This article covers how to reset the Sonicwall TZ-215 router back to factory default settings. A router reset is a much bigger deal than a router reboot. Turning a router off and back on again causes a reboot. This is very different from a reset, which erases a router completely and returns it to factory default settings.
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 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. Make sure that you have tried to recover your router password using our Router Password Finder first.
Other Sonicwall TZ-215 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 Sonicwall TZ-215. We also have the following guides for the same router:
Recover Password in Sonicwall TZ-215
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.
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
A router reset should be the last thing you try if you are unable to login.
Reset the Sonicwall TZ-215
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Usually there is a reset button located on the back or bottom of a router. Look at your router and try to find something that looks like this:
Yours may look slightly different, but they are usually tiny. Sometimes the button is under a pinhole, 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. Do not worry about holding the button down too long; this is harmless.
Keep in mind that this will completely reset your Sonicwall TZ-215 router.
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 Sonicwall TZ-215
Once the reset is complete, you need to login to your router using the default IP address, username, and password. Just follow our TZ-215 Login Guide to find all of the information that you need.
Change Your Password
You need to change your router's default password after you log in for the first time. 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: 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 Sonicwall TZ-215 Guides
If you want additional help with your Sonicwall TZ-215 be sure to check out some of our other guides.
This is the reset router guide for the Sonicwall TZ-215. We also have the following guides for the same router: