Router · Reset guide
How to reset Router
Sources checked · how we check
Every router has a reset button, but the hold time and the light that confirms it differ by brand. Find the brand on the label, restart first, and only then reset.
01 · Start here
Restart before erasing your setup
- Restart before resetting. eero, for example, recommends unplugging the router, waiting 30 seconds and plugging it back in before trying a reset.
Source: eero: reboot or reset your eero
02 · Factory reset
How to factory reset Router
Before you confirm
A factory reset erases your Wi-Fi name, password and internet settings, and every device in the home will need to reconnect.
NETGEAR
Reset button · seven seconds
- With the Power light on, hold the Reset button with a paper clip for seven seconds.
TP-Link
Reset button · more than 10 seconds
- With the router on, hold Reset or WPS/Reset until the SYS LED changes from a slow flash to a quick flash.
ASUS
RESET button · 5–10 seconds
- Hold RESET until the power LED starts to flash.
Linksys Dual-Band WiFi Router
Reset button underneath · 10–20 seconds
- Hold the Reset button on the bottom of the router for 10 to 20 seconds.
Source: Linksys: reset the Dual-Band WiFi Router to factory defaults
eero
Reset button · about 15 seconds
- Hold the reset button until the LED flashes red, then release.
Source: eero: reboot or reset your eero
Spectrum WiFi 6 Router
Side-panel Reset · 15 seconds or more
- Hold Reset for 15 seconds or more. A 4–14 second hold only reboots it.
After the reset
Log in with the default details printed on the router's label, then set up the internet connection and Wi-Fi again.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I hold the reset button on a router?
It depends on the brand: seven seconds on NETGEAR, more than 10 on TP-Link, 5 to 10 on ASUS, about 15 on eero, and 15 or more on the Spectrum WiFi 6 Router.
Is restarting a router the same as resetting it?
No. A restart keeps your settings. A factory reset erases the Wi-Fi name, password and internet settings.