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How to Reset the Belkin F5D8231-4

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

This guide will cover how to reset the Belkin F5D8231-4v4 router back to factory defaults. This is not the same thing as rebooting a router. When someone reboots a router they are only restarting it in order to cycle the power to the device. To reset a router you are telling the device to take all the settings and revert every one of them back to original factory defaults.

Warning: Resetting this router can cause all sorts of problems for you if you don't know what changes have been made. We recommend creating a list of all the settings you know will change. Begin by adding the following to your list:

  • The router's main username and password.
  • The WiFi SSID, password, and security mode.
  • The ISP username and password if you use DSL. Call your ISP for this information.
  • Any other settings you have changed in the past such as port forwards or IP addresses are erased.

Other Belkin F5D8231-4 Guides

This is the reset router guide for the Belkin F5D8231-4 v4. We also have the following guides for the same router:

Reset the Belkin F5D8231-4

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.

First you need to find the tiny reset button for the Belkin F5D8231-4v4 router. For this particular router you can find it on the back panel. We've circled it's location for you in the image below.

router reset factory settings
This is the reset page from your Belkin F5D8231-4 router.

Due to the small size of the reset button you need to take the end of an unwound paperclip to press and hold the button for about 10 seconds. If you don't hold it down this long you may only reboot the router.

Remember this erases every setting you have made to this router. It is recommended that you try other troubleshooting methods before you decide to reset the router.

Login to the Belkin F5D8231-4

Once you have reset the router you need to login using the appropriate default IP address, username, and password. We have located this information for you and included it in our Belkin F5D8231-4v4 Login Guide.

Change Your Password

After you login to the Belkin F5D8231-4v4 router you should change that default password. It's always a good idea to change default settings especially passwords. If you need help check out our How to Setup WiFi on the Belkin F5D8231-4v4 guide.

Tip: Write this new password down on a piece of paper and stick it to the bottom of the router for safekeeping.

Setup WiFi on the Belkin F5D8231-4v4

The last item we will be discussing today is the WiFi settings. You need to change the SSID, password, and possibly the security method. While some router manufacturers have by default the strongest security in place others have none so you must check. The strongest security right now is WPA2-PSK. For step-by-step instructions on all of this check out our How to Setup WiFi on the Belkin F5D8231-4v4 guide.

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Belkin F5D8231-4 Help

Be sure to check out our other Belkin F5D8231-4 info that you might be interested in.

This is the reset router guide for the Belkin F5D8231-4 v4. We also have the following guides for the same router: