Setup Router logo in white Setup router name logo in white
Get Software

Reset the Netgear WNDR4000

Thumbnail image of Setup Router Staff
Setup Router Staff
Last Updated: | Reading Time: 3 minutes

This guide shows you how to reset your Netgear WNDR4000 router to factory default settings. This is not the same thing as rebooting a router. Rebooting a router is simply turning it off and back on again. 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. When you reset your router, the following will happen.

  • The router's login and password are reset.
  • All WiFi information such as network name, password, and authentication method are erased.
  • Your ISP username and password will be reset, and you may have to contact your ISP.
  • Any parental controls, firewall settings, or 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. 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 WNDR4000 Guides

This is the reset router guide for the Netgear WNDR4000. We also have the following guides for the same router:

Recover Password in Netgear WNDR4000

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 - Lost or Forgotten Router Password Recovery Tool

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 WNDR4000

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

Router Reset Button

Your reset button may look different, but usually they are very small. 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 lights on the front of your router and hold the reset button down for about 10 seconds. Notice how the lights on the front of the router are blinking. When the lights do something different, the router is reset. Keep holding the button as long as you want, it will not hurt anything to hold it down too long.

Just don't forget that this will totally reset your Netgear WNDR4000 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 WNDR4000

Now you need to log in using the factory default username and password. We have a WNDR4000 Login Guide with all this information ready for you.

Change Your Password

Do not forget to change your router's default password when you log back into it. 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: Write your new password down on a post-it note and stick it to the bottom of your router.

Other Netgear WNDR4000 Guides

We have collected a lot of information about the Netgear WNDR4000 router. You can find some of our additional content here.

This is the reset router guide for the Netgear WNDR4000. We also have the following guides for the same router: