This article covers how to reset the Netgear WNDR3800CH router back to factory default settings. Resetting a router is different than rebooting a router. 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 will be changed in your router:
- The router's username and password 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.
A router reset should be considered the last resort when you cannot log in to your router any other way. 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 WNDR3800CH Guides
Use a VPN Instead
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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 WNDR3800CH v1.0.0.61CH Charter. We also have the following guides for the same router:
Recover Password in Netgear WNDR3800CH
If you are resetting your router because you forgot your router password, then you should 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 - 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 Netgear WNDR3800CH
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There is usually a small reset button located on either the back or the bottom of a router. A typical reset button looks like this:
Reset buttons are usually tiny. Yours may look slightly different than this. Sometimes the reset button is under a pinhole on the back of the router, and you need a paper clip to push it.
Watch the front panel lights while you hold the reset button down for at least 10 seconds. After a few seconds the lights should blink differently. When this happens, the reset is complete. You can hold the button down as long as you like, it will not hurt anything.
Keep in mind that this will completely reset your Netgear WNDR3800CH 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 WNDR3800CH
Now that you have finished resetting the router, you need to login to the router interface using the default username and password. You can follow the WNDR3800CH Login Guide to find everything that you need to log in.
Change Your Password
Do not forget to change your router's default password when you log back into it. 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: Write your new password down on a post-it note and stick it to the bottom of your router.
Other Netgear WNDR3800CH Guides
Here are some of our other Netgear WNDR3800CH guides that you might be interested in.
This is the reset router guide for the Netgear WNDR3800CH v1.0.0.61CH Charter. We also have the following guides for the same router: