If you need to reset your Dlink DIR-612 router back to factory settings, then this article shows you how. A router reset is a much bigger deal than a router reboot. Turning a router off and back on again causes a reboot. Resetting a router erases all settings from it and returns it to factory defaults.
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.
- Your WiFi name and password are reset.
- Your ISP username and password will be reset, and you may have to contact your ISP.
- All parental controls, firewall settings, and port forwards will be removed.
A router reset is the last step you should take in recovering your router's password. Before you reset your router, you may want to try recovering your router password with our Router Password Finder.
Other Dlink DIR-612 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.
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 Dlink DIR-612 2.01. We also have the following guides for the same router:
Recover Password in Dlink DIR-612
Before you resort to doing a full router reset, 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
Do not do a full router reset until after you have tried every other option to log in to your router.
Reset the Dlink DIR-612
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Most of the time you can find a small reset button located on either the back or the bottom of a router. Look at your router and try to find something that looks like this:
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.
Keep an eye on the lights on the front of your router while holding the reset button down for about 10 seconds. After a few seconds the lights should blink differently. When this happens, the reset is complete. You can hold the button down as long as you like, it will not hurt anything.
Remember, this will erase everything you have previously done to this Dlink DIR-612 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 Dlink DIR-612
Now you need to log in using the factory default username and password. Our DIR-612 Login Guide has all of the information that you need.
Change Your Password
Be sure to change your router's default password after you get logged back in. It's a very bad idea to leave your router's password set to the factory default. Our Choosing a Strong Password guide can help you pick a strong password for your router.
Tip: Write your new password down on a post-it note and stick it to the bottom of your router.
Other Dlink DIR-612 Guides
Here are some of our other Dlink DIR-612 guides that you might be interested in.
This is the reset router guide for the Dlink DIR-612 2.01. We also have the following guides for the same router: