What does resetting your internet box do?

Posted on: 10 Aug 2024
What does resetting your internet box do?

A simple procedure that involves restarting your internet service box which is also known as a router or modem can fix several basic problems that may be experienced in a home network. Below is the general information about what happens when a router is reset and when the process is relevant.

What is the Process of Resetting Router and What Occurs When This Process is Done?

Toggling simply means that the router’s current setting is deleted and replaced with a brand-new clean slate, setting it back to its default factory settings. What this means is that any configuration changes that you have made in your router settings including the wireless SSID, wireless key, port triggering rules, and other settings that you might have set in your router administration interface will be erased.

The router will indicate it is starting like it has never been powered on before as if you just bought it. It will transmit a basic network name, which is often the manufacturer and the model number (for example, NETGEAR63), and will come with a pre-set admin password. This is because any devices connected to the router or any settings that are configured in the router will be disconnected or deleted.

Resetting a router can be necessary in several scenarios, such as when the router is not working properly or when you want to restore it to factory settings.

There are a few common reasons you may want or need to reset your internet router

  • To troubleshoot internet connectivity problems: When faced with internet connection problems, it is common to find that the router has issues that can be solved by removing any errors or glitches.
  • After a firmware update: Certain ISPs even offer to update firmware on routers which often leads to problems. After a new update, usually, reconnecting to the game helps in fixing problems that may be encountered while playing.
  • When you've forgotten the admin password: Power cycling the router brings back the router to its original factory default settings whereby the admin defaults login information is provided on the router label.
  • When switching Internet service providers: Resetting enables one to configure a new Internet Service Provider account with a fresh set of credentials.
  • To change the WiFi password or network name: Changing settings is an easy option to delete the previous WPA/WPA2 passkey or other WPA/WPA2 settings so that you can configure your wireless connection.
  • Before selling or gifting the router: Erasing the router means it is returned to the state it was when you first took it out of the packaging to minimize the risk of one’s information being saved on the device.

How to Rest Your Internet Router

The reset process depends a bit on your specific router model and there are typically two options: The reset process depends a bit on your specific router model and there are typically two options:

Soft Reset / Reboot
This option resets the router as if you were to power cycle it, though it is a less rigorous process than a hard reset. What it does is, shut down the router and then immediately restart it, it doesn’t reset the router to its factory settings. Del press the reset button of the router for 1 sec when the router is on. This resets your device but it does so without erasing any of the settings that you may have put in place.

Hard Reset

A hard reset reboots the router to factory settings, which means that all the settings changes you made are erased. This resets your current router settings and brings it back to factory settings and is useful when the router has been having connection issues or when a previous user has changed the router settings and it is impossible to revert the changes. Here, the steps are different across models but usually involve pressing and holding the Reset button for like 5-10 seconds until the lights blink. Users should refer to the manufacturer’s guide for their routers to know the correct procedures for a reset.

When a router is reset, what are the things that will occur?

Once reset, you'll have to go through some initial setup just like when you first installed your router

  • You should then connect your modem and router directly with an ethernet cable.
  • The router will be started on its own and will begin to initialize itself. Wait 2 minutes as it takes a little time to stabilize.
  • Establish wireless devices to the new default that is being transmitted through the airwaves.
  • This can be accomplished by typing the router’s IP address into a web browser and entering the default login information when prompted. The admin username and password will be changed to the factory setting which ranges from admin/password. These are usually written on the label of the router.
  • Complete the setup wizard options that appear on the screen to set the security parameters, SSID, Admin Password, etc.
  • Reset any changes made to port forwarding rules, DHCP reservations, QoS traffic shaping, parental controls, and the like that were made before setting up the repeater.

And that is it, folks; the fundamental steps of reboiling the internet router! It can regularly be an initial resolution for connectivity issues that come across in the network. Bear in mind that it will erase all the current settings and configurations that are currently applied to the router, so you will have to reconfigure your router to your preference after resetting it.

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