In this article, you will learn how to reset your Netgear Nighthawk CAX80 back to factory settings. A router reset is very different 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: This is not a step to be taken lightly. The following settings in your router will be changed:
- The router's login credentials are reset.
- All WiFi settings are reset, including network name and password.
- Any ISP settings saved in your router will be removed. You may have to contact your ISP.
- All parental controls, firewall settings, and port forwards 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 Netgear Nighthawk CAX80 Guides
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.
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 Nighthawk CAX80 v2.1.1.4. We also have the following guides for the same router:
Recover Password in Netgear Nighthawk CAX80
Before you resort to doing a full router reset, 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 Netgear Nighthawk CAX80
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On most routers you can find a small button on the back or the bottom labeled reset. Look for something that looks like this:
Yours may look slightly different, but they are usually tiny. You may need a paper clip to push the reset button.
Keep an eye on the lights on the front of your router while holding the reset button down for about 10 seconds. The blinking pattern of the lights on the front of the router should change when the reset is complete. Do not worry about holding the button down too long; this is harmless.
Don't forget, this step will totally reset your Netgear Nighthawk CAX80 router back to factory settings.
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 Netgear Nighthawk CAX80
Now you need to log in using the factory default username and password. Our Nighthawk CAX80 Login Guide has all of the information that you need.
Change Your Password
After logging in, you should really change your router's password for added security. Leaving a router password set to default is a very serious security risk. Our Choosing a Strong Password guide can help you pick a strong password for your router.
Tip: Put your new password on a post-in note and stick it to the bottom of your router.
Other Netgear Nighthawk CAX80 Guides
We have collected a lot of information about the Netgear Nighthawk CAX80 router. You can find some of our additional content here.
This is the reset router guide for the Netgear Nighthawk CAX80 v2.1.1.4. We also have the following guides for the same router: