Setup Router logo in white Setup router name logo in white
Get Software

Reset the TP-Link TL-WR1043ND

Thumbnail image of Setup Router Staff
Setup Router Staff
Last Updated: | Reading Time: 4 minutes

If you need to reset your TP-Link TL-WR1043ND router back to factory settings, then this article shows you how. Resetting a router is different than rebooting a router. Every time your router loses power it reboots. This is very different from a reset, which erases a router completely and returns it to factory default 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 username and password are reset to factory defaults.
  • Your WiFi name and password are reset.
  • Your ISP username and password will be reset, and 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. Make sure that you have tried to recover your router password using our Router Password Finder first.

Other TP-Link TL-WR1043ND 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-WR1043ND v2 Kibosh. We also have the following guides for the same router:

Recover Password in TP-Link TL-WR1043ND

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 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 TL-WR1043ND

Don't forget to sign up for NordVPN's promo deal before it's gone.

NordVPN faster than ever deal!

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.

Most routers have a small button on either the back or the bottom. Look for something that looks like this:

Router Reset Button

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. Notice how the lights on the front of the router are blinking. When the lights do something different, the router is reset. It is harmless to hold the reset button too long.

Remember, this will erase everything you have previously done to this TP-Link TL-WR1043ND 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-WR1043ND

After you are finished resetting your router, you need to login in using the original factory username and password. You can follow the TL-WR1043ND Login Guide to find everything that you need to log in.

Change Your Password

After logging in, you should really change your router's password for added security. Since factory passwords are well known, it's a huge security risk to leave your router set to the 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-WR1043ND Guides

If you want additional help with your TP-Link TL-WR1043ND be sure to check out some of our other guides.

This is the reset router guide for the TP-Link TL-WR1043ND v2 Kibosh. We also have the following guides for the same router: