Locked out of your own router because you changed the admin password and forgot it? When no login works, the answer is a factory reset — it restores the router to its sticker defaults so you can get back in and set everything up fresh.
Before you reset — try these first
- Check the sticker. If you never actually changed the admin password, the factory login on the router’s underside still works.
- Try the common defaults for your brand — see default router passwords.
- Check your provider’s app. Xfinity, and some others, let you manage the router (and reset the password) from their phone app without touching the device.
How to factory reset a router
- Find the recessed Reset button — a small hole on the back or bottom.
- With the router powered on, press it with a paperclip and hold for about 10 seconds.
- The lights blink and the router reboots — this can take a couple of minutes.
- It’s now back to factory settings: log in with the sticker’s default username and password.
What a reset erases
A factory reset wipes everything you customized: the admin password, your WiFi name and password, port forwarding, parental controls, and any guest networks. After resetting you’ll set up the WiFi again from scratch, and every device will need the new (default, then changed) WiFi password. It’s a clean slate, not a password-only recovery — so use it only when nothing else gets you in.
After the reset
Log in at 192.168.1.1 with the default credentials, immediately set a new admin password, then change your WiFi password to something strong. Write both down somewhere safe this time.
How do I reset a router I'm locked out of?
Hold the recessed Reset button with a paperclip for about 10 seconds while the router is on. It reboots to factory defaults, and the sticker login works again.
Does resetting the router delete my WiFi settings?
Yes — a factory reset erases the admin password, WiFi name and password, and all custom settings. You set them up again afterward from the default login.
Is there a way to recover the password without resetting?
Sometimes — check the router sticker, try brand defaults, or use your provider’s app (like Xfinity) which can manage the router without a reset.
How long do I hold the reset button?
About 10 seconds, until the lights blink and the router restarts. Releasing too early may only reboot it without resetting to defaults.