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How to Reset the Asus RT-N53

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

Let's begin this Asus RT-N53 reset guide by discussing the terms reset and reboot. When someone says reboot it usually means you are cycling the power by turning the device off and back on again. A reset is taking all the settings and returning them to factory defaults.

Warning: Resetting the Asus RT-N53 router can be problematic if you don't know what settings are changed. Any setting you have personalized is changed. Make a list of the settings you know will be reset. We have started this list for you:

  • The router's main username and password.
  • The WiFi information such as SSID, password, and security method.
  • The ISP username and password if you have DSL.
  • Any other settings you have changed such as port forwards.

Other Asus RT-N53 Guides

This is the reset router guide for the Asus RT-N53. We also have the following guides for the same router:

Reset the Asus RT-N53

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.

NordVPN is the fastest VPN!

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.

When it is time to reset the Asus RT-N53 router you need to find the reset button. This is normally a very tiny recessed button on the back panel or on the side panel. We have found the button for you and circled it in the image below.

router reset factory settings
This is the reset page from your Asus RT-N53 router.

Taking the end of an unwound paperclip or pin press and hold the reset button for a minimum of 10 seconds. Less than that will most likely only reboot the router. It is also important to make sure the router is on during this process. Do not unplug or turn off the router during the process as it could cause permanent damage to the router.

Don't forget this will erase every setting you have ever changed on this device. Resetting the Asus RT-N53 router should be done after you have exhausted other troubleshooting methods.

Login to the Asus RT-N53

Once you have finished resetting this router you should login using the proper default username and password. These are typically found in the user guide or sometimes on the device itself. We have found out this information for you and included it in our Login Guide for the Asus RT-N53.

Change Your Password

Now you need to change that default password. It's never a good idea to leave a password as it's default. Default information is very easy to come by and therefore a device with all it's defaults in place is a very easy device to hack into. If you don't like creating new password or are just not any good at it check out our guide titled Choosing a Strong Password.

Tip: Write this new password down on a piece of paper and place it somewhere safe. If you don't have your router anywhere public it is okay to attach the password to the bottom of your router for next time.

Setup WiFi on the Asus RT-N53

The last setting we will discuss in this guide is the WiFi settings. These include the SSID, password, and security method. We recommend setting your security to the option of WPA2-Personal. For step-by-step instructions you can follow our guide titled How to Setup WiFi on the Asus RT-N53.

Don't forget to sign up for NordVPN's promo deal before it's gone.

NordVPN faster than ever deal!

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.

Asus RT-N53 Help

Be sure to check out our other Asus RT-N53 info that you might be interested in.

This is the reset router guide for the Asus RT-N53. We also have the following guides for the same router: