If you need to reset your Dlink DIR-636L router back to factory settings, then this article shows you how. A router reset is very different than a router reboot. 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. A router reset will affect the following settings:
- The router's username and password are reset.
- All WiFi settings are reset, including network name and password.
- Your ISP username and password will be reset, and you may have to contact your ISP.
- All port forwards, firewall settings, and parental controls 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. Make sure that you have tried to recover your router password using our Router Password Finder first.
Other Dlink DIR-636L 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-636L. We also have the following guides for the same router:
Recover Password in Dlink DIR-636L
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
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-636L
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Usually there is a reset button located on the back or bottom of a router. What you are looking for is something that looks like this:
Yours may look slightly different, but they are usually tiny. Sometimes the button is under a pinhole, 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. Notice how the lights on the front of the router are blinking. When the lights do something different, the router is reset. Do not be concerned about holding the reset button down too long. It will not hurt anything.
Remember, this will totally reset your Dlink DIR-636L router.
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 Dlink DIR-636L
Now that you have finished resetting the router, you need to login to the router interface using the default username and password. You can find all of the information that you need in our DIR-636L Login Guide.
Change Your Password
After logging in, you should really change your router's password for added security. It's a very bad idea to leave your router's password set to the factory default. Our Choosing a Strong Password guide talks about choosing a strong password for your router.
Tip: A great place to write your new password down is on a piece of paper taped to the bottom of your router.
Other Dlink DIR-636L Guides
This isn't our only Dlink DIR-636L guide. We also have the following guides for this router.
This is the reset router guide for the Dlink DIR-636L. We also have the following guides for the same router: