Tracker Pixel for Entry

​Do You have a router in your house?

Culture | September 18th, 2019

I guess I have to assume that most of you do. It is useful when you have more than one computer that you want to connect to the Internet. There are also many other advantages to owning a router but that is a story for another time. This time I want you to know about resetting the router.

A factory reset wipes your router’s custom settings and returns it to a like-new state. This is an important step when troubleshooting some network problems. Factory-resetting is relatively easy, but every router is a bit different.

What Is a Factory Reset, and When Should You Do It?

A reset isn’t the same as a reboot, which people sometimes mistakenly refer to as a “reset.” Just like a PC, a reboot shuts down your router and starts it back up. It’s a good troubleshooting step if your router is acting strangely.

A factory reset, on the other hand, wipes all your data from the router. This includes any passwords, Wi-Fi network details (like your network name (SSID) and passphrase), and any other settings you’ve changed.

Essentially, it’s like you just purchased the router from the factory, hence the name. And that’s the point. If your router is acting strangely and a reboot hasn’t helped—or you think it might have router malware—a factory reset might fix the problem. But there’s no going back, so this shouldn’t be your first troubleshooting step. At the very least, try a reboot first. It might also be a good idea to upgrade your router’s firmware and see if that fixes the problem.

A factory reset is a good idea if you’re selling or disposing of your router. This way, whoever gets your router next can start fresh, without seeing any of your personal information (like your Wi-Fi passphrase.)

Warning: As we explained above, this erases all your router’s custom settings, including its Wi-Fi network passphrase! You’ll have to set it up again.

Nearly every router uses a different admin interface, but that’s ok; you might be able to bypass it entirely. First, look closely at the router—most have a reset button on the back or bottom. You might need an unwound paper clip to press it.

On many routers, if you hold in the button for 10 seconds, it factory resets your router. If that doesn’t work, try the 30-30-30 method:

  • Hold in the button for 30 seconds.
  • Unplug the router for 30 seconds.
  • Plug the router back in.
  • Hold in the reset button for another 30 seconds.

How to Factory Reset a Router via the Web Interface

If your router doesn’t have a reset button, you have to reset it using an option in its configuration interface.

We recommend consulting your router’s manual. You can search the web for your router’s model name and include “manual” to find an online version. The manual will help you connect to your router’s web interface, and also show you where the reset option is.

Unless you have a mesh Wi-Fi system (in which case, you have to use that device’s app to reset it), you usually start by determining the IP address you need to log into your router’s admin interface.

On Windows 10, you can find this by going to Settings > Network & Internet, and then click “View Your Network Properties.” Look for the “Default Gateway” entry—that’s the IP address.

Plug that IP address into your favorite web browser’s address bar and press Enter. You should see your router’s admin interface and a prompt for the username and password. If you’ve never changed your router’s login details, chances are both the username and password are “admin” (without the quotes). If you aren’t sure, try checking a website like routerpasswords.com for your model. You can also find this info in your router’s manual.

From there, dig around to find the factory reset options. They’re different for every router manufacturer (and even vary from model to model). Check any tabs named “Restore,” “System,” or “Settings.”

You can likely save your router’s settings to a file using its web interface, too. After factory-resetting the router, just re-import that file. If those settings were causing a problem, though, restoring the saved settings file might also restore the bug.

Again, resetting your router wipes everything you’ve done to customize it, from Wi-Fi passphrases to your custom DNS server. You’ll essentially have a “fresh out of the box” router again.

Recently in:

By Alicia Underlee Nelsonalicia@hpr1.comDairy Queen restaurants across the country will raise funds for Children’s Miracle Network hospitals during Miracle Treat Day on Thursday, July 31. At least one dollar from every Blizzard…

By Alicia Underlee Nelsonalicia@hpr1.comFM Pride Week returns to the Fargo-Moorhead metro August 3-10. A snapshot of events are listed below. Discover event descriptions and locations as well as volunteer opportunities online at…

September 12-13Brewhalla, 1666 1st Ave N, Fargo Hold onto your hats and step right up to the main event! DrekkerFest 11 kicks off with Timebomb Pro Wrestling on Friday night from 8-10 p.m. Enjoy an evening of suplexes, steel kegs,…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.com I’m going to go ahead and say it. I have trust issues with a lot of things and artificial intelligence (AI) is one of them. Yes, it’s a tool that can sit shotgun and make your everyday tasks…

By Ed Raymondfargogadfly@gmail.comTrump: the new man for all seasonsFive hundred years ago, Lord Chancellor Sir Thomas More of England refused to write a letter to Pope Clement VII of the Roman Catholic Church asking that he annul…

By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com Holiday wine shopping shouldn’t have to be complicated. But unfortunately it can cause unneeded anxiety due to an overabundance of choices. Don’t fret my friends, we once again have you covered…

By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com There seems to be a renaissance in Italian restaurants in the Fargo-Moorhead metro area. It’s a welcome change from just sporting an Olive Garden as a lone option. No offense to Marilyn Hagerty’s…

By John Showalterjohn.d.showalter@gmail.com Bluegrass is a genre of music that is often associated with the American South. Many people would express incredulity at being told there is a thriving bluegrass and folk music community…

By Greg Carlsongregcarlson1@gmail.com “Misericordia” premiered at Cannes in 2024 and is now available to see in the United States on the Criterion Channel and other streaming services. In the sharp and thought-provoking…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.com 2025 marks three years of the Annual Vergas Area Backroads Art Crawl. The art crawl is sponsored by the Vergas Arts Club. The Arts Club also happens to be part of the Vegas Community Club and both…

Alicia Underlee Nelsonalicia@hpr1.comPenn & Teller are returning to their roots. The legendary magic and comedy duo will appear on the Crown Stage at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival in Shakopee, Minnesota, where they first…

By Annie Prafckeannieprafcke@gmail.com AUSTIN, Texas – As a Chinese-American, connecting to my culture through food is essential, and no dish brings me back to my mother’s kitchen quite like hotdish. Yes, you heard me right –…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comNew Jamestown Brewery Serves up Local FlavorThere’s something delicious brewing out here on the prairie and it just so happens to be the newest brewery west of the Red River and east of the…

By Dr. Marc Sapir, MD, MPHjessica@pellienpublicrelations.com Across America, families are quietly struggling with a rising challenge: how to care for aging parents, siblings, grandparents, neighbors and friends. Most seniors want…

By Alicia Underlee NelsonProtests against President Trump’s policies and the cuts made by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are planned across North Dakota and western Minnesota Friday, April 4 and…

By Vern Thompsonvern.thompson@rocketmail.com Working in the Bakken oil fields of the Williston Basin is so different from my home in Fargo. I'm not judging, because the people working and living in western North Dakota are very…