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

How to Reset the Linksys WRT54G

Thumbnail image of Setup Router Staff
Setup Router Staff
(Last Updated: ) | Reading Time: 8 minutes

On this page I will be explaining how to properly reset the Linksys WRT54G router back to factory defaults.

There is a lot of confusion between a reset and a reboot. In this guide when you reboot a router you are only cycling the power to the unit. When you reset a router you take all the settings and revert them all to factory defaults.

Warning: Resetting a router is a big step and should not be taken lightly. I recommend making up a list of all the setting you might of changed in the past. This list has been started for you.

  • The router's main username and password.
  • The WiFi username and password.
  • Are you resetting a DSL router? You need to re-enter the ISP or Internet Service Provider username and password. If you don't know what this is you need to call your local provider for the details.
  • What other settings have you changed? Make sure to write them down as well.

Other Linksys WRT54G Guides

This is the reset router guide for the Linksys WRT54G. We also have the following guides for the same router:

Reset the Linksys WRT54G

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 faster than ever deal!

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 is an image of the back panel of the Linksys WRT54G router. I have circled the reset button for you. This button is actually more of a pinhole to avoid accidental resets.

router reset factory settings
This is the reset page from your Linksys WRT54G router.

The first step is to make sure the router is plugged in and turned on. Then take a straightened paperclip or similar object and press down on the reset button for about 10 seconds. This starts the reset process. If you don't hold the reset button down for the full 10 seconds you might end up only rebooting the device. This can cause confusion later so make sure you hold that reset button down.

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

Remember this reset erases all your personal data. Please consider other troubleshooting methods before deciding to reset the router.

Login to the Linksys WRT54G

Once the Linksys WRT54G router has been reset you will need to login to it. To do this you will need to use the default IP address, password, and username. Not sure what these are? You can find them in our Login Guide for the Linksys WRT54G router.

Tip: If you can't login with the defaults then you might have accidentally rebooted the router instead of resetting it. Try resetting it again but be sure to hold down the reset button for a little longer this time.

Change Your Password

The password for your router should be changed from the default as soon as possible. The default password is easy to guess and leaving it in place can put your router at risk. Try to make your new password 14-20 characters long and have it contain no personal information. If you need any additional help making a password be sure to visit our Choosing a Strong Password guide.

Tip: Want to avoid losing your password? Try writing it down on a slip of paper and attaching it to the underside of the router.

Setup WiFi on the Linksys WRT54G

Now it is time to start reconfiguring the router's settings back to how you want them. While you are doing this don't forget to also configure the WiFi settings. Need help with this important step? Follow our Linksys WRT54G 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 is the fastest VPN 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 WRT54G Help

Be sure to check out our other Linksys WRT54G info that you might be interested in.

This is the reset router guide for the Linksys WRT54G. We also have the following guides for the same router: