be made if everything is working properly.
Save your settings after you’ve confirmed that your internet works properly with them if you want to be extra safe. If you have problems with your router, you can go back to a working configuration at a later time by doing this.
Change your wireless network names & passwords
Change the names of your wireless networks at the same time you change your other network settings.
If you don’t, you’ll have to remember the network names every time you want to connect a new device to your home internet.
Simply renaming your networks to something you can remember is much simpler.
Change the passwords for the newly named networks in the same way.
Best Methods for Resetting Routers
Different situations necessitate various router reset strategies. There are three common methods for performing a hard reset: power cycling, and soft resets.
Hard Resets
When an administrator has lost or misplaced the router’s password or keys and needs to start over from scratch, a hard reset is the last option.
Notably, some router manufacturers may have a preferred method of resetting their routers, and some router reset methods may vary from model to model.
For security reasons, a hard reset will erase all of your settings, including user names and passwords. This includes custom DNS servers and port forwarding settings. Resetting the router in this manner does not delete or revert the currently-installed firmware, however.
This is how you do a “hard reset”
- Turn the router to the side with the Reset button while it is powered on. There are two places where you can press Reset: back or bottom.
- For 30 seconds, hold down the Reset button with something small and pointed, like a paperclip.
- Wait 30 seconds after pressing the Reset button for the router to complete the reset and turn itself back on.
As a side note, if the 30-second method doesn’t work, try the 30-30-30 rule, which involves holding the Reset button down for 90 seconds instead of 30.
Power Cycling
Power cycling refers to the process of turning off and then re-enabling a router’s power supply. Using this method, a router’s connections can be restored if its internal memory or CPU overheats or otherwise malfunctions, resulting in connection drops. Passwords, security keys, and other router configurations that have been saved using the router console are not lost during a power cycle.
To power cycle the router:
- Turn the router’s power off. You can either turn off the power switch or unplug the power cord to shut down the computer.
- Remove the battery from battery-powered routers.
It’s common practice to wait up to 30 seconds before reconnecting the router power cord, but this isn’t always necessary. After a power outage, the router will take some time to restart.
Soft Resets
A reset of the router-modem connection can be useful in resolving internet connectivity issues. You don’t necessarily have to mess with the software or turn off the power to accomplish this.
Because the router doesn’t have to restart, soft resets are faster than other types of resets.
If you want to perform a soft reset, unplug and then re-plug the cable that connects the router to the modem.
To perform a soft reset on some routers, there may be a different method:
- On the console, there should be a Disconnect/Connect button. Modem and service provider connections can be re-established by performing this procedure.
- The router’s console can be accessed. Select “Restore Factory Defaults” from the menu or something of the sort. Reverting to factory defaults (such as passwords and keys) without the need for a hard reset is the goal of this feature.
- Wi-Fi security can be reset using the Wi-Fi console screen’s Reset Security button. Only a subset of the router’s wireless network settings will be reset to their factory defaults; all other configuration options will remain unchanged. The SSID, wireless encryption, and Wi-Fi channel number settings of the router have all been rolled back.
FAQs
Should I reboot the router?
Restarting your router on a regular basis isn’t a hard and fast rule. Consider doing this on a regular basis rather than just when a sluggish network issue pops up for better overall performance. You can either set up a weekly or monthly schedule on your own or ask the router’s manufacturer for help. Most of the time, it’s network issues for poor internet connection
How to restart a router from a PC or phone?
You can restart your router from your computer or phone in a few steps if you want to give it a shot. Check to see if a companion app is available, or use a web browser to find out your router’s IP address. After logging in, go to the Start menu and select Restart or Reboot.
Does a reset revert to factory settings?
By resetting a router, we mean wiping the wireless settings and other configurations from it and starting over with a fresh installation. When you reset the router, all of your settings are restored to their original defaults, including the router password, WiFi password, and any custom DNS servers you may have set up.
Restart or reboot doesn’t change your settings
Restarting or rebooting a router or modem is fundamentally different from resetting it. Both are used for different purposes, but one is more short-term and the other is more long-term.
Rebooting: A Frequent Fix
Troubleshooting is one of the simplest steps you can take to fix what’s not working properly by restarting (also known as rebooting). Is Windows feeling a little sluggish right now? Restart the machine. Is your iPhone no longer able to establish a wireless network connection? Try restarting the phone and see if that helps.
The suggestions of an IT department or tech support agent to restart or reboot immediately can be irritating, but it’s true that restarting fixes many common issues.
Conclusion
You have been briefed on the matter. If you’re thinking about doing a router factory reset, be sure to keep this advice in mind. You should know exactly how a router factory reset will affect your home network before you do it.
If you encounter any problems or technical issues while resetting your router to its default settings, please contact us via email so we’ll get back to you as soon as possible and help you out with more information.
