How to Reset the Asus RT-AC56U

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Setup Router Staff
(Last Updated: ) | Reading Time: 3 minutes

In this guide we will cover how to reset the Asus RT-AC56U router to factory defaults. A lot of people are confused about the difference between resetting a router and rebooting or restarting a router. Rebooting or restarting are essentially the same thing. It means to cycle the power by turning the device off and back on again. A reset is more dangerous and should only be done as a last resort. Resetting a router reverts ALL settings back to factory defaults.

Warning: Resetting a router is serious and should only be done if you know what is changing with the reset. Please consider the following before you continue:

  • A reset will cause the router's main username and password to be reset.
  • The WiFi information such as SSID, password, and security are reset.
  • If using a DSL router you need to re-enter the ISP username and password. If you don't know what these are you will need to call your Internet Service Provider.
  • All other configurations you have made will be gone. This could include firewall settings, or port forwards for that game you really enjoy.

Other Asus RT-AC56U Guides

This is the reset router guide for the Asus RT-AC56U. We also have the following guides for the same router:

Reset the Asus RT-AC56U

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.

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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.

Before you reset your Asus RT-AC56U router you need to be sure it is on. DO NOT unplug or turn off the router during the reset process as it could permanently damage the device.

The next step is to locate the tiny reset button on the back of your router. Go ahead and turn your router around and take a look at all the options on the back. We have circled it's location in the image below.

router reset factory settings
This is the reset page from your Asus RT-AC56U router.

Using something sharp such as the tip of a pencil press and hold the reset button for about 10 seconds.

This is going to erase everything you have done to your router in the past. Make sure and try other ways of fixing the problem before you attempt this reset.

Login to the Asus RT-AC56U

Okay, so now you have finished resetting the Asus RT-AC56U router. You now must login using the default username and password from the factory. We have located these for you and added them to our Login Guide for the Asus RT-AC56U router.

Change Your Password

Once you have finished logging into the Asus RT-AC56U it's a really good idea to change that password. If creating new passwords isn't easy then take a look at this Choosing a Strong Password guide for helpful ideas and tips.

Tip: You can write this new password down on a post-it note and attach it to the bottom of the router for future reference.

Setup WiFi on the Asus RT-AC56U

The last setting we are addressing in this guide is the WiFi settings. The security of your network was also reset. Sometimes router manufacturers like to leave the security open as the default. This means you have no security. We strongly recommend changing this to WPA2-PSK. For step-by-step instructions check out this How to Setup WiFi on the Asus RT-AC56U.

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Asus RT-AC56U Help

Be sure to check out our other Asus RT-AC56U info that you might be interested in.

This is the reset router guide for the Asus RT-AC56U. We also have the following guides for the same router: