Restoring a NETGEAR home router to the factory default settings - NETGEAR Article

This article helps you restore your router to the factory default settings that it had when it was new.

Most NETGEAR routers have a recessed button on the back or bottom panel, marked Reset or Restore Factory Settings.  Because the button is recessed, you will need a thin tool (like a straightened paperclip) to press the button. The Restore Factory Settings or Reset button is enclosed in a red circle as shown in the pictures below.

Important: When a reset or factory settings restore is performed, the router will go back to the state it was when it was new, and all configured settings are lost! A few examples of configured settings are critical information you need to get online such as ISP username, ISP password, IP addresses, wireless security keys, and ports or services that were opened. All of this information will need to be reconfigured on the router.

To perform a factory reset:

1. Turn the router on, and wait for it to boot up (about 1 minute).
2. Locate the Restore Factory Settings or Reset button on your router.
3. Use an object such as a pen or a paper clip to press and hold the Restore Factory Settings or Reset button until the Power light begins to blink (approximately 7 seconds). 
4. Release the "Restore Factory Settings" button and wait for the router to restart. The Power light will stop blinking and will become a solid green (white for newer models).
5. The factory default settings will be restored so that you can access the router from your web browser using the factory defaults. For further instructions on accessing the router configuration settings via your web browser, see How do I login to my NETGEAR home router?.

For DGN2000 and DG834Gv5 Routers only:

These models do not have a dedicated Restore Factory Settings button. Please follow the steps below to perform a reset on these models:

1. Press and hold the Wireless On/Off and WPS buttons until the Power LED blinks red (about 6 seconds).
2. Release the Wireless On/Off and WPS buttons and wait for the router to reboot.

After the reset procedure, the router will be reset to the factory default settings. The credentials to access the router user interface should be:

• Username: admin
• Password: password

The wireless settings of the router will also be back to the default settings. The default Wi-Fi Network Name and Network Key can be found on a sticker on the unit (older models will default to the Wi-Fi network name NETGEAR with no password):