This is the reset guide for the TP-Link Archer C8 v4 router. A router reset is very different 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: Proceed with caution; resetting your router can be a major headache. When you reset your router, the following will happen.
- The router's login credentials are reset to factory defaults.
- All WiFi settings are reset, including network name and password.
- Any ISP settings saved in your router will be removed. You may have to contact your ISP.
- Any firewall settings, parental controls, or port forwards that you have configured will be removed.
Resetting your router should be considered the last step. 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 TP-Link Archer C8 v4 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 C8 v4. We also have the following guides for the same router:
Recover Password in TP-Link Archer C8 v4
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 C8 v4
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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.
You can usually find a small reset button on either the back or the bottom of a router. What you are looking for is something that looks like this:
Reset buttons are usually tiny. Yours may look slightly different than this. You might find a pinhole on the back of the router that requires a paper clip to push the button hidden under it.
Hold the reset button down for about 10 seconds while watching the lights on the front of your router. The lights on the front of the router should do something different when the reset happens. It is harmless to hold the reset button too long.
Keep in mind that this will completely reset your TP-Link Archer C8 v4 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 C8 v4
Now you need to log in using the factory default username and password. We have a Archer C8 v4 Login Guide with all this information ready for you.
Change Your Password
After logging in to your router for the first time, you need to change your router's password. It's a very bad idea to leave your router's password set to the factory default. 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 TP-Link Archer C8 v4 Guides
If you want additional help with your TP-Link Archer C8 v4 be sure to check out some of our other guides.
This is the reset router guide for the TP-Link Archer C8 v4. We also have the following guides for the same router: