Reset the TP-Link TL-WDR7661

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

This guide shows you how to reset your TP-Link TL-WDR7661 router. Resetting a router is different than rebooting a router. A reboot happens every time a router loses power. This is different from a reset because a reset completely erases all settings from the router.

Warning: Proceed with caution; resetting your router can be a major headache. The following settings will be changed in your router:

  • The router's username and password are reset.
  • 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.
  • All port forwards, firewall settings, and parental controls that you have configured will be removed.

A router reset is the last step you should take in recovering your router's password. Make sure that you have tried to recover your router password using our Router Password Finder first.

Other TP-Link TL-WDR7661 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 TL-WDR7661 1.0 (ZH). We also have the following guides for the same router:

Recover Password in TP-Link TL-WDR7661

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 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 - Lost or Forgotten Router Password Recovery Tool

Just keep in mind that a router reset should be done as the last resort when you are unable to login to your router.

Reset the TP-Link TL-WDR7661

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

Router Reset Button

Reset buttons are usually tiny. Yours may look slightly different than this. 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.

Keep an eye on the lights on the front of your router while holding the reset button down for about 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.

Just don't forget that this will totally reset your TP-Link TL-WDR7661 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 TL-WDR7661

After you are finished resetting your router, you need to login in using the original factory username and password. You can follow the TL-WDR7661 Login Guide to find everything that you need to log in.

Change Your Password

Do not forget to change your router's default password when you log back into it. It is a huge security risk to leave your router's password set to the factory default. You can follow our Choosing a Strong Password guide to help you pick a solid password for your router.

Tip: Write your new password down on a note and tape it to the bottom of your router for future reference.

Other TP-Link TL-WDR7661 Guides

This isn't our only TP-Link TL-WDR7661 guide. We also have the following guides for this router.

This is the reset router guide for the TP-Link TL-WDR7661 1.0 (ZH). We also have the following guides for the same router: