Hello, dear readers of the WiFi Guide portal! Today we will talk about a rather rare but important problem - what to do if the router settings are lost. This is exactly the question that came to my email this morning. Here you can gently clarify whether they really reset. Perhaps it just seems that way to you. Just in case, I would just reboot it. To do this, find the on and off button and press it twice.
If you are afraid of pressing somewhere in the wrong place, just unplug it from the socket and insert it back. After that, check the connection. I’ll say right away that you can reset the settings only by holding down the Reset button on the router. Precisely holding it for exactly 10 seconds. Many models have child protection, that is, if the button is pressed longer or less, the reset will not occur.
If you accidentally clicked on it once, then don’t be afraid. So first of all, check your connection, internet and Wi-Fi connection. Connect to your wireless network from your phone, tablet, or laptop using your old password. It also sometimes happens that people enter their password incorrectly and begin to think that it has been reset.
What actions to perform before resetting
Before restoring factory settings, the following measures are carried out:
- Record names and access codes to all networks. In settings mode, this information is in clear form. Passwords and names are copied into a separate text document. To increase reliability, you can use the Backup function located in the “System Tools” tab. Select the “Backup and Restore” option. Information can be displayed through the “Settings file” section.
- Change the username and password in the router web interface. Almost all manufacturers set standard values. This increases the likelihood of unauthorized access to data. The default values are replaced with more complex ones. To do this, open the System Tools section and enter new information. Log in to your account using the specified login and password.
- Update the router software. The firmware version can be viewed on the bottom of the case. Updates for the desired device model are downloaded from the developers’ website. During downloading, disconnect the Internet cable. Go to the router interface, open the “System tools” section, “Software update” item. Drag the previously downloaded file into the field and confirm the action.
Dynamic IP - automatic network settings of the provider via DHCP
If you receive automatic network settings, then select Dynamic IP and click Next .
In the SSID , enter the name of the access point for connecting via Wi-Fi.
In the Wireless Security , specify the encryption type WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK
In the PSK Password field: enter the password to access the Wi-Fi access point. The password must be at least 8 characters.
The next window indicates that you have successfully completed the setup. Click the Finish .
If the provider blocks access to the MAC address, select on the left in the Network - MAC Clone .
In the WAN MAC Address , enter the MAC address.
You can also click the Clone MAC Address if the required MAC address is in the Your PC's MAC Address .
Next, save the settings with the Save .
Step-by-step instructions for resetting settings
You can return the router to its factory state in 2 ways:
- Soft reset. To do this, open the router's web interface. Go to the “System Tools” section. Activate the “Backup and Restore” function. A new window opens with a file selection key. Click on it and set the configuration. Click the “Restore” button. Above you will find the inscription “Factory settings”. When using it, all router parameters are reset.
- Hard reset. Access to the settings mode is not always available. In this case, use the reset button located on the device body. Depending on the router model, it is located separately or in combination with the WPS key. In the first case, a knitting needle or needle is used to press, because the button is pressed into the body. This prevents you from accidentally resetting your settings. To activate the factory state, the key is held for 10 seconds. The indicators on the case begin to blink. After they are turned off, the reset is considered completed.
Bottom line
Well, let's summarize. If your router settings are lost, then you have no choice but to reconfigure it. We also recommend that you carefully examine the router case to find the Reset button on it.
You may have clicked on it by accident, after which the device settings were reset, as expected. If such a button is found, then in the future you will already know that you need to interact with the router more carefully, especially for those who have this button located next to the button or power cable.
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Why do my router settings get lost?
The following reasons contribute to spontaneous changes in device operating parameters:
- Errors when saving settings. Failures in this case are associated with incorrect user actions, and not with a malfunction of the router. The web interface of some devices is complex, and the system may require additional confirmation of changes made. If the user immediately closes the setup mode after entering the data, the router returns to its original state. Sometimes you need to confirm your actions by rebooting the router.
- Software reasons. The settings are reset due to errors in the device firmware. To eliminate them, install a different version of the software. First, go to the web interface using authorization data. Then select the update section and install the desired firmware version. If the problem is not solved, try downloading third-party software.
- Hardware failures. Settings are stored in non-volatile memory. When disconnected from the power supply, they do not go astray. However, if the device is used incorrectly, the memory module will fail. After disconnecting from the network, the operation of the device will be disrupted. The malfunction is caused by wear of the router parts, the influence of high temperatures, and voltage surges.
Connection diagram
Most Wi-Fi routers need to be connected to your computer using an Ethernet cable before you can begin setup. The following conditions must also be met:
- The router is connected to the network. The indicators glow green.
- The Internet cable is connected to the WAN socket of the router.
- The Wi-Fi router is connected to the computer with an Ethernet cable.
How to restore your router settings again
To return the parameters necessary for device operation, perform the following steps:
- Connect the provider cable to the WAN port. Another wire connects the router to the computer. When using a wireless connection, the last step is not performed.
- Open a browser. Enter 192.168.1.1 into the address bar and open the settings section. If this IP is not suitable, look for the required value in the instructions for the router.
- Enter your login and password. To set up your home network, you need to set the correct security settings. In the menu, find the section responsible for the wireless connection. Enter a strong password to prevent strangers from connecting to the network.
When using the router in standard mode, you don't need to do anything else. A correctly configured router after completing the above steps will allow you to establish an Internet connection.
Maybe you just needed to reboot it?
Method 3: Manual setup
When manually configuring a TP-Link router, you can set all those parameters that are not included in the Quick Setup Wizard. This will take some time, and may also require studying additional materials, because it is not always clear which point is responsible for what and how it affects the behavior of the router. You can find detailed instructions for setting up different models of routers from TP-Link by searching on our website by entering the name of interest. If this was not possible, below we have left a link to a universal guide that will help you cope with the task.
Read more: Setting up a TP-LINK router using the TL-WR840N model as an example
These were all the ways to configure a TP-Link router after a reset. All you have to do is choose a convenient option and implement it. We strongly recommend that novice users follow the instructions exactly to avoid any additional difficulties.
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What to do if the Internet still doesn't work?
It is possible that your DNS servers are configured incorrectly in your operating system. Follow these steps.
- Press the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + R, enter the command ncpa.cpl and click OK.
- Right-click on the current connection and select "Properties".
- Select IP version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click the “Properties” button.
- Set automatic detection of DNS servers and click OK.
- Click Close and close the Network Connections window.
- If this does not help, you need to call the support service and ask for help.
Questions from users
As important questions are received from users, brief recommendations will be provided here.
How to configure the router after resetting the settings
After creating a backup file, you need to, in the same section where you reset it, specify the path to the saved configuration file and click “Restore” .
You can return the device to its factory state using hardware, Hard Reset, or software. Each model has its own instructions, but in general the execution algorithm is the same. Before resetting, it is recommended to save the network settings to a file and restore all data from it upon completion of the task.
Did you accidentally press RESET and the settings on the router were reset? — No problem, we’ll fix the problem in a couple of clicks using our instructions. With the advent of such a device as a router, many Internet users have discovered new horizons and opportunities. Of course - now wires are not needed, and from one point you can receive the Internet to various devices. However, a number of purely technical problems arose. Sometimes a configured device that has just worked like a clock refuses to perform its functions. What's the matter? Either the network disappears or the settings get lost. Maybe it's broken? May be. But, as a rule, everything is much simpler. More on this below.
A separate category of cases is when the user accidentally presses the reset button. In this situation, the router parameters automatically return to the values set by the manufacturer. Some router manufacturers took this circumstance into account and made it more difficult to accidentally press the button by burying reset in the device body. However, some models also have a design solution that is far from the best - combining the reset functions and activating WPS on one button or key.
The presence of the reset function is very useful, since at any time if failures occur and poor-quality, as a rule, independent, configuration of your router, you can return it to the state it had when removed from the factory packaging box.
