# How to Reset a Router: Reboot vs. Factory Reset > How to reset a router: reboot first, since it keeps your settings. A factory reset erases your Wi-Fi name and password. Steps for NETGEAR, TP-Link, ASUS, eero. - URL: https://wifiweekly.com/guides/reset-router/ - Type: Guide - Topic: How-To & Fixes - Author: Tehseen Arbab - Published: 2026-11-04 - Last updated: 2026-11-04 - Publisher: WiFi Weekly (https://wifiweekly.com/) ## Short answer For most router problems, start with a reboot: turn it off, wait 30 seconds and turn it back on. NETGEAR says your Wi-Fi settings are saved when you reboot. Save a factory reset for when a reboot doesn't help or you're locked out, because it erases your custom settings, including your Wi-Fi name and password, and you'll have to set the router up again. ## Key takeaways - Reboot first. NETGEAR's steps are: power off, wait 30 seconds, power on. eero says to unplug, wait 30 seconds and plug back in. Your settings stay. - A factory reset can't be undone (TP-Link's words). It erases your Wi-Fi name, password and admin login, and ASUS says all current settings are deleted, so save your internet (ISP) settings first. - Before a factory reset, save a configuration backup if your router offers one, and note any ISP account name and password your connection uses. - Hold times differ by brand: NETGEAR 7 seconds, ASUS 5 to 10 seconds, TP-Link more than 10 seconds, rented Xfinity XB2/XB3 gateways 30 seconds. eero has a soft reset (yellow light) and a hard reset (red light, about 15 seconds). - Restarting the main router takes your network offline while it restarts (eero says so for its gateway). Xfinity says a gateway restart can take up to 12 minutes. --- To reset a router, start with a reboot: turn it off, wait 30 seconds and turn it back on. That's NETGEAR's power-cycle procedure, and NETGEAR says "all of your WiFi settings are saved when you reboot your router." Only move to a factory reset if a reboot doesn't fix the problem, you're locked out of the router's settings, or you're giving the router away. A factory reset erases your custom settings, including your Wi-Fi name, Wi-Fi password and admin login, so afterward you'll have to set the router up again, and devices won't reconnect until you restore the same Wi-Fi name and password or rejoin them. The steps below come from NETGEAR, TP-Link, ASUS, eero and Xfinity support pages. Button hold times differ by brand and sometimes by model, so if your router's manual says something different, follow the manual. ## Reboot vs. factory reset: what each one does | | Reboot (power cycle) | Factory reset | |---|---|---| | How | Power button, unplug, or a Restart option in the app | Hold the reset button, or use a Restore option in the settings | | Wi-Fi name and password | Kept | Erased, back to the defaults | | Admin login | Kept | Back to the default | | Internet (ISP) settings | Kept | Erased with all other settings, per ASUS; save them first | | Port forwarding, reservations, parental controls | Kept | Erased (an eero soft reset keeps these) | | When to use it | First step for most problems | Locked out, persistent problems after a reboot, selling or passing on the router | | Can you undo it? | Nothing to undo | No, unless you saved a configuration backup | Words get mixed up here. People often say "reset" when they mean reboot. If someone tells you to reset your router, ask whether they mean unplugging it or pressing the reset button. ## How to reboot a router The general method works for nearly any router: 1. Turn the router off with its power button, or unplug its power cable. 2. Wait 30 seconds. NETGEAR and eero both use 30 seconds; Xfinity says to wait one minute for its gateways. 3. Turn it back on and wait for the lights to settle before testing. If you have a separate modem and router, you can restart both. Some brand-specific notes: - **eero:** You can restart a single eero from the Home tab in the eero app (tap the eero, then Restart), unplug it for 30 seconds, or press its reset button once. eero warns that "if you restart your gateway eero, it'll take your eero network offline." - **Xfinity rented gateways:** In the Xfinity app, go to WiFi, then Troubleshoot, then "Restart your Gateway." Xfinity says the restart "takes up to 12 minutes." The manual alternative is to unplug the gateway, wait one minute and plug it back in. If a reboot fixes a problem that keeps coming back, it's worth finding the cause. Our guides to [Wi-Fi that keeps disconnecting](https://wifiweekly.com/guides/wifi-keeps-disconnecting/) and [slow Wi-Fi](https://wifiweekly.com/guides/how-to-fix-slow-wifi/) walk through the usual suspects. ## Before you factory reset: three things to save TP-Link puts it plainly: "A factory reset cannot be undone, so it's worth taking a moment to prepare." Before you press the button: 1. **Save a configuration backup if your router offers one.** TP-Link routers have a Backup and Restore page, and TP-Link says that if you backed up your configuration first, you can reload it from the same page after the reset. 2. **Write down your internet connection details.** ASUS says that if your internet connection needs an account, password or special settings, you should "save the information in advance or ask your Internet Service Provider (ISP) first." If you never typed an internet username or password into your router, this probably doesn't apply to you. 3. **Note any add-on services.** NETGEAR says you must "manually reactivate Armor or Smart Parental Controls (SPC) services after performing a factory reset." Also note your Wi-Fi name and password if you want to set them back to the same values, so your devices reconnect without being set up again. If your router doubles as a smart home or security hub, check what a reset does to that too. eero warns that hard resetting a Ring Alarm Pro "will also hard reset the Ring Alarm platform," including connected Z-Wave devices. ## How to factory reset a router, by brand NETGEAR and TP-Link both say the router should be powered on while you hold the button. The reset button is usually recessed, so use a straightened paper clip. ### NETGEAR routers Check that the Power light is on, then press and hold the **Restore Factory Settings** or **Reset** button for seven seconds and release it. NETGEAR says a factory reset "deletes all personalized settings including your user name, password," along with your Wi-Fi name and security settings. Its reset article gives **admin** and **password** as the login afterward. NETGEAR cable modems and modem routers work the same way: hold the reset button for about seven seconds. NETGEAR says to remove any USB drive connected to a modem router first. ### TP-Link routers Press and hold the **Reset** or **WPS/Reset** button for more than 10 seconds, and release it when the SYS light changes from a slow flash to a quick flash. TP-Link says the router must stay powered on during the process. You can also reset from the router's web settings: go to **Advanced > System Tools** (or **System**) **> Backup and Restore** and choose **Factory Restore**. That's the same page where you can save a backup first. ### ASUS routers Press and hold the **RESET** button for 5 to 10 seconds, until the power light starts to flash. The lights go off while the router restarts; when they come back on, the reset is done. From the web settings, go to **Administration > Restore/Save/Upload Setting** and click **Restore**. ASUS says "all current settings will be deleted," so save your internet (ISP) settings first. ### eero eero has two kinds of reset, and the difference matters: - **Soft reset:** Hold the reset button until the light flashes yellow, no longer than 8 seconds. eero says this keeps the eero on your network and "saves its logs and advanced settings such as IP reservations and port forwarding configurations." - **Hard reset:** Hold the reset button until the light flashes red, about 15 seconds. eero says this "will factory reset your eero, clear all user data and logs, and remove the eero from your network." You'll set it up again in the app. eero says to make sure the eero has been on for at least 90 seconds, with an internet connection, before rebooting or resetting it. ### Xfinity rented gateways (XB2 and XB3) Xfinity says to press and hold the reset button on the back of the gateway for 30 seconds with a paper clip or pin. The lights flash, then turn solid when it's ready. A factory reset "will erase your custom settings (like WiFi name and password)," so reconnect using the default Wi-Fi name and password on the label on the bottom of the gateway. Xfinity's article covers rented XB2 and XB3 gateways only; for a modem or router you bought yourself, follow its maker's instructions. For other provider-rented gateways, check your provider's support page before you reset, since its steps and defaults may differ from the ones here. ## After a factory reset 1. **Connect to the default network.** Use the Wi-Fi name and password on the router's label, or plug in a computer with an Ethernet cable. 2. **Run setup again,** in the router's app or web settings. Re-enter any ISP login details you saved. 3. **Change the default admin password and Wi-Fi password straight away.** Our [router hardening checklist](https://wifiweekly.com/guides/router-hardening-checklist/) covers the settings worth changing in the first 15 minutes. 4. **Restore your backup or rebuild custom settings,** such as port forwarding and DHCP reservations. 5. **Reactivate add-on services** such as NETGEAR Armor or parental controls. If you set the same Wi-Fi name and password as before, many devices should reconnect on their own. If you change either one, plan to rejoin each device, including smart home gear. ## Sources and verification | Important claim | Source | Status | |---|---|---| | Power off, wait 30 seconds, power on; Wi-Fi settings are saved on reboot; factory reset as next step | [NETGEAR KB 000061793](https://kb.netgear.com/000061793/How-do-I-power-cycle-or-reboot-my-NETGEAR-router) | Verified | | NETGEAR factory reset: hold 7 seconds; deletes personalized settings; admin/password login; reactivate Armor/SPC | [NETGEAR KB 9665](https://kb.netgear.com/9665/How-do-I-perform-a-factory-reset-on-my-NETGEAR-router) | Verified | | NETGEAR cable modem reset: about 7 seconds; remove USB drive | [NETGEAR KB 000038536](https://kb.netgear.com/000038536/How-do-I-reset-my-NETGEAR-cable-modem-or-modem-router) | Verified | | TP-Link: more than 10 seconds, SYS LED quick flash, stay powered; can't be undone; Backup and Restore page | [TP-Link FAQ 497](https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/faq/497/) | Verified | | ASUS: 5 to 10 seconds; Administration > Restore/Save/Upload Setting; all settings deleted; save ISP details first | [ASUS FAQ 1000925](https://www.asus.com/us/support/faq/1000925/) | Verified | | eero: unplug 30 seconds; gateway restart takes network offline; soft reset (yellow, ≤8 s) keeps settings; hard reset (red, ~15 s) erases and removes; Ring Alarm Pro warning | [eero support](https://eero.com/support/articles/215473703-How-do-I-reboot-or-reset-my-eero) | Verified | | Xfinity: restart in app, up to 12 minutes; unplug one minute | [Xfinity restart article](https://www.xfinity.com/support/articles/troubleshooting-your-cable-modem) | Verified | | Xfinity XB2/XB3: hold 30 seconds; erases Wi-Fi name and password; default credentials on label | [Xfinity factory reset article](https://www.xfinity.com/support/articles/factory-reset-xfinity-gateway) | Verified | ## Bottom line Reboot first: off, 30 seconds, on. It fixes many problems and costs you nothing. Factory reset only when you need a clean slate, and before you do, save a backup, write down your ISP login if you have one, and know which add-on services you'll need to turn back on. Then change the default passwords as soon as the router is back up. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is unplugging a router the same as resetting it? No. Unplugging it and plugging it back in is a reboot (power cycle), which keeps your settings. A factory reset is done with the reset button or a menu option and erases your custom settings. Some guides say 'reset' when they mean reboot, so check which one you're being told to do. ### How long should I leave a router unplugged? NETGEAR and eero both say 30 seconds. Xfinity says to wait one minute for its gateways, and that its restart can take up to 12 minutes to finish. ### Will a factory reset make my internet faster? Not by itself. It returns the router to its default settings; it doesn't change your plan or your provider's network. If a bad setting was causing the slowdown, a reset clears it, but so would finding and changing that setting. ### What's the default password after a factory reset? It depends on the router. NETGEAR's reset article gives admin and password as the login. Xfinity says to use the default Wi-Fi name and password printed on the label on the bottom of its gateway. Check the label on your router, then change the defaults straight away. ### Should I factory reset a router before selling it? Yes. A factory reset removes your Wi-Fi name, password and other personal settings. For eero, a hard reset also removes the eero from your network. ## Sources - How do I power cycle or reboot my NETGEAR router?, NETGEAR: https://kb.netgear.com/000061793/How-do-I-power-cycle-or-reboot-my-NETGEAR-router - How do I perform a factory reset on my NETGEAR router?, NETGEAR: https://kb.netgear.com/9665/How-do-I-perform-a-factory-reset-on-my-NETGEAR-router - How do I reset my NETGEAR cable modem or modem router?, NETGEAR: https://kb.netgear.com/000038536/How-do-I-reset-my-NETGEAR-cable-modem-or-modem-router - How to Factory Reset Your TP-Link Router, TP-Link: https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/faq/497/ - [Wireless Router] How to reset the router to factory default setting?, ASUS: https://www.asus.com/us/support/faq/1000925/ - How do I reboot or reset my eero?, eero: https://eero.com/support/articles/215473703-How-do-I-reboot-or-reset-my-eero - How to restart your Xfinity Gateway, Xfinity: https://www.xfinity.com/support/articles/troubleshooting-your-cable-modem - Factory reset an Xfinity Gateway (XB2 or XB3), Xfinity: https://www.xfinity.com/support/articles/factory-reset-xfinity-gateway