How to Hard Reset a Linksys Wi-Fi Router

When you forget your password or want to reconfigure your wireless settings from the scratch, you can hard reset your Linksys router. Forgetting password is mostly the main reason behind a router reset. It's quite normal to  forget passwords due to busy schedules in offices, professional engagements, and even personal problems.

No matter how hard you try, sometimes that alphabetic or alpha-numeric string won't strike your mind. It is because there are so many of them and for everything that is surrounding you. For e.g. there are credit card, bank account, email, website login, social networking like Facebook, Instagram etc., wireless router, and computer among other passwords. Phew! So many of them as I said above. Now please don't think that you are suffering from Alzheimer's disease. It just happens.

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So, let's not worry about other passwords as I am sure you are going to take care of them except the Linksys wireless router's. I am going to discuss how you can hard reset your Linksys wireless router. Afterwards you can choose to reset your password or wireless settings. Have a glance at the steps discussed below:

 



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1. Grab a sharp and thin paper clip, hair pin, or any other object and keep it aside. For example, a pen's nib will do. Turn your Linksys router upside down and locate the Reset button, a tiny hole. If you do not find the button underneath the router, look at its back. (See image 1 and 2)




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2. Once you have located the Reset button, insert the sharp, thin object in the hole. Push the button and hold it for 10-30 seconds (See image 2 or 3) in the same position. You must see the lights going crazy and turning off/on on the router. Remove the Power cable from the back of router while holding down the Reset button. 

 

3. Release the button after 10-30 seconds and plug the Power cable back into the Linksys router. Turn on the router and wait for it to reboot fully. That's it and your router is reset. Now if you want to access the web interface of your router to login or reset password, open your web browser. Type '192.168.1.1' in the address bar and hit Enter.


4. A login screen will appear now. Enter the default admin password and username of your Linksys router and click the Submit button. You can refer to your Linksys documentation for the login details. Once logged in, you can change your password or reconfigure your wireless settings.