This guide shows you how to reset your TP-Link Archer C5400X router to factory default settings. This is a much bigger deal than a router reboot. Rebooting a router is simply turning it off and back on again. Resetting a router erases all settings from it and returns it to factory defaults.
Warning: This is not a step to be taken lightly. A router reset will affect the following settings:
- The router's login and password are reset.
- Your WiFi login, password, and network name 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 1.1.0. We also have the following guides for the same router:
Recover Password in TP-Link Archer C5400X
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 - Automatically 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 TP-Link Archer C5400X
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You can usually find a small reset button on either the back or the bottom of a router. A typical reset button looks like this:
Your reset button may look different, but usually they are very small. 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. The blinking pattern of the lights on the front of the router should change when the reset is complete. Keep holding the button as long as you want, it will not hurt anything to hold it down too long.
Keep in mind that this will completely reset your TP-Link Archer C5400X router.
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 TP-Link Archer C5400X
Now that you have finished resetting your router, you need to log in using the default username and password from the factory. Just follow our Archer C5400X 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. Leaving a router password set to default is a very serious security risk. If you need help coming up with a strong password, check out our Choosing a Strong Password guide.
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 C5400X Guides
This isn't our only TP-Link Archer C5400X guide. We also have the following guides for this router.
This is the reset router guide for the TP-Link Archer C5400X 1.1.0. We also have the following guides for the same router: