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Reset the Asus RT-AC86U

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

This is the reset guide for the Asus RT-AC86U router. This is a much bigger deal than a router reboot. Turning a router off and back on again causes a reboot. This is different from a reset because a reset completely erases all settings from the router.

Warning: Before you continue, there are a few things you need to know. A router reset will affect the following settings:

  • The router's username and password are reset to factory defaults.
  • All WiFi settings are reset, including network name and password.
  • All ISP settings will reset to default, and you may have to contact your ISP.
  • Any parental controls, firewall settings, or port forwards 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

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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.
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  • 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.

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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 Asuswrt-Merlin 384.16. 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.

Our Router Password Finder can recover your lost or forgotten router password without doing a full router reset, which can save you lots of time.

Router Password Finder - Recover Lost or Forgotten Router Passwords

Only after you have tried to recover your missing router username and password should you perform a full router reset.

Reset the Asus RT-AC86U

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You can usually find a small reset button on either the back or the bottom of a router. Look at your router and try to find something that looks like this:

Router Reset Button

Even though yours may look slightly different, you need to look for a tiny button. Sometimes the reset button is under a pinhole on the back of the router, and you need a paper clip to push it.

Watch the front panel lights while you hold the reset button down for at least 10 seconds. Notice how the lights on the front of the router are blinking. When the lights do something different, the router is reset. Keep holding the button as long as you want, it will not hurt anything to hold it down too long.

Don't forget, this step will totally reset your Asus RT-AC86U router back to factory settings.

Only do this once you have exhausted all other troubleshooting options, such as running our Router Password Finder software, which can recover a lost router password for you.

Login to the Asus RT-AC86U

Now you need to log in using the factory default username and password. Our RT-AC86U Login Guide has all of the information that you need.

Change Your Password

After logging in, you should really change your router's password for added security. It is a huge security risk to leave your router's password set to the factory default. You can follow our Choosing a Strong Password guide to help you pick a solid password for your router.

Tip: Put your new password on a post-in note and stick it to the bottom of your router.

Other Asus RT-AC86U Guides

This isn't our only Asus RT-AC86U guide. We also have the following guides for this router.

This is the reset router guide for the Asus RT-AC86U Asuswrt-Merlin 384.16. We also have the following guides for the same router: