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Reset the TP-Link TD-W8980

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Setup Router Staff
Last Updated: | Reading Time: 3 minutes

In this article, you will learn how to reset your TP-Link TD-W8980 back to factory settings. A router reset is a much bigger deal 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: 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.
  • Your WiFi name and password are reset.
  • Your ISP settings are reset, which means you will have to contact your ISP to get them back.
  • 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. 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 TD-W8980 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-W8980. We also have the following guides for the same router:

Recover Password in TP-Link TD-W8980

If you are resetting your router because you forgot your router password, then you should try running our Router Password Finder first.

Router Password Finder can save you a ton of time by recovering your lost or forgotten router password instead of doing a full router reset.

Router Password Finder - Recover Lost or Forgotten Router Passwords

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 TD-W8980

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NordVPN faster than ever deal!

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On most routers you can find a small button on the back or the bottom labeled reset. Look for something that looks like this:

Router Reset Button

Your reset button may look different, but usually they are very small. Sometimes the reset button is under a pinhole on the back of the router, and you need a paper clip to push it.

Watch the front panel lights while you hold the reset button down for at least 10 seconds. You should notice that the blinking pattern of the lights on the front of the router changes after a few seconds. It is harmless to hold the reset button too long.

Remember, this will erase everything you have previously done to this TP-Link TD-W8980 router.

Be sure to only reset your router if you have tried everything else, such as running our Router Password Finder software, which can find your lost or forgotten router password for you.

Login to the TP-Link TD-W8980

Once the reset is complete, you need to login to your router using the default IP address, username, and password. You can follow the TD-W8980 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's a very bad idea to leave your router's password set to the factory default. If you need help coming up with a strong password, check out our Choosing a Strong Password guide.

Tip: Put your new password on a post-in note and stick it to the bottom of your router.

Other TP-Link TD-W8980 Guides

We have collected a lot of information about the TP-Link TD-W8980 router. You can find some of our additional content here.

This is the reset router guide for the TP-Link TD-W8980. We also have the following guides for the same router: