There is a difference between resetting a router and rebooting a router. When you reboot your router that means you cycle the power to it. Resetting your router involves changing it back to its factory settings.
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Perhaps you have forgotten the password to your router and now you want to reset the password. First you need to reset the router back to its factory settings then you can use the default password to access your router.
How to Reboot your Router
Rebooting a router means cycling the power to it. If you want to reboot your router, follow these steps:
- Unplug the power connector from the back of the router and plug it back in.
- Wait about 30 seconds for the router to reboot.
- Your internet connection will drop when your router is rebooted. If someone is using a computer on your network to access the internet, you may want to warn them.
How to Reset Your Router
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When you reset your router the following settings are changed:
- Router username and password
- Wi-Fi username and password
- ISP username and password
- Any portforwards you have set up
- Any firewall settings you have made
- Basically, any configuration changes that you have made to your router.
As you can probably tell from the list above, resetting your router is serious business. Proceed with caution.
- To reset your router find the tiny reset button usually located at the back of the router.
- While the router is on, use a pin or the end of a paper clip to press and hold the reset button. You will need to hold if for about 10 seconds.
- Generally, you will want to wait for the lights to change on the router. Depending on the make and model of your router the lights may start out blinking and change to solid or they may start out solid and change to blinking.
- When you let go of the reset button the router should be reset to the factory settings.
Find your Router
Once the router is back up you should be able to login to it. Your router will have the same internal IP address after the reboot. If you don't know your router's internal IP address you can use our Router Detector to locate your router on your network. Type your router's internal IP address into the address bar of your browser and press enter. You should see the interface screen to your router where you can login with your username and password. If you do not know the default username and password for your router you can visit our homepage, choose your router's manufacturer and then click on the default password link.
Wireless Router
The process of resetting your wireless router is the same. Find the reset button located on the back of the router. Use a pin, paper clip, or thumbtack to press and hold the reset button for about 10 seconds or until the lights on the router change.
DSL Router
Those of you that have a DSL router will also need to contact your ISP for the WAN password to connect to the internet. If you are unsure of the type of router that you have check the back of your router. If your router is plugged into the phone line then there is a good chance it is a DSL router.
Find out more about your Router
If you want more detailed information about resetting your router you can check out your router's user manual. You should be able to find it in our main router list. Find your router from the main list, click on it, then click on the manual link. It should tell you specifically how to reset your router.