In this article, you will learn how to reset your Linksys E8400 back to factory settings. This is a much bigger deal than a router reboot. Every time your router loses power it reboots. 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. When you reset your router, the following will happen.
- The router's login and password are reset.
- Your WiFi name and password are reset.
- Any ISP settings saved in your router will be removed. You may have to contact your ISP.
- Any firewall settings, parental controls, or port forwards that you have configured will be removed.
Since a router reset is such a drastic step, it should only be done as a last resort when you cannot recover your router's password using any other methods. Make sure that you have tried to recover your router password using our Router Password Finder first.
Other Linksys E8400 Guides
This is the reset router guide for the Linksys E8400 1.0.03. We also have the following guides for the same router:
Recover Password in Linksys E8400
Instead of resetting your router back to factory settings, 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 - Automatically Recover Lost or Forgotten Router Passwords
If you are unable to recover your lost router password, then you may have to proceed with a full router reset.
Reset the Linksys E8400
Most routers have a small button on either the back or the bottom. This is what a typical reset button looks like:
Even though yours may look slightly different, you need to look for a tiny button. You may need a paper clip to push the reset button.
Watch the front panel lights while you hold the reset button down for at least 10 seconds. The blinking pattern of the lights on the front of the router should change when the reset is complete. Keep holding the button as long as you want, it will not hurt anything to hold it down too long.
Don't forget, this step will totally reset your Linksys E8400 router back to factory settings.
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 Linksys E8400
Once the reset is complete, you need to login to your router using the default IP address, username, and password. We have a E8400 Login Guide with all this information ready for you.
Change Your Password
Be sure to change your router's default password after you get logged back in. Since factory passwords are well known, it's a huge security risk to leave your router set to the default. Our Choosing a Strong Password guide talks about choosing a strong password for your router.
Tip: After creating this new password, we highly recommend writing this down on a post-it note and attaching it to the bottom of your router for future reference.
Other Linksys E8400 Guides
Here are some of our other Linksys E8400 guides that you might be interested in.
This is the reset router guide for the Linksys E8400 1.0.03. We also have the following guides for the same router: