This guide shows you how to reset your SMC D3G0804W router to factory default settings. A router reset is a much bigger deal than a router reboot. Rebooting a router is simply turning it off and back on again. A Router Reset completely erases the router and returns it to factory settings.
Warning: Before you proceed, there are a few things you need to know. When you reset your router, the following will happen.
- The router's login credentials are reset to factory defaults.
- Your WiFi login, password, and network name are reset.
- If your router has any ISP settings they will be removed, and you will have to contact your ISP.
- Any firewall settings, parental controls, and port forwards that you have configured 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 SMC D3G0804W 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 SMC D3G0804W. We also have the following guides for the same router:
Recover Password in SMC D3G0804W
Instead of resetting your router back to factory settings, you may want to try running our Router Password Finder first.
Router Password Finder is designed from the ground up to help you recover your forgotten router username and password, which can save you a lot of time.
Router Password Finder - 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 SMC D3G0804W
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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. Most reset buttons look like this:
Your reset button may look different, but usually they are very small. Sometimes the button is under a pinhole, 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. The blinking pattern of the lights on the front of the router should change when the reset is complete. Do not worry about holding the button down too long; this is harmless.
Don't forget, this step will totally reset your SMC D3G0804W 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 SMC D3G0804W
After you are finished resetting your router, you need to login in using the original factory username and password. Just follow our D3G0804W Login Guide to find all of the information that you need.
Change Your Password
After logging in, you should really change your router's password for added security. 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 note and tape it to the bottom of your router for future reference.
Other SMC D3G0804W Guides
Here are some of our other SMC D3G0804W guides that you might be interested in.
This is the reset router guide for the SMC D3G0804W. We also have the following guides for the same router: