How do I fix my router after resetting it? The router is the cornerstone of any home network. If your router goes down, your whole network goes with it. Fortunately, resetting a router is easy and typically resolves most issues.
Resetting your router can be a helpful troubleshooting step, but it can also create new problems. If you’ve recently reset your router and are now experiencing connectivity issues, there are several steps you can take to fix the problem.
Resetting them will reboot both devices and clear out any temporary internet files or cached data that may be causing interference or slowing performance.
In this article, we’ll explore how to update your router’s firmware and apps, check the physical connection, reconfigure your router, check for MAC address filtering, and run the Windows Network Troubleshooter to get you connected after resetting the router.
Related Article: How do I Get my AT&T Router to Work?
How do I fix my router after resetting it?
After resetting your router, you may need to perform some steps to set it up again and get it working properly. Here’s a general guide on how to fix your router after resetting it:
1. Physically Connect Your Router:
- Ensure that your router is properly connected to your modem, and both devices are powered on.
- Check all cable connections to make sure they are secure.
2. Access the Router’s Web Interface:
- Connect your computer to the router via Ethernet cable or Wi-Fi.
- Open a web browser (e.g., Chrome, Firefox, Edge) and enter your router’s IP address in the address bar. The default IP address is often 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1, but it can vary depending on your router’s manufacturer. Check your router’s manual or look it up online if you’re unsure.
3. Log In to the Router:
- You’ll be prompted to enter a username and password. These are usually set to default values, which you can also find in the router’s manual or by searching online. Common defaults include “admin” for both the username and password.
- After logging in, change the default login credentials to enhance security.
4. Configure Internet Settings:
- Depending on your internet service provider (ISP), you may need to configure settings such as PPPoE, DHCP, or static IP addressing. Refer to your ISP’s instructions or contact their customer support for guidance.
5. Set Up Wireless (Wi-Fi) Settings:
- If you’re using Wi-Fi, configure your wireless settings, including the SSID (network name) and Wi-Fi password.
- Consider using strong security protocols like WPA3 for enhanced security.
6. Update Router Firmware:
- Check if there’s a firmware update available for your router. Outdated firmware can cause issues and vulnerabilities. Download and install the latest firmware if needed.
7. Configure Port Forwarding (if necessary):
- If you have specific applications or devices that require port forwarding, set up the necessary port forwarding rules in the router’s settings.
8. Secure Your Router:
- Change the router’s default administrative password to something strong and unique.
- Disable remote management if you don’t need it.
- Enable any built-in security features like a firewall.
9. Test Your Internet Connection:
- Reboot your router and modem if necessary.
- Check if you have a stable internet connection by accessing websites and performing speed tests.
10. Troubleshoot Any Issues:
- If you encounter any issues, consult your router’s manual or the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting guidance.
- You can also contact your ISP’s customer support if the problem appears to be related to your internet connection.
1. Update Your Firmware and Apps
Updating your router’s firmware and apps can help to improve its performance and fix connectivity issues. To update your router’s firmware and apps, follow these steps:
- Connect to your router’s web-based setup page. This will typically involve opening a web browser and typing your router’s IP address into the address bar. Open a web browser and enter your router’s IP address in the address bar. This will typically be something like 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1.
- Enter your router’s username and password when prompted. If you haven’t changed these from the default, you can typically find them on the back of your router or in the documentation that came with it.
- Once you’re logged in to your router’s interface, look for a section labeled “Firmware” or “Software”. Look for a “Firmware Update” or “Software Update” option on the router’s web-based setup page.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to download and install the latest firmware or software update for your router.
- After the update has been installed, restart your router and check for connectivity improvements.
In addition to updating your router’s firmware, you should also check for updates to any apps you’re using to manage your router. This may include a mobile app provided by your ISP, or a third-party app such as OpenWrt or DD-WRT.
Check Your Router’s Firmware
If resetting your router doesn’t resolve your issues, it’s time to take a look at its firmware. Firmware is the software that tells the router how to operate. Occasionally, the firmware needs to be updated in order to work properly with new devices and updates on the internet.
Before you do anything else, make sure you’re using the latest version of router firmware. You can find this information by looking on the manufacturer’s website or downloading their app (if they have one). After you update your router, if your problems persist, it may be time to contact customer service for help.
2. Check Physical Connection
Another possible cause of connectivity issues after a router reset is a faulty or loose physical connection. To fix this issue, you’ll need to check all of the connections between your router and your devices to make sure they’re secure. Thus, you’ll want to check the physical connection between your router and other devices. To do this, follow these steps:
- First, ensure that your router is powered on. If it’s not, press the power button to turn it on. Check the power supply to your router. Make sure the power cord is securely connected to both the router and the wall outlet, and check that the power outlet is working.
- Next, check the cables that connect your router to your internet source (such as a modem) and to your devices (such as a computer or a wireless device). Make sure these cables are securely connected and not damaged.
- Check the Ethernet cables. Make sure the cables are securely connected to both the router and the device, and check for any visible damage (such as fraying or bending) on the cables.
- Check the wireless connection. If you’re using a wireless connection, make sure your device is within range of the router and that the wireless signal is strong.
- If you’re still experiencing connectivity issues after checking the physical connection, try moving your router to a different location or adjusting its position to improve the signal strength.
- Finally, check the lights on your router. Each light should be on and not flashing, indicating that the router is functioning properly. If any lights are off or flashing, this may indicate a problem with the connection.
3. Reconfigure Your Router
If updating your firmware and checking the physical connection didn’t fix the problem, you can try to reconfigure the router. This involves setting up your router’s settings again, including your wireless network name (SSID) and password.
To reconfigure your router:
- Open a web browser and enter your router’s IP address in the address bar
- Enter your username and password to log in to your router’s settings.
- Navigate to the Wi-Fi settings section of the router’s settings.
- Enter your Wi-Fi password and any other required settings.
- Save your changes and reboot your router.
4. Check for MAC Address Filtering
Another potential cause of connectivity issues after resetting your router is MAC address filtering. MAC addresses are unique identifying numbers assigned to each device on your network, and if your router is set to only allow certain MAC addresses to connect, it can cause connectivity issues.
To check for MAC address filtering, follow these steps:
- Open a web browser and enter your router
- Open your router’s web-based setup page. This can usually be accessed by entering your router’s IP address (e.g. 192.168.1.1) into your web browser.
- Locate the “Security” or “Access Control” settings. This may be under a subheading such as “MAC Filtering” or “Access Control List”.
- Check the list of allowed MAC addresses. If your device’s MAC address is not included in the list, add it.
- Save your changes and restart your router.
5. Run Windows Network Troubleshooter
If you’re still experiencing connectivity issues after checking for MAC address filtering, you can try running the Windows Network Troubleshooter. This built-in tool can help to diagnose and fix a variety of network problems, including connectivity issues.
To run the Windows Network Troubleshooter:
- Open the Start menu and type “Troubleshoot”.
- Select “Troubleshoot” from the search results.
- Click “Network Adapter” and then select “Run the troubleshooter”.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to diagnose and fix any network problems.
6. Change Your WiFi Channel
If you’ve made it this far and your wireless still isn’t connecting, it could be that the channel is blocked by interference. To solve the problem, change your wireless channel. Before you switch channels, make sure to keep the following in mind:
- Changing channels will not change your password or encryption key
- Some routers don’t have a setting for changing the wireless channel
- Changing channels will affect all devices connected to the network
- Wireless routers with four antennas offer better coverage than those with two antennas
7. Reset Your Router and Modem Together
The first thing you’ll want to do is unplug the power cable from your modem and wait for about 2 minutes. After that, plug it back in and wait for it to finish powering on. After your modem has rebooted, it should automatically connect to your internet service provider (ISP).
Next, unplug the power cable from your router and wait for about 2 minutes before plugging it back in. If you’re using a wireless router, make sure you’ve given the device adequate time to establish a connection before moving on to the next step. Once your router has rebooted, open up a web browser like Chrome or Firefox and type http://192.168.1.1/ into the search bar (if you’re asked for login credentials, use admin for both username and password).
In some cases (particularly with certain types of routers), this address may not work out of the box. When that’s the case, consult your router’s manual or manufacturer page to find out what address you should enter instead.
Once logged in, look for an option called “Restore Factory Settings” or something similar and click on it. This will reset all of your network settings back to their default values – including any custom settings you may have made when setting up your network initially.
Reset Your Router to Factory Defaults
Resetting your router to factory defaults will clear out any user-generated configuration files and settings that may have been corrupted. This is a good troubleshooting step if you’ve been experiencing issues with your network or if you’re having difficulty locating the source of your problem.
To reset your router to factory defaults, open a web browser and enter the IP address of the device in the URL bar. An example would be “192.168.1.1” for most devices. Once this loads, login and click on “Advanced Settings” on the left side of the screen. From here, select “Factory Defaults” and click “Router Factory Defaults” to finalize the process.
Try a Different Wireless Channel
One of the possible causes of your wireless connection not working is that a neighboring wireless network is interfering with yours. As wireless signals increase in strength, they become harder to separate and can interfere with each other.
To avoid these types of problems, you should try changing the channel on your router and connecting to a different channel.
To change the channel of your router, consult your owner’s manual or look for instructions online. If you still experience problems after changing channels, we recommend checking the signal strength on your device and changing it if necessary. You may also want to try a different wireless network altogether if none of those solutions work.
Why is my router not working after reset?
There are a few reasons why your router might not be working after resetting it. If your router does not have a pre-loaded software library, then resetting it will cause any issues with the hardware to return. If you’re using a Wi-Fi extender, you may have disconnected it when you reset your router.
If this is the case, make sure to plug the extender back in and reconnect it with your network settings. The most common reason for an outage is that people forget to turn on their Wi-Fi after they’ve reset the router. When this happens, there’s no internet connection which means that none of your devices can connect online.
Will resetting my router mess up my internet?
The answer is that it just depends on the type of router you have and how advanced it is. The best thing to do is read the manual on your router to see what the manufacturer says about resetting it.
If they don’t mention anything about resetting, then it probably won’t mess up your internet connection at all. But if they say something about resetting, such as “Restarting may fix a temporary network problem,” then there’s a chance that it will cause problems with internet connectivity.
You can also find out more information by reading articles on how to fix certain types of routers and what they recommend doing when resetting them.
What happens when you factory reset a router?
When you reset a router, you are essentially removing the memory (or factory setting) of it. This means that if there was an issue with the router before and you reset it, that problem may return.
So if your router was having connectivity problems before and you reset it, those same issues may occur again because the router is loading up with default settings again. Routers are used for many different purposes so there are many different types of routers out there.
Some older routers have a microSD card slot pre-loaded with software when they are manufactured which means that resetting them can cause more issues than solutions. There are also some newer routers that come with manuals that include instructions on how to recover from a factory reset – this usually involves plugging in an Ethernet cable to your computer or laptop and using some type of software or interface to connect to the router to get it back up and running properly.
Ultimately, what happens when you reset a router depends on its type – some older routers will load up with default settings after being reset while newer ones may not cause too many issues when they’re factory reset. The manual will list instructions on how to recover from a factory reset if you want to try that instead!
Conclusion
In conclusion, if you’re experiencing connectivity issues after resetting your router, there are several steps you can take to fix the problem.
In this article, we have explored how to update your firmware and apps, check physical connections, reconfigure your router, check for MAC address filtering, and run the Windows Network Troubleshooter to get your router functioning again.
Check for MAC address filtering and run the Windows Network Troubleshooter to diagnose and fix any network issues.
FAQS
I tried to reset my router and it didn’t work. What should I do?
Resetting your router is not always the solution to every network problem. If you have been experiencing more than just a temporary connection outage, there may be a more complicated issue with your network.
The first thing you should do is make sure that the problem isn’t coming from your ISP (Internet Service Provider). Contact your ISP and see what they recommend you try. If that doesn’t resolve the issue, contact our 24/7 US-based customer support team and we’ll be happy to help.
Will resetting my router erase all of my data?
Yes, resetting your router will erase any stored data on it. You can save the data by unplugging the router before you do anything and then plugging it back in once the factory settings have been restored.
Does every router reset work the same way?
Every type of router is different and will have a different process to be restarted. You’ll want to check your manual or do an internet search for instructions on how to reset your specific type of router. If you aren’t sure what you have, then contact the manufacturer for more information.
Sources
https://www.verizon.com/support/residential/internet/home-network/settings/router-factory-reset