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How to Reset the Dlink DIR-850L

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

On this page I will be showing you how to reset the Dlink DIR-850L router back to how it was straight out of the factory. Before I do that however I need to differentiate between two very commonly confused words. The first is a reboot. When I use the word reboot I am referring to a cycle in the power to the device. The other term is a reset. This word is referring to a complete factory restore of all settings.

Warning: This reset erases all settings you have ever changed in the lifetime of this device. Things you may not have thought about:

  1. The router's main username and password are erased and restored to the original factory ones.
  2. The Internet name and password are also erased and brought back to the original factory settings.
  3. If you have a DSL connection you might lose Internet connection. To regain the use of the Internet you need to re-enter the ISP (Internet Service Provider) username and password. For these details call your local ISP.
  4. Write down any other changes you have made. These include any port forwards you have done or IP address

Other Dlink DIR-850L Guides

This is the reset router guide for the Dlink DIR-850L 2.06. We also have the following guides for the same router:

Reset the Dlink DIR-850L

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.

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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.

Now that I have sufficiently warned you of the potential dangers in resetting a router. Go ahead and find the reset button. For the Dlink DIR-850L router you can find it on the bottom panel of the unit. See the image below.

router reset factory settings
This is the reset page from your Dlink DIR-850L router.

Take the tip of an unfolded paperclip and press down on the button for about 10 seconds. If you don't hold the button down for the entire amount of time you end up only rebooting the router instead of resetting it like you wanted.

Remember resetting this device is going to erase every single setting you have ever changed on the unit. To avoid this you need to think of other ways to fix this problem.

Login to the Dlink DIR-850L

Once you've successfully reset the Dlink DIR-850L router you'll need to log into it. This is done by using the factory default username and password. Not sure where to find these? We have them listed for you in our Login Guide.

Tip: If the defaults don't seem to be working for you it could be because the reset button wasn't held down for long enough.

Change Your Password

Now that you've logged into your router you should set a new password for it. Remember that this password will only protect your router settings, not your wireless network. All the same, setting a strong password is always a good idea. For help in doing so be sure to visit our Choosing a Strong Password Guide.

Tip: Avoid losing your new password by writing it on a note and attaching it to the underside of your router.

Setup WiFi on the Dlink DIR-850L

It's time to reconfigure the device back to how you want it. This includes the WiFi settings. For a great guide on that topic check out our How to Setup WiFi on the Dlink DIR-850L guide.

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Dlink DIR-850L Help

Be sure to check out our other Dlink DIR-850L info that you might be interested in.

This is the reset router guide for the Dlink DIR-850L 2.06. We also have the following guides for the same router: