Reset the Dlink DIR-816

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

This guide shows you how to reset your Dlink DIR-816 router to factory default settings. This is a much bigger deal than a router reboot. Turning a router off and back on again causes a reboot. A Router Reset completely erases the router and returns it to factory settings.

Warning: Before you continue, there are a few things you need to know. The following settings will be changed in your router:

  • The router's login credentials are reset to factory defaults.
  • 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.
  • Any port forwards, firewall settings, or 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. Before you reset your router you may want to try recovering your router password with our Router Password Finder.

Other Dlink DIR-816 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.

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.

This is the reset router guide for the Dlink DIR-816 1.06. We also have the following guides for the same router:

Recover Password in Dlink DIR-816

Instead of resetting your router back to factory settings, you may want to try running our Router Password Finder first.

Router Password Finder can save you a ton of time by recovering your lost or forgotten router password instead of doing a full router reset.

Router Password Finder - Lost or Forgotten Router Password Recovery Tool

Only after you have tried to recover your missing router username and password should you perform a full router reset.

Reset the Dlink DIR-816

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Most routers have a small button on either the back or the bottom. A typical reset button looks like this:

Router Reset Button

Yours may look slightly different, but they are usually tiny. If you find a pinhole on the back of the router then that may be the reset button. You will need a paper clip to push it.

Watch the lights on the front of your router and hold 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. 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.

Just don't forget that this will totally reset your Dlink DIR-816 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 Dlink DIR-816

Now that you have finished resetting your router, you need to log in using the default username and password from the factory. Our DIR-816 Login Guide has all of the information that you need.

Change Your Password

After logging in, you should really change your router's password for added security. Since factory passwords are well known, it's a huge security risk to leave your router set to the default. You can follow our Choosing a Strong Password guide to help you pick a solid 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 Dlink DIR-816 Guides

We have collected a lot of information about the Dlink DIR-816 router. You can find some of our additional content here.

This is the reset router guide for the Dlink DIR-816 1.06. We also have the following guides for the same router: