This is the reset guide for the ZyXEL ZyWALL-USG50 router. A router reset is a much bigger deal than a router reboot. Turning a router off and back on again causes a reboot. This is very different from a reset, which erases a router completely and returns it to factory default settings.
Warning: Proceed with caution; resetting your router can be a major headache. A router reset will affect the following settings:
- The router's login credentials are reset to factory defaults.
- All WiFi information such as network name, password, and authentication method are erased.
- If your router has any ISP settings they will be removed, and you will have to contact your ISP.
- All parental controls, firewall settings, and port forwards will be removed.
A router reset is the last step you should take in recovering your router's password. Before you reset your router, you may want to try recovering your router password with our Router Password Finder.
Other ZyXEL ZyWALL-USG50 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 ZyXEL ZyWALL-USG50. We also have the following guides for the same router:
Recover Password in ZyXEL ZyWALL-USG50
Before you resort to doing a full router reset, you may want to 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 - Lost or Forgotten Router Password Recovery Tool
Only after you have tried to recover your missing router username and password should you perform a full router reset.
Reset the ZyXEL ZyWALL-USG50
Don't forget to sign up for NordVPN's promo deal before it's gone.
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. This is what a typical reset button looks like:
Even though yours may look slightly different, you need to look for a tiny button. 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. You can hold the button down as long as you like, it will not hurt anything.
Remember, this will totally reset your ZyXEL ZyWALL-USG50 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 ZyXEL ZyWALL-USG50
After you are finished resetting your router, you need to login in using the original factory username and password. We have a ZyWALL-USG50 Login Guide with all this information ready for you.
Change Your Password
After logging in to your router for the first time, you need to change your router's password. Leaving a router password set to default is a very serious security risk. Our Choosing a Strong Password guide can help you pick a strong password for your router.
Tip: After creating this new password, we highly recommend writing this down on a post-it note and attaching it to the bottom of your router for future reference.
Other ZyXEL ZyWALL-USG50 Guides
If you want additional help with your ZyXEL ZyWALL-USG50 be sure to check out some of our other guides.
This is the reset router guide for the ZyXEL ZyWALL-USG50. We also have the following guides for the same router: