In this article, you will learn how to reset your TP-Link Archer A8 back to factory settings. This 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. A router reset will affect the following settings:
- The router's username and password are reset.
- All WiFi settings are reset, including network name and password.
- If your router has any ISP settings they will be removed, and you will have to contact your ISP.
- Any port forwards, firewall settings, or parental controls that you have configured will be removed.
Since a router reset is such a drastic step, it should only be done as a last resort when you cannot recover your router's password using any other methods. Before you reset your router, you may want to try recovering your router password with our Router Password Finder.
Other TP-Link Archer A8 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 TP-Link Archer A8 1.4.7. We also have the following guides for the same router:
- TP-Link Archer A8 1.12.0 - Login to the TP-Link Archer A8
- TP-Link Archer A8 1.12.0 - Information About the TP-Link Archer A8 Router
- TP-Link Archer A8 1.12.0 - Reset the TP-Link Archer A8
Recover Password in TP-Link Archer A8
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 - Lost or Forgotten Router Password Recovery Tool
A router reset should be the last thing you try if you are unable to login.
Reset the TP-Link Archer A8
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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. Most reset buttons look like this:
Yours may look slightly different, but they are usually tiny. You might find a pinhole on the back of the router that requires a paper clip to push the button hidden under it.
Watch the lights on the front of your router and hold the reset button down for about 10 seconds. You should notice that the blinking pattern of the lights on the front of the router changes after a few seconds. Do not be concerned about holding the reset button down too long. It will not hurt anything.
Remember, this will totally reset your TP-Link Archer A8 router.
Only do this once 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 TP-Link Archer A8
Now that you have finished resetting the router, you need to login to the router interface using the default username and password. You can find all of the information that you need in our Archer A8 Login Guide.
Change Your Password
Do not forget to change your router's default password when you log back into it. It's a very bad idea to leave your router's password set to the factory default. You can follow our Choosing a Strong Password guide to help you pick a solid password for your router.
Tip: A great place to write your new password down is on a piece of paper taped to the bottom of your router.
Other TP-Link Archer A8 Guides
Here are some of our other TP-Link Archer A8 guides that you might be interested in.
This is the reset router guide for the TP-Link Archer A8 1.4.7. We also have the following guides for the same router:
- TP-Link Archer A8 1.12.0 - Login to the TP-Link Archer A8
- TP-Link Archer A8 1.12.0 - Information About the TP-Link Archer A8 Router
- TP-Link Archer A8 1.12.0 - Reset the TP-Link Archer A8