How to Reset Your Router: Soft Reset vs Factory Reset

When your router starts acting up — dropping connections, running slow, or refusing to cooperate — a reset is often the fastest fix. But “resetting” your router can mean two very different things, and choosing the wrong one can cause more work than the original problem. Here’s everything you need to know.

Soft Reset vs. Factory Reset: The Key Difference

A soft reset (also called a power cycle or reboot) simply restarts your router. It clears temporary memory and refreshes the connection to your ISP — without touching any of your settings. Your WiFi name, password, and custom configurations all stay exactly as they were.

A factory reset (hard reset) wipes the router back to its out-of-the-box state. Every custom setting is erased: your WiFi network name (SSID), WiFi password, admin credentials, port forwarding rules, static IP assignments, DNS servers, parental controls — all gone. You’ll need to set everything up from scratch.

Think of it this way: a soft reset is like restarting your phone. A factory reset is like wiping it and selling it.

When to Use Each Type of Reset

Use a Soft Reset When…

• Your internet is suddenly slow or intermittent
• One or more devices can’t connect to WiFi
• The router has been running for weeks without a reboot
• You’re troubleshooting minor glitches or connectivity hiccups

Use a Factory Reset When…

• You’ve forgotten the router admin password and can’t log in
• Your router may have been compromised by malware
• A firmware update caused a severe configuration problem
• You’re selling or giving away the router
• A soft reset and other troubleshooting steps haven’t resolved the issue

How to Do a Soft Reset (Power Cycle)

This is always your first step — it’s quick, risk-free, and fixes the majority of common router problems.

1. Unplug the router from its power outlet (or press the power button if it has one).
2. Wait 30 seconds. This lets the router’s capacitors fully discharge and clears its RAM.
3. Plug it back in and wait for it to fully restart. Most routers take 1–3 minutes to reconnect to your ISP.
4. Test your connection. Run a speed test to confirm everything is back to normal.

Many routers also have a software reboot option inside the admin panel (usually at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1). This is equivalent to unplugging and is useful if the router is in a hard-to-reach spot.

How to Do a Factory Reset

Only do this when you’ve exhausted other options, since you’ll need to reconfigure your entire network afterward.

Method 1: The Physical Reset Button

1. Make sure the router is powered on. The reset only works when the device is running.
2. Find the reset button. It’s usually a small recessed hole on the back or bottom of the router, labeled “Reset.” You’ll need a pin, paperclip, or SIM-ejector tool to press it.
3. Hold the button for 10–15 seconds until the router’s lights flash, change color, or the device begins to reboot. Some models require holding for up to 30 seconds.
4. Release and wait. The router will restart and restore factory defaults. This takes 2–5 minutes.
5. Log in with factory defaults. The default admin username and password are printed on the label on the bottom or back of the router.

Method 2: Via the Admin Panel

If you can still access the router’s web interface, a software factory reset is easier. The exact path varies by brand:

• ASUS: Administration → Restore/Save/Upload Setting → Restore
• NETGEAR: Advanced → Administration → Backup Settings → Erase
• TP-Link: System Tools → Factory Defaults → Restore
• Linksys: Troubleshooting → Diagnostics → Factory Reset
• D-Link: Tools → System → Restore Device

Many brands also have companion apps (TP-Link Tether, Netgear Nighthawk, Eero, ASUS Router) with a factory reset option under Settings.

After a Factory Reset: What to Do Next

Once your router is back to factory defaults, you’ll need to reconfigure it. Here’s the checklist:

1. Log in with default credentials from the router label and immediately change the admin password to something unique and strong.
2. Set your WiFi name (SSID) and password. Use WPA3 if your router supports it, or WPA2-AES at minimum. See our guide on how to secure your WiFi network for best-practice settings.
3. Check for firmware updates. Go to the firmware or update section of the admin panel and install the latest version. New firmware patches security vulnerabilities and often improves performance.
4. Reconnect your devices. All devices will have forgotten the network (since the name and password changed), so you’ll need to reconnect each one.
5. Restore custom settings like port forwarding, static IPs, or parental controls if you need them. Some routers let you back up settings to a file before resetting — if you have that backup, you can restore it now instead of reconfiguring manually.

Tips to Avoid Needing a Factory Reset

Most factory resets happen because of forgotten passwords or firmware-related issues. You can prevent both:

• Store your admin credentials in a password manager (Bitwarden, 1Password) so you never lose them.
• Enable automatic firmware updates if your router supports it, so you stay current without manual effort.
• Schedule a weekly soft reboot at 3 AM through the router’s scheduler — this prevents the memory buildup that causes gradual slowdowns and is much safer than a factory reset.

If your router needs a factory reset because of persistent slowdowns, it may be worth considering an upgrade instead of starting from scratch. Check out our guide to the best WiFi routers of 2026 to see what modern hardware can do.