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Reset the SmartRG SR500N

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

This guide shows you how to reset your SmartRG SR500N router to factory default settings. Resetting a router is different than 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: Make sure that you fully understand the following before resetting your router. When you reset your router, the following will happen.

  • The router's username and password are reset to factory defaults.
  • All WiFi login information and network names are reset.
  • Any ISP settings saved in your router will be removed. You may have to contact your ISP.
  • All port forwards, firewall settings, and parental controls that you have configured will be removed.

Resetting your router should be considered the last step. Make sure that you have tried to recover your router password using our Router Password Finder first.

Other SmartRG SR500N 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 SmartRG SR500N. We also have the following guides for the same router:

Recover Password in SmartRG SR500N

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 SmartRG SR500N

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NordVPN faster than ever deal!

You might notice that most of our site doesn't have ads on it. This is because we use partnerships with companies like NordVPN to keep the site running. Thank you for supporting us by using our referral links.

On most routers you can find a small button on the back or the bottom labeled reset. Look for something that looks like this:

Router Reset Button

Yours may look slightly different, but they are usually tiny. Sometimes the reset button is under a pinhole on the back of the router, 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. After a few seconds the lights should blink differently. When this happens, the reset is complete. 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.

Don't forget, this step will totally reset your SmartRG SR500N 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 SmartRG SR500N

Now you need to log in using the factory default username and password. Our SR500N Login Guide has all of the information that you need.

Change Your Password

After logging in to your router for the first time, you need to change your router's password. The factory default passwords for routers are very well known. If you need help coming up with a strong password, check out our Choosing a Strong Password guide.

Tip: After creating this new password, we highly recommend writing this down on a post-it note and attaching it to the bottom of your router for future reference.

Other SmartRG SR500N Guides

This isn't our only SmartRG SR500N guide. We also have the following guides for this router.

This is the reset router guide for the SmartRG SR500N. We also have the following guides for the same router: