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Reset the Netgear FVS318

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Setup Router Staff
Last Updated: | Reading Time: 4 minutes

This article covers how to reset the Netgear FVS318 router back to factory default settings. A router reset is a much bigger deal than a router reboot. A reboot happens every time a router loses power. Resetting a router erases all settings from it and returns it to factory defaults.

Warning: Since this erases everything you have done to the router, there are some things you need to consider first. The following settings in your router will be changed:

  • The router's login and password are reset to factory defaults.
  • All WiFi settings are reset, including network name and password.
  • Your ISP settings are reset, which means you will have to contact your ISP to get them back.
  • All port forwards, firewall settings, and parental controls 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. You should be sure that you have tried to at least recover your router password using our Router Password Finder before resorting to a router reset.

Other Netgear FVS318 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.

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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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This is the reset router guide for the Netgear FVS318 v2. We also have the following guides for the same router:

Recover Password in Netgear FVS318

If the only reason that you are resetting your router is because you forgot your router password, then you may want to try running our Router Password Finder instead of resetting your router.

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 - Lost or Forgotten Router Password Recovery Tool

Only after you have tried to recover your missing router username and password should you perform a full router reset.

Reset the Netgear FVS318

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Most routers have a small button on either the back or the bottom. Look for something that looks like this:

Router Reset Button

Your reset button may look different, but usually they are very small. Sometimes the button is under a pinhole, and you need a paper clip to push it.

Hold the reset button down for about 10 seconds while watching the lights on the front of your router. Notice how the lights on the front of the router are blinking. When the lights do something different, the router is reset. You cannot hold the button too long, and it will not hurt the router to hold the reset button down for longer than 10 seconds.

Remember, this will erase everything you have previously done to this Netgear FVS318 router.

Only take this last step of fully resetting your router after 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 Netgear FVS318

Now you need to log in using the factory default username and password. We have a FVS318 Login Guide with all this information ready for you.

Change Your Password

You need to change your router's default password after you log in for the first time. 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: Put your new password on a post-in note and stick it to the bottom of your router.

Other Netgear FVS318 Guides

Here are some of our other Netgear FVS318 guides that you might be interested in.

This is the reset router guide for the Netgear FVS318 v2. We also have the following guides for the same router: