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Reset the Netgear WNDR3800

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Setup Router Staff
Last Updated: | Reading Time: 3 minutes

This is the reset guide for the Netgear WNDR3800 router. This is a much bigger deal than a router reboot. Unplugging a router from the wall reboots it. A Router Reset completely erases the router and returns it to factory settings.

Warning: Make sure that you fully understand the following before resetting your router. A router reset will affect the following settings:

  • The router's login credentials are reset.
  • All WiFi settings are reset, including network name and password.
  • Your ISP username and password will be reset, and you may have to contact your ISP.
  • All port forwards, firewall settings, and parental controls that you have configured will be removed.

A router reset is the last step you should take in recovering your router's password. Make sure that you have tried to recover your router password using our Router Password Finder first.

Other Netgear WNDR3800 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.

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.

This is the reset router guide for the Netgear WNDR3800. We also have the following guides for the same router:

Recover Password in Netgear WNDR3800

Instead of resetting your router back to factory settings, you may want to try running our Router Password Finder first.

Our Router Password Finder can recover your lost or forgotten router password without doing a full router reset, which can save you lots of time.

Router Password Finder - Lost or Forgotten Router Password Recovery Tool

A router reset should be the last thing you try if you are unable to login.

Reset the Netgear WNDR3800

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Usually there is a reset button located on the back or bottom of a router. What you are looking for is something that looks like this:

Router Reset Button

Yours may look slightly different, but they are usually tiny. 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. The blinking pattern of the lights on the front of the router should change when the reset is complete. You can hold the button down as long as you like, it will not hurt anything.

Don't forget, this step will totally reset your Netgear WNDR3800 router back to factory settings.

This last step should only be taken if you have tried everything else, such as using our Router Password Finder software, which can recover lost or forgotten router passwords.

Login to the Netgear WNDR3800

Once the reset is complete, you need to login to your router using the default IP address, username, and password. We have a WNDR3800 Login Guide with all this information ready for you.

Change Your Password

After logging in, you should really change your router's password for added security. It is a huge security risk 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: Write your new password down on a post-it note and stick it to the bottom of your router.

Other Netgear WNDR3800 Guides

Here are some of our other Netgear WNDR3800 guides that you might be interested in.

This is the reset router guide for the Netgear WNDR3800. We also have the following guides for the same router: