What does the reset button do on an AT&T router?
Reset button is one of the standard features on routers and it may be needed to use on routers furnished by AT&T Internet service. The function of this button is as follows: press it several times to use one or another of the several possibilities, which can help you to solve several problems with the router or, if necessary, restore the router settings to their factory settings. The following are some of the functions of the reset button on routers that you use with AT&T:
Performing a Soft Reset
For instance, when the button is pressed for below ten seconds, it performs a soft reset. This resets the router almost in the same way as when you turn off the router and switch it back on. A soft reset is important when the router looks like it is slow or not responding in the course of its functioning. Resetting it allows the hardware and the software to get out of the suspended animation completely.
A soft reset will not affect your router or any other network-related settings. But that is not the case as it only reboots the router in a bid to solve some of the temporary or performance-related hitches that you may be facing. Wireless settings include security options, PHY mode, operating channel, and wireless MAC filter, and the router will remember them all in addition to the port forwarding rules, MAC filter, and other settings that the user might have set.
Performing a Hard Reset
If you hold down the reset button for over 10 seconds, you are likely to perform what is referred to as the hard reset. Here, it means that all settings that are on the AT&T router will be set to their initial state when you purchase them. The router will be configured with out-of-the-box settings as if it were the router that has just been manufactured.
A hard reset of your AT&T router will delete all of the WiFi network names and passwords, port forwarding rules, and any other setting changes that you made after first configuring your router. Here also, the IP address of the router might change when performing a hard reset. This means that it resets the configuration to the default state and thus effectively clears the slate.
You would do a hard reset if you wanted to indeed clear out all the configurations made on the router over time and start a brand-new configuration. For example, this can be used for solving extremely complex problems that arise due to misconfigurations of certain settings. A hard reset helps return your router to its factory settings for creating your WiFi network all over again, providing IP addresses to your devices through DHCP, and applying any settings that you require in your routers.
If you’ve bricked your MacBook through a failed firmware update, here are the steps you can take to restore it:
Some routers of AT&T have an interesting feature in their firmware which is the reset button. Certain routers have a feature that when the reset button is pressed for more than 20 seconds while the router is on then it causes an emergency firmware reload if an attempted router firmware update was unsuccessful.
Routers have internal firmware, which is used to govern how the router operates. Sometimes, firmware updates can be disastrous especially to the router since they can result in a faulty device as we see here. The reset button is one of the options that allows for a forced firmware reload in the event of a malfunctioning procedure. This brings the router to operational mode and sets it with the factory firmware.
What Gets Reset?
To recap what settings get reset on an AT&T router: To recap what settings get reset on an AT&T router:
- Soft reset: Modifications to the settings of the application: No settings were removed. Both router hardware and the software were restarted.
- Hard reset: Resets all configuration settings on a router to its out-of-the-box state.
- Extended reset during firmware failure: This forces the AP to reload with firmware.
So in normal circumstances, there is a soft reset possible, which enables the device to reboot without affecting the settings. The hard reset is even more forceful and provides you with a clean working environment by wiping out all the configurations of the router. The reset button is thus very useful for all forms of troubleshooting right from the most basic to the most severe and may include bricked devices.
The possible reasons for resetting the router are as follows:
Some examples where resetting the AT&T router may help include: Some examples where resetting the AT&T router may help include:
- Internet connectivity problems
- WiFi network issues
- Not being able to get past the router login page
- Issues with those devices connecting to the router through wireless connectivity
- There is an indication that router configuration may need to be wiped completely.
- A firmware update went wrong and the router was rendered non-functional
Some of the implications of Reset on Connected Devices
When resetting your AT&T router, also keep in mind the effects on devices connected to the network
- Soft reset: Preserves relationships after renewal. Devices may pause for a short time, then reestablish the connection after a couple of minutes.
- Hard reset: All equipment is unplugged as the WiFi network ceases to exist from now on. You have to configure your WiFi network all over again, and all the devices have to be reconnected to the new network.
In summary, do not hesitate to try the reset button if it is difficult to fix a problem with the AT&T wireless router. Just bear in mind what exactly will be affected by a softer or a harder reset. And of course, reset your router if you have the time to recreate network connections, and fine-tune the router settings if necessary.
Upgrade to faster, more reliable AT&T Fiber Internet today! Call us at +1 844-905-5002 and get connected with speeds that keep you ahead.