This guide shows you how to reset your Asus RT-AX88U router. Resetting a router is different than rebooting a router. Turning a router off and back on again causes a reboot. This is very different from a reset, which erases a router completely and returns it to factory default settings.
Warning: Proceed with caution; resetting your router can be a major headache. The following settings in your router will be changed:
- The router's login and password are reset.
- Your WiFi name and password are reset.
- Your ISP settings are reset, which means you will have to contact your ISP to get them back.
- 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. Before you reset your router you may want to try recovering your router password with our Router Password Finder.
Other Asus RT-AX88U 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.
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This is the reset router guide for the Asus RT-AX88U 3.0.0.4.388_20558. We also have the following guides for the same router:
Recover Password in Asus RT-AX88U
If you are resetting your router because you forgot your router password, then you should 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 - Lost or Forgotten Router Password Recovery Tool
A router reset should be the last thing you try if you are unable to login.
Reset the Asus RT-AX88U
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Most routers have a small button on either the back or the bottom. This is what a typical reset button looks like:
Yours may look slightly different, but they are usually tiny. You might find a pinhole on the back of the router that requires a paper clip to push the button hidden under it.
Keep an eye on the lights on the front of your router while holding the reset button down for about 10 seconds. You should notice that the blinking pattern of the lights on the front of the router changes after a few seconds. You cannot hold the button too long, and it will not hurt the router to hold the reset button down for longer than 10 seconds.
Remember, this will totally reset your Asus RT-AX88U router.
Only take this last step of fully resetting your router after 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-AX88U
After you are finished resetting your router, you need to login in using the original factory username and password. Just follow our RT-AX88U Login Guide to find all of the information that you need.
Change Your Password
After logging in, you should really change your router's password for added security. 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: Write your new password down on a note and tape it to the bottom of your router for future reference.
Other Asus RT-AX88U Guides
If you want additional help with your Asus RT-AX88U be sure to check out some of our other guides.
This is the reset router guide for the Asus RT-AX88U 3.0.0.4.388_20558. We also have the following guides for the same router: