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How to Reset the Huawei EchoLife HG866

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

If you have tried to login to the Huawei EchoLife-HG866 router without success you might need to reset the Huawei EchoLife-HG866 router back to the original factory defaults.

A reset like this is not the same thing as a reboot. When you reboot a router you cycle the power to the unit. When you reset the router you take all the settings and return them to factory defaults.

Warning: A reset is a big step and should not be taken lightly. Some settings you need to consider are:

The router's main username and password are erased and returned back to how they were when they left the factory.

If this is a DSL router you will need to re-enter the Internet Service Provider (ISP) username and password. Call your ISP for these details.

The wireless information such as SSID and Internet password are erased.

Any additional settings such as port forwards or IP address changes are also erased.

Other Huawei EchoLife HG866 Guides

This is the reset router guide for the Huawei EchoLife HG866. We also have the following guides for the same router:

Reset the Huawei EchoLife HG866

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.

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  • 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.

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Below is an image of the back panel of a Huawei router. The reset button on your router should be very similar.

router reset factory settings
This is the reset page from your Huawei EchoLife HG866 router.

Take a straightened paperclip and press down on the reset button for about 10 seconds. This begins the reset process. If you don't hold the reset button down for the entire 10 seconds you might end up simply rebooting the device instead of resetting it like you wanted.

Remember this reset will erase every single setting you have ever changed. We strongly recommend trying other troubleshooting methods before you continue.

Login to the Huawei EchoLife HG866

Now that you've reset the Huawei EchoLife-HG866 router you'll want to log into it. This is done by using the factory default username and password. We have these listed for your use in our Login Guide.

Tip: Defaults not working for you? It might be because the reset button wasn't held down for long enough.

Change Your Password

Following that you'll want to set a new password for your router. This can be anything you like, however keep in mind that it will only protect your router settings, not your wireless network. Still, setting a strong password is always a good idea. For help in doing so be sure to take a look through our Choosing a Strong Password Guide.

Tip: Avoid losing your new password by writing it on a slip of paper and attaching it to the bottom of your router.

Setup WiFi on the Huawei EchoLife-HG866

You now need to reconfigure the router so it's secure again. This means you need to reconfigure the wireless settings. If you need a guide check out our Huawei EchoLife-HG866 WiFi Instructions.

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Huawei EchoLife HG866 Help

Be sure to check out our other Huawei EchoLife HG866 info that you might be interested in.

This is the reset router guide for the Huawei EchoLife HG866. We also have the following guides for the same router: