This is the reset guide for the SmartRG SR516ac router. A router reset is a much bigger deal than a router reboot. Unplugging a router from the wall reboots it. This is very different from a reset, which erases a router completely and returns it to factory default settings.
Warning: Proceed with caution; resetting your router can be a major headache. 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.
- 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.
A router reset should be considered the last resort when you cannot log in to your router any other way. Before you reset your router, you may want to try recovering your router password with our Router Password Finder.
Other SmartRG SR516ac 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 SR516ac 1.0.0.102. We also have the following guides for the same router:
- SmartRG SR516ac 1.0.0.102 - Information About the SmartRG SR516ac Router
- SmartRG SR516ac 1.0.0.102 - SmartRG SR516ac Screenshots
- SmartRG SR516ac 1.0.0.102 - Login to the SmartRG SR516ac
Recover Password in SmartRG SR516ac
If the only reason that you are resetting your router is because you forgot your router password, then you may want to try running our Router Password Finder instead of resetting your router.
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 - Recover Lost or Forgotten Router Passwords
Do not do a full router reset until after you have tried every other option to log in to your router.
Reset the SmartRG SR516ac
Don't forget to sign up for NordVPN's promo deal before it's gone.
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.
Most of the time you can find a small reset button located on either the back or the bottom of a router. This is what a typical reset button looks like:
Yours may look slightly different, but they are usually tiny. You may need a paper clip to push the reset button.
Hold the reset button down for 10 seconds and watch the lights. You should notice that the blinking pattern of the lights on the front of the router changes after a few seconds. It is harmless to hold the reset button too long.
Don't forget, this step will totally reset your SmartRG SR516ac router back to factory settings.
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 SmartRG SR516ac
Now that you have finished resetting the router, you need to login to the router interface using the default username and password. Just follow our SR516ac Login Guide to find 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. It is a huge security risk to leave your router's password set to the factory default. Our Choosing a Strong Password guide talks about choosing a strong password for your router.
Tip: Write your new password down on a note and tape it to the bottom of your router for future reference.
Other SmartRG SR516ac Guides
Here are some of our other SmartRG SR516ac guides that you might be interested in.
This is the reset router guide for the SmartRG SR516ac 1.0.0.102. We also have the following guides for the same router:
- SmartRG SR516ac 1.0.0.102 - Information About the SmartRG SR516ac Router
- SmartRG SR516ac 1.0.0.102 - SmartRG SR516ac Screenshots
- SmartRG SR516ac 1.0.0.102 - Login to the SmartRG SR516ac