In this article, you will learn how to reset your TP-Link TD-W9977 back to factory settings. This is not the same thing as rebooting a router. Every time your router loses power it reboots. A Router Reset completely erases the router and returns it to factory settings.
Warning: Make sure that you fully understand the following before resetting your router. When you reset your router, the following will happen.
- The router's login and password are reset to factory defaults.
- All WiFi settings are reset, including network name and password.
- If your router has any ISP settings they will be removed, and you will have to contact your ISP.
- Any firewall settings, parental controls, or port forwards 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. Make sure that you have tried to recover your router password using our Router Password Finder first.
Other TP-Link TD-W9977 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 TD-W9977. We also have the following guides for the same router:
Recover Password in TP-Link TD-W9977
If the only reason that you are resetting your router is because you forgot your router password, then you may want to try running our Router Password Finder instead of resetting your router.
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 - 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-W9977
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Most routers have a small button on either the back or the bottom. What you are looking for is something that looks like this:
Yours may look slightly different, but they are usually tiny. If you find a pinhole on the back of the router then that may be the reset button. You will 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 lights on the front of the router should do something different when the reset happens. Keep holding the button as long as you want, it will not hurt anything to hold it down too long.
Remember, this will totally reset your TP-Link TD-W9977 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 TD-W9977
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 TD-W9977 Login Guide to find all of the information that you need.
Change Your Password
Do not forget to change your router's default password when you log back into it. 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: Write your new password down on a note and tape it to the bottom of your router for future reference.
Other TP-Link TD-W9977 Guides
We have collected a lot of information about the TP-Link TD-W9977 router. You can find some of our additional content here.
This is the reset router guide for the TP-Link TD-W9977. We also have the following guides for the same router: