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Reset the Linksys WRT54G

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Setup Router Staff
Last Updated: | Reading Time: 8 minutes

This article covers how to reset the Linksys WRT54G router back to factory default settings. This is not the same thing as rebooting a router. Every time your router loses power it reboots. Resetting a router erases all settings from it and returns it to factory defaults.

Warning: This is not a step to be taken lightly. When you reset your router, the following will happen.

  • The router's username and password are reset.
  • All WiFi information such as network name, password, and authentication method are erased.
  • All ISP settings will reset to default, and you may have to contact your ISP.
  • Any firewall settings, parental controls, and 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. Before you reset your router, you may want to try recovering your router password with our Router Password Finder.

Other Linksys WRT54G Guides

Use a VPN

Have you considered using a VPN when you connect to the internet? A VPN is a great way to increase your security and anonymity while surfing.

We use and recommend NordVPN because not only is it the fastest VPN, it includes a new feature called Meshnet that makes securely sharing your home network super simple. 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.

This is the reset router guide for the Linksys WRT54G v1.00.4. We also have the following guides for the same router:

Recover Password in Linksys WRT54G

If you are resetting your router because you forgot your router password, then you should 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

Just keep in mind that a router reset should be done as the last resort when you are unable to login to your router.

Reset the Linksys WRT54G

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Most routers have a small button on either the back or the bottom. What you are looking for is something that looks like this:

Router Reset Button

Yours may look slightly different, but they are usually tiny. You might find a pinhole on the back of the router that requires a paper clip to push the button hidden under it.

Keep an eye on the lights on the front of your router while holding the reset button down for about 10 seconds. You should notice that the blinking pattern of the lights on the front of the router changes after a few seconds. Keep holding the button as long as you want, it will not hurt anything to hold it down too long.

Remember, this will totally reset your Linksys WRT54G router.

Be sure to only reset your router if you have tried everything else, such as running our Router Password Finder software, which can find your lost or forgotten router password for you.

Login to the Linksys WRT54G

Once the reset is complete, you need to login to your router using the default IP address, username, and password. You can follow the WRT54G Login Guide to find everything that you need to log in.

Change Your Password

After logging in, you should really change your router's password for added security. It's a very bad idea to leave your router's password set to the factory default. If you need help coming up with a strong password, check out our Choosing a Strong Password guide.

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 WRT54G Guides

Here are some of our other Linksys WRT54G guides that you might be interested in.

This is the reset router guide for the Linksys WRT54G v1.00.4. We also have the following guides for the same router: