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Reset the TP-Link TD-W8960N

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Setup Router Staff
Last Updated: | Reading Time: 4 minutes

This is the reset guide for the TP-Link TD-W8960N router. A router reset is a much bigger deal than a router reboot. Unplugging a router from the wall reboots it. However, when you reset a router you, return it back to its factory default settings.

Warning: Make sure that you fully understand the following before resetting your router. The following settings in your router will be changed:

  • The router's username and password are reset.
  • All WiFi login information and network names are reset.
  • Your ISP username and password will be reset, and you may 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. Make sure that you have tried to recover your router password using our Router Password Finder first.

Other TP-Link TD-W8960N 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.

NordVPN is the fastest VPN!

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 TD-W8960N 1.2.4. We also have the following guides for the same router:

Recover Password in TP-Link TD-W8960N

Before you resort to doing a full router reset, you may want to 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

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 TD-W8960N

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On most routers you can find a small button on the back or the bottom labeled reset. A typical reset button looks like this:

Router Reset Button

Even though yours may look slightly different, you need to look for a tiny button. 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. The blinking pattern of the lights on the front of the router should change when the reset is complete. You cannot hold the button too long, and it will not hurt the router to hold the reset button down for longer than 10 seconds.

Remember, this will erase everything you have previously done to this TP-Link TD-W8960N 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 TP-Link TD-W8960N

After you are finished resetting your router, you need to login in using the original factory username and password. You can follow the TD-W8960N Login Guide to find everything that you need to log in.

Change Your Password

You need to change your router's default password after you log in for the first time. It is a huge security risk 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: Put your new password on a post-in note and stick it to the bottom of your router.

Other TP-Link TD-W8960N Guides

Here are some of our other TP-Link TD-W8960N guides that you might be interested in.

This is the reset router guide for the TP-Link TD-W8960N 1.2.4. We also have the following guides for the same router: