Setup Router logo in white Setup router name logo in white
Get Software

How to Reset the Linksys WGA54G

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

Here I describe how to reset the Linksys WGA54G router back to factory defaults.

There is some confusion between a reset and a reboot. When you reboot a router you cycle the power to the unit. When you reset a router you take all the settings and return them to factory defaults. This means all your settings are erased.

Warning: Resetting this router is a big step and should not be takenl lightly. I strongly recommend trying other troubleshooting methods before you decide to reset the Linksys WGA54G router. If you still want to reset, make a list of all the possible settings you have changed in the past. Some of these settings will be:

  • The router's username and password used to access the router interface.
  • The WiFi SSID and password used to protect your network.
  • Is this a DSL router? If so you need to re-enter the Internet Service Provider (ISP) username and password. Call your ISP for the specific details.
  • What other settings have you changed in the past? How about port forwards or IP addresses? Don't forget to write these down as well.

Other Linksys WGA54G Guides

This is the reset router guide for the Linksys WGA54G. We also have the following guides for the same router:

Reset the Linksys WGA54G

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.

Below you can see the side panel of the Linksys WGA54G router. I have circled it in the image below.

router reset factory settings
This is the reset page from your Linksys WGA54G router.

While the router is on, take a ball point pen or straightened paperclip and press down on the reset button for about 5 seconds. This starts the reset process. If you don't hold the reset button down long enough you end up only rebooting the router instead of resetting it like you wanted.

Warning: DO NOT unplug or turn off the router during the reset process. Doing so could result in permanent damage to the device.

Remember a reset like this one erases every single setting you have ever changed on the device. I strongly recommend trying other troubleshooting methods before you decide to reset the Linksys WGA54G router.

Login to the Linksys WGA54G

Now that the Linksys WGA54G router has finished resetting you will be required to login to it by using the default IP address, password, and username. Here at setuprouter.com we have collected this information for you and included it in our Linksys WGA54G Login Guide.

Tip: If you cannot login with the defaults then the router might have not been properly reset. Try resetting it again but hold down the reset button for a little longer this time.

Change Your Password

After you login to your router you should change the password from the default. Default passwords are easy to guess so leaving them in place is a bad idea. Visit our Choosing a Strong Password for some helpful advice on making a secure password.

Tip: It can be easy to forget a password. One way to keep this password safe is to write it down on a sticky-note and attach it to the bottom of the router.

Setup WiFi on the Linksys WGA54G

Finally it is time to begin reconfiguring your router's settings back to how you like them. Make sure that you also configure the WiFi settings. Check out our Linksys WGA54G WiFi Instructions to get started on securing your wireless network.

Don't forget to sign up for NordVPN's promo deal before it's gone.

NordVPN faster than ever deal!

You might notice that most of our site doesn't have ads on it. This is because we use partnerships with companies like NordVPN to keep the site running. Thank you for supporting us by using our referral links.

Linksys WGA54G Help

Be sure to check out our other Linksys WGA54G info that you might be interested in.

This is the reset router guide for the Linksys WGA54G. We also have the following guides for the same router: