This guide shows you how to reset your Asus DSL-N17U router. This is not the same thing as rebooting a router. Unplugging a router from the wall reboots it. This is very different from a reset, which erases a router completely and returns it to factory default settings.
Warning: Since this erases everything you have done to the router, there are some things you need to consider first. When you reset your router, the following will happen.
- The router's username and password are reset to factory defaults.
- Your WiFi login, password, and network name are reset.
- Your ISP username and password will be reset, and you may have to contact your ISP.
- Any firewall settings, parental controls, and port forwards that you have configured will be removed.
A router reset is the last step you should take in recovering your router's password. You should be sure that you have tried to at least recover your router password using our Router Password Finder before resorting to a router reset.
Other Asus DSL-N17U Guides
Use a VPN Instead
Have you considered using a VPN instead of forwarding a port? For most users, a VPN is a much simpler and more secure choice than forwarding a port.
We use and recommend NordVPN because not only is it the fastest VPN, it includes a new feature called Meshnet that makes forwarding a port no longer necessary for most applications. With NordVPN Meshnet, you can connect to your devices from anywhere in the world, completely secure, over a highly encrypted VPN tunnel.
When shopping for a VPN, make sure that they meet the following criteria:
- Your VPN provider should have a no-logs policy. This means that they do not keep any logs of any kind.
- Make sure that your VPN provider has lots of exit nodes all around the world.
- Check that your VPN will not affect your speed.
- Verify that your VPN provider uses WireGuard as the underlying protocol.
- Many people prefer a VPN provider that is not based in the United States.
This is the list of requirements that we used when we were shopping around for a VPN provider. There are lots of free, shady VPN providers out there that we looked at and dismissed.
Based in Panama, using diskless servers, and with over 6,100 servers in 61 countries, we can safely say that NordVPN satisfies all of these requirements.
Once you've set up your NordVPN account on multiple computers and enabled Meshnet, you can seamlessly access all of your devices as if they were on the same network. You don't even have to log in to your router. It's very simple.
Every time you click on one of our affiliate links, such as NordVPN, we get a little kickback for introducing you to the service. Think of us as your VPN wingman.
This is the reset router guide for the Asus DSL-N17U. We also have the following guides for the same router:
Recover Password in Asus DSL-N17U
Instead of resetting your router back to factory settings, you may want to try running our Router Password Finder first.
Router Password Finder is designed from the ground up to help you recover your forgotten router username and password, which can save you a lot of time.
Router Password Finder - Lost or Forgotten Router Password Recovery Tool
Just keep in mind that a router reset should be done as the last resort when you are unable to login to your router.
Reset the Asus DSL-N17U
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You might notice that most of our site doesn't have ads on it. This is because we use partnerships with companies like NordVPN to keep the site running. Thank you for supporting us by using our referral links.
Most routers have a small button on either the back or the bottom. What you are looking for is something that looks like this:
Your reset button may look different, but usually they are very small. You might find a pinhole on the back of the router that requires a paper clip to push the button hidden under it.
Watch the lights on the front of your router and hold the reset button down for about 10 seconds. Notice how the lights on the front of the router are blinking. When the lights do something different, the router is reset. Do not be concerned about holding the reset button down too long. It will not hurt anything.
Don't forget, this step will totally reset your Asus DSL-N17U router back to factory settings.
This last step should only be taken if you have tried everything else, such as using our Router Password Finder software, which can recover lost or forgotten router passwords.
Login to the Asus DSL-N17U
Once the reset is complete, you need to login to your router using the default IP address, username, and password. We have a DSL-N17U Login Guide with all this information ready for you.
Change Your Password
After logging in to your router for the first time, you need to change your router's password. Leaving a router password set to default is a very serious security risk. Our Choosing a Strong Password guide talks about choosing a strong password for your router.
Tip: After creating this new password, we highly recommend writing this down on a post-it note and attaching it to the bottom of your router for future reference.
Other Asus DSL-N17U Guides
Here are some of our other Asus DSL-N17U guides that you might be interested in.
This is the reset router guide for the Asus DSL-N17U. We also have the following guides for the same router: