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Reset the Asus RT-AC86U

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Setup Router Staff
Last Updated: | Reading Time: 4 minutes

This guide shows you how to reset your Asus RT-AC86U router to factory default settings. A router reset is very different than a router reboot. Every time your router loses power it reboots. However, when you reset a router you, return it back to its factory default settings.

Warning: This is not a step to be taken lightly. When you reset your router, the following will happen.

  • The router's username and password are reset.
  • 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 should be considered the last resort when you cannot log in to your router any other way. 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 RT-AC86U 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.

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  • 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.

This is the reset router guide for the Asus RT-AC86U 3.0.0.4.384_81351. We also have the following guides for the same router:

Recover Password in Asus RT-AC86U

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 - Recover Lost or Forgotten Router Passwords

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 RT-AC86U

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On most routers you can find a small button on the back or the bottom labeled reset. A typical reset button looks like this:

Router Reset Button

Even though yours may look slightly different, you need to look for a tiny button. You may need a paper clip to push the reset button.

Keep an eye on the lights on the front of your router while holding the reset button down for about 10 seconds. The blinking pattern of the lights on the front of the router should change when the reset is complete. You can hold the button down as long as you like, it will not hurt anything.

Remember, this will totally reset your Asus RT-AC86U router.

Be sure to only reset your router if you have tried everything else, such as running our Router Password Finder software, which can find your lost or forgotten router password for you.

Login to the Asus RT-AC86U

Now that you have finished resetting the router, you need to login to the router interface using the default username and password. Our RT-AC86U Login Guide has all of the information that you need.

Change Your Password

You need to change your router's default password after you log in for the first time. The factory default passwords for routers are very well known. Our Choosing a Strong Password guide talks about choosing a strong password for your router.

Tip: A great place to write your new password down is on a piece of paper taped to the bottom of your router.

Other Asus RT-AC86U Guides

If you want additional help with your Asus RT-AC86U be sure to check out some of our other guides.

This is the reset router guide for the Asus RT-AC86U 3.0.0.4.384_81351. We also have the following guides for the same router: