Have you ever found yourself wondering, “Why is my internet not working?” You’ve disconnected all your devices, restarted them, even forgotten and rejoined your Wi-Fi network, and still, nothing. No connection. No fix. No relief. 

If this sounds familiar, the problem may not be your devices at all. It could be your router. When your router isn’t properly sending the internet signal to your devices, all the troubleshooting in the world on your phone or laptop won’t make a difference. But luckily, you’re in the right place. 

Whether your router just needs a quick refresh, like a soft reboot or a full-blown reset aka a hard reboot, or you don’t know what your modem and router lights mean, we’ve got you covered. Rebooting (or resetting) your router can often solve the issue, and in some cases, even improve the internet speed and performance in your home. 

Let’s walk through everything step-by-step to help you restart your router, get reconnected, and get back to doing what you love online. 

For starters, what exactly is the difference between a soft router reset and a hard router reset? We’ll break in down in a few simple categories: 

Purpose 

Effect 

Example 

Let’s start with a soft router reset. The purpose of conducting a soft reset or reboot is to fix minor issues. This will help clear your router's temporary memory of RAM. 

When you conduct a soft reset, it will clear your temporary files and your cached data, while keeping your personalized settings like your password and your customer network name. An example of this would be if you’re experiencing something like a sluggish internet connection or if your devices can’t connect to your network for whatever reason, you would do a quick reboot to help remedy this issue. A bit further down, we’ll get into how to perform a soft reset. 

Next, we have a hard router reset, or a factory reset. The purpose of conducting a factory reset is to restore your router to its original state. Similar to when you originally took it out of the box. If you decide to do a factory reset, your router reverts to its factory defaults. That means all of your custom settings like passwords, network name and more will be erased. 

For example, if you’ve forgotten your Wi-Fi password or suspect there’s spyware on your network, a hard reset is necessary. This type of reset erases your current settings, including your password, and allows you to start fresh by reconfiguring your network from scratch. 

To put it simply: a soft reset is like dying in a video game and restarting from your last saved checkpoint, your progress is mostly intact. A hard reset, on the other hand, is like taking an old PS2 memory card and smashing it to pieces. The console still works, but everything saved on that card is gone. You’ll have to start the game from level one, rebuilding everything from the ground up.

The steps to perform a reboot are a bit easy. To perform a quick reboot, you need to: 

Unplug your router’s power cord. Remember to unplug it from your router and your power outlet 

Wait 30 seconds. This is actually a big step as it allows your routers' capacitors to discharge. 

Plug your power cord and your router’s cord back in. 

Now give your router at least 5 minutes to boot up and reconnect to the internet. 

And that’s it. Once your router is back online, test your internets connection to see if the reboot resolved your issues. If it didn’t then it may be time to factory reset your router. 

On the flip side of a quick reboot comes the hard router reset, or a factory reset. This takes a bit more time and it carries more weight. Resetting puts the router in a default state before any changes were made to it, which includes reinstating the default router password, clearing the Wi-Fi password, deleting custom DNS servers, and more. So, here’s how we factory reset: 

Locate your reset button. Most routers have small buttons, usually recessed on the back or bottom. Sometimes this button is red and sometimes it's the same color as the router so it may be tricky to find at first glance. 

Using a paper clip or something small enough to get to the button, press and hold the reset button for 15-30 seconds while your router is still plugged in and powered on. 

Release and wait after the hold. Your router will restart automatically. 

Once your router is back online, you will need to reconfigure your network. That’s means setting a new password and a new network name (SSID). 

Once that hard reset is done, most if not all of your internet’s issues should be resolved.  

If rebooting doesn’t work, follow more specific troubleshooting methods for network or internet issues. Otherwise, look closer at the network setup inside your home and contact your ISP for help. 

What does it mean to really reconfigure your router. First things first, you should look at the sticker on your router, usually at the bottom of the router to get the original network ID and password. This will allow you to reconnect to your network. Once that is done, you’ll have the capability to update your router’s name and password to your desired login information for your devices, as well as your guests. Lastly, you’ll need to update other settings like parental controls, quality of service (QoS), and your firewall settings.  

Once you have reset your router and reconfigured your network, you will need to reconnect every device that was connected prior. This is very simple. With your newly reconfigured network in place, manually enter your login credentials and verify all devices connected to be safe and secure. 

Now that the hard part is done and you’ve either completed a soft or hard router reset, you can do the preventative work necessary to mitigate future resets in the future. Here are 5 quick steps to follow to limit you having to reset your router: 

Select Central Location: Make sure your router is in a central location away from any obstructions to get the best, most seamless connection to your devices. 

Ensure Power Supply: Make sure your router is connected to a fully functioning power supply, so it can receive the correct voltage and current to perform the tasks it needs to, properly. 

Limit Number of Devices: Your router, like many things, can overload or become heavily congested, so limit the number of devices connected to your router. If temporary, remove devices from your router. 

Update Firmware: Log into your router's administration interface and make sure all updates have been run. 

Restart router periodically: By restarting your router periodically, you clear unnecessary cache that may slow your device down. 

Resetting your router can be surprisingly beneficial for your network. Think of it like giving your system a fresh start; it helps maintain stability and improve overall efficiency. Regularly resetting your router can even boost your internet speeds by clearing out redundant data and refreshing the connections between your devices and the network. Still having issues? Learn how to troubleshoot common WiFi problems at home beyond just resetting your router. 

Resetting your router can be a game-changer when it comes to fixing connectivity problems and enhancing network performance. In this guide, we’ve walked through when and why you should reset your router, what effects it has, and how to do it safely and effectively. 

Just remember, after a reset, it’s important to reconfigure any necessary settings, check for firmware updates, and place your router in an optimal location. These extra steps help ensure your network stays fast, stable, and reliable. 

A quick reset might be all it takes to get you back online and surfing smoothly. Still seeing slowdowns even after resetting? It may be time for an upgrade. See if you’re experiencing signs that your router needs replacing. 

FAQ

What happens when I reset my router to factory settings?

When you perform a factory reset on your router, you're restoring it to its original, out-of-the-box state. This wipes all personalized settings, including your Wi-Fi network name (SSID), password, router login credentials, and any custom configurations like port forwarding, static IPs, or parental controls.

Will I lose my Wi-Fi name and password after a factory reset?

Yes. Your custom Wi-Fi network name and password will be erased and replaced with the default settings printed on your router label. After the reset, you’ll need to set up a new network name and password.

Does resetting the router change the admin username and password?

Absolutely. A factory reset will restore the router's admin username and password to their default values—often something like "admin" and "password." You’ll need to log in with these credentials after the reset, then update them to something more secure.

What personalized settings will I lose after a reset?

All of them. This includes:

Port forwarding or triggering rules

Static IP address assignments

Firewall configurations

Parental control settings

Any other advanced network customizations

Is resetting the same as rebooting my router?

No. Rebooting simply restarts your router without changing any settings. Resetting, on the other hand, wipes all configurations and returns the router to its factory state.

Can I back up my router settings before resetting?

In many cases, yes. Some routers offer a backup feature within their admin interface that allows you to save your current settings. This is helpful if you plan to restore your setup after the reset.

Should I contact my internet provider before I reset?

It’s a good idea, especially if your router was provided by your ISP. Some providers configure routers with special settings that could be lost during a reset. Contacting them ensures you won’t accidentally lose your internet connection or miss important setup steps.