Like other products in the category, NETGEAR routers can also come across multiple issues. One of them is when you forget the password of the Wi-Fi network or the login credentials. In these instances, you have to reset your NETGEAR router to factory settings. Don’t worry if you are confused about the process. I have put everything you need to know together in this guide.
Why Router Needs Factory Reset
Your NETGEAR router may need a factory reset under the following circumstances.
- You forgot the password for the NETGEAR Wi-Fi router, and none of your devices are connected. In this case, a factory reset will restore the default Wi-Fi network SSID and password.
- If you are facing connectivity issues with the NETGEAR router, a factory reset will definitely help you sort things out. It is often considered the last resort.
- You are planning to sell your NETGEAR router to someone else, and you want to remove all traces of data from the device.
- From a security and privacy perspective, a factory reset can give a clean slate for your NETGEAR Wi-Fi router. I recommend doing this once in a while.
- You may have to factory reset a NETGEAR router when you move from one ISP to another. This clean state method will simplify configuration.
- An unfortunate incident firmware update error may also compel you to factory reset your NETGEAR router.
However, you should not rush into the process.
Things To Do Before Factory Reset
You can’t do many things if you are factory resetting the router due to a forgotten password. You just need access to the router label or the package. This is where you’d find the default SSID and password for the Wi-Fi network. You should also know the default login credentials for the router dashboard if you want to modify network settings later.
However, you should keep a few things in mind if you are doing it as an additional security/privacy measure.
Let’s say that you want a clean slate but don’t like to go through the ordeal of configuration. In this case, you can log in to the router dashboard, navigate to Settings, and back up the router settings. This way, after you factory reset the NETGEAR router, you can restore these settings, saving a lot of time.
In addition, make sure that:
- Your Wi-Fi router has access to uninterrupted power to avoid issues during the process.
- If possible, update the NETGEAR router to the latest available firmware version.
- Use the original power adaptor that you received with the router to avoid issues.
Reset Netgear Router to Factory Setting
We will now look at how you can reset the NETGEAR router to factory settings.
Depending on the router model and category, you might have to go through different steps. First, I will try to explain the steps you need to follow to factory reset one of the conventional Netgear routers.
- Disconnect Ethernet and other cables from your NETGEAR router. You only need power to reset the Wi-Fi router.
- Now, locate the Reset button on the NETGEAR router. This will be close to the I/O panel of the router on the back.
- Some models have an actual button that protrudes from the base. It could also be underneath, which needs a pointy object to activate. I typically use SIM ejector tools for this purpose.
- Press and hold the Reset button for at least 10 to 15 seconds unless all the indicator lights on the Wi-Fi router start flashing.
Be patient and wait until the lights are back to static. At this point, the NETGEAR router would have finished the factory reset process. Now, you can connect to the default Wi-Fi network using the given password.
NETGEAR Orbi
Even if you have a NETGEAR Orbi router, you can use the Reset button method to factory reset your router. You need to press and hold the Reset button for 15-30 minutes, though.
When the device is back on, you can use either the Orbi app or the web-based login interface to configure the network.
NETGEAR Nighthawk
Similar to routers from the Orbi series, NETGEAR Nighthawk routers also ship with a Reset button. You can use it to factory reset the router and start everything again from the start.
In this case, however, you’d want to use the NETGEAR Nighthawk app to manage the configuration. You can also use the web-based interface.
What if Factory Reset Doesn’t Work
In most cases, doing a factory reset of your router should do the job. It should give you access back to the default Wi-Fi network and, thus, the router itself.
However, due to some special issues, the factory reset may not work as you expect it to. For instance, if you are unable to access the router due to a firmware error, the error may have impacted the Reset function as well. In these cases, the Reset button may not help you. I recommend power cycling the router a few times and trying again.
But if it doesn’t solve the problem, you are better off contacting NETGEAR support. They will be able to offer you dedicated solutions based on the exact problem that you are having.
Conclusion
I hope this guide helped you reset the NETGEAR router to factory settings and solve the problem. To add to the point I made, you should factory reset your router at least once a year. This process will help you get rid of junk/log files and get your router back to a spotless condition.
