How to reset your router to factory settings

Restart or reset? Know the difference

People often say "reset" when they mean "restart", and some apps blur the two. They are very different:

• Restart (reboot, power cycle): turns the router off and on. Keeps every setting. Safe to do anytime.
• Factory reset: wipes your configuration and returns the device to its out-of-the-box state. Cannot be undone.

For slow speeds, dropped Wi-Fi or a router that seems stuck, restart first: unplug the power (or use the power switch if there is one), wait about 30 seconds, plug it back in and give it a few minutes. If you have a separate modem and router, restart the modem first, wait for it to come online, then restart the router.

When a factory reset makes sense

• You forgot the admin password you set and cannot log in. See the forgot router password guide for alternatives first.
• The router is unresponsive: the admin page will not load even over Ethernet, and restarting does not help.
• You changed too many settings and cannot work out how to undo them.
• You suspect tampering: unknown devices, DNS servers you did not set, or port forwarding rules you did not create.
• You are selling, giving away or returning the router.
• Your ISP's support asks you to as part of troubleshooting.

A reset is not the right tool for slow Wi-Fi or poor coverage (see weak Wi-Fi signal and how to speed up Wi-Fi) or for a short outage after a power cut, which a restart handles.

Factory reset with the reset button

This works even when you cannot log in, and it is the method most manuals describe.

1. Find the reset button

Look on the back or bottom for a small hole or button labeled Reset (sometimes RST or a circular-arrow icon). It is usually recessed so it cannot be pressed by accident. On some routers the reset function is combined with the WPS button; on those, a short press does something different from a long hold, so check the manual.

2. Use a thin, rigid tool

An unfolded paper clip or a SIM ejector tool is ideal. Avoid toothpicks or pencil leads, which can snap off inside.

3. Press and hold with the router on

The router must be powered on: the reset is handled by its software, which needs to be running to notice the long press. Press and hold the button continuously. Typical hold times are around 10 seconds for many consumer routers and up to 30 seconds for some gateways. If you are not sure, hold for 30 seconds; holding longer than necessary does no harm on most devices.

A short press is the most common mistake. If you let go after two or three seconds, the router may just restart, and your old settings, including the password you forgot, will still be there.

4. Watch the lights

While you hold the button, the lights usually do something distinctive: they all turn off and back on, flash together, or change color. That signals the reset has been accepted. Release the button.

5. Wait for the full restart

Give the router several minutes before trying to connect. On ISP gateways, the internet light may take longer to turn solid while the gateway reconnects to the provider's network and downloads its configuration. Do not unplug it during this time.

Factory reset from the admin page or app

If you can still log in, a software reset does the same job without touching the device. Typical locations (exact names depend on model and firmware):

• System → Factory Reset, Administration → Restore Defaults or Maintenance → Backup & Restore in most router web interfaces
• Advanced → Administration → Backup Settings or similar on Netgear routers
• Administration → Restore/Save/Upload Setting on ASUS routers
• Device or gateway settings inside the TP-Link Deco, eero, Google Home, Orbi and Linksys apps

Confirm the prompt and the router restarts with factory settings. From then on, the process is identical to a button reset.

Resetting US ISP gateways

Provider-supplied gateways reset the same way as any router, with a few points worth knowing. Before you reset, consider whether a restart from the provider's app would solve the problem: it is less disruptive and is often the first thing support will ask you to try.

• Xfinity: the Xfinity app can restart the gateway remotely. A factory reset is done with the recessed reset button or from the Admin Tool at 10.0.0.1. Afterward your Wi-Fi returns to the label name and password. See the Xfinity guide.
• Spectrum: My Spectrum lets you restart equipment. If you reset a Spectrum Wi-Fi router, you may need to reactivate or re-add it in the app. See the Spectrum guide.
• AT&T: the gateway's reset button restores factory settings, including the Wi-Fi network on the label. The Device Access Code on the label stays the same. See the AT&T guide.
• Verizon Fios: after a reset the router returns to the network name, Wi-Fi password and admin password printed on its label. See the Verizon Fios guide.
• Cox: Panoramic Wifi gateways can be restarted from Cox's app; a factory reset uses the reset button. See the Cox guide.
• T-Mobile Home Internet: the T-Mobile Internet app offers restart and reset options for the gateway. See the T-Mobile guide.

If the internet light does not go solid after a reasonable wait, contact your provider: they can check from their side whether the gateway has re-registered on the network.

What to do after the reset

1. Confirm the connection is back

Check that the internet or WAN light is solid (the exact color convention varies by brand). On a router you own behind a separate modem, confirm the modem is online too. If your service uses PPPoE, enter the credentials from your provider in the router's Internet/WAN settings.

2. Log in with the factory credentials

Connect to the default Wi-Fi network from the label, or plug in with Ethernet. Then open the admin page (see how to log in to your router) and use the label credentials. Many newer routers launch a setup wizard on first login.

3. Set a new admin password immediately

Before anything else, replace the default admin password with a strong, unique one and save it in a password manager. See default router passwords for why this matters.

4. Restore your Wi-Fi name and password

If you set the same network name and password you used before the reset, most of your devices will reconnect on their own, which saves a lot of time with smart home gear. Otherwise, follow how to change your Wi-Fi password and reconnect each device.

5. Rebuild the rest of your settings

Port forwarding (see the port forwarding guide), custom DNS (see router DNS settings), DHCP reservations, guest network and parental controls all need to be set up again, or imported from a backup file if you made one.

Frequently asked questions