This article covers how to reset the SmartRG SR500NE router back to factory default settings. This is not the same thing as 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. When you reset your router, the following will happen.
- The router's login and password are reset to factory defaults.
- Your WiFi login, password, and network name are reset.
- Any ISP settings saved in your router will be removed. You may have to contact your ISP.
- Any parental controls, firewall settings, or 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. Make sure that you have tried to recover your router password using our Router Password Finder first.
Other SmartRG SR500NE 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.
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 SR500NE. We also have the following guides for the same router:
Recover Password in SmartRG SR500NE
Before you resort to doing a full router reset, you may want to try running our Router Password Finder first.
Router Password Finder can save you a ton of time by recovering your lost or forgotten router password instead of doing a full router reset.
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 SmartRG SR500NE
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Most of the time you can find a small reset button located on either the back or the bottom of a router. Look for something that looks like this:
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. The blinking pattern of the lights on the front of the router should change when the reset is complete. It is harmless to hold the reset button too long.
Don't forget, this step will totally reset your SmartRG SR500NE 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 SmartRG SR500NE
After you are finished resetting your router, you need to login in using the original factory username and password. You can follow the SR500NE Login Guide to find everything that you need to log in.
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. Our Choosing a Strong Password guide talks about choosing 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 SmartRG SR500NE Guides
Here are some of our other SmartRG SR500NE guides that you might be interested in.
This is the reset router guide for the SmartRG SR500NE. We also have the following guides for the same router: