This guide shows you how to reset your TP-Link Archer C5400X router to factory default settings. A router reset is very different than a router reboot. Unplugging a router from the wall reboots it. Resetting a router erases all settings from it and returns it to factory defaults.
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 and password are reset.
- Your WiFi name and password are reset.
- All ISP settings will reset to default, and you may have to contact your ISP.
- All port forwards, firewall settings, and parental controls 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. Before you reset your router, you may want to try recovering your router password with our Router Password Finder.
Other TP-Link Archer C5400X 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 C5400X 1.1.2. We also have the following guides for the same router:
Recover Password in TP-Link Archer C5400X
If you are resetting your router because you forgot your router password, then you should try running our Router Password Finder first.
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 - Lost or Forgotten Router Password Recovery Tool
Do not do a full router reset until after you have tried every other option to log in to your router.
Reset the TP-Link Archer C5400X
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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.
Most of the time you can find a small reset button located on either the back or the bottom of a router. A typical reset button looks like this:
Reset buttons are usually tiny. Yours may look slightly different than this. You may need a paper clip to push the reset button.
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. Do not worry about holding the button down too long; this is harmless.
Just don't forget that this will totally reset your TP-Link Archer C5400X 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 C5400X
Now that you have finished resetting the router, you need to login to the router interface using the default username and password. We have a Archer C5400X Login Guide with all this information ready for you.
Change Your Password
Be sure to change your router's default password after you get logged back in. It's a very bad idea to leave your router's password set to the factory default. Our Choosing a Strong Password guide can help you pick a strong password for your router.
Tip: Write your new password down on a post-it note and stick it to the bottom of your router.
Other TP-Link Archer C5400X Guides
If you want additional help with your TP-Link Archer C5400X be sure to check out some of our other guides.
This is the reset router guide for the TP-Link Archer C5400X 1.1.2. We also have the following guides for the same router: