If you reset your router and now cannot get online, the cause is usually one of a few simple things. After a factory reset your router forgets your Wi-Fi name, password and internet settings, so it has to be set up again. This guide walks through the usual fixes.
What a reset does to your router
A factory reset returns the router to its defaults. Your custom Wi-Fi name and password go away, and the router reverts to the ones printed on its label. Settings your provider needs may also be erased. If you only restarted the router and still have no internet, many of the steps below still apply.
Step 1: Reconnect to the default Wi-Fi
- Find the label on the router and note the default network name (SSID) and password.
- On your phone or computer, forget the old network if it is saved and connect to the default one.
- If you are not sure, use an Ethernet cable from a computer to the router to rule out Wi-Fi.
Devices that remember your old Wi-Fi name and password will not connect automatically, because the router no longer uses them.
Step 2: Power cycle the modem, then the router
If you have a separate modem and router, the router may have started before the modem was ready.
- Unplug the modem and the router.
- Wait about 30 seconds.
- Plug in the modem and wait a few minutes for its internet light to settle.
- Plug in the router and give it a few more minutes.
Step 3: Check the cables
- The Ethernet cable from the modem should go into the router’s WAN or Internet port, not a LAN port.
- Make sure power, coaxial and phone/DSL cables are pushed in firmly.
- Try a different Ethernet cable if you have one.
Step 4: Enter your internet provider settings
Many home connections work automatically, but some providers use a login (often called PPPoE) or other details (Spectrum users can see how to connect a modem to a router on Spectrum), and the reset may have cleared them.
- Open the router’s setup page in a browser. Use the address in your manual or on the label.
- Go to the internet settings page and check the connection type.
- Enter the details your provider gave you.
Some providers also tie service to a specific device, so you may have to contact them if the modem or router was replaced. For model-specific steps after a reset, see our guides for Netgear Nighthawk and Belkin routers.
Step 5: Check the device
If Wi-Fi connects but pages will not load, try:
- Turning Wi-Fi off and on, or restarting the device
- Forgetting the network and joining it again
- Testing a second device to see if the problem is the router or one device
My router has a white light but no internet
A white or green light often means the router itself is working, but it does not necessarily mean the internet connection is up. Check the modem lights, cables and provider settings. Light colors differ between brands, so check your manual or our guide to router flashing white.
When to call your provider
Contact your internet provider if:
- The modem’s internet light stays off or blinking after several minutes
- You have confirmed cables and settings
- Other devices plugged straight into the modem cannot get online (see also wireless router without internet for what still works meanwhile)
Ask whether there is an outage in your area.
FAQ
What happens after I reset my WiFi router? It returns to default settings, so you need to reconnect and reconfigure it.
How do I reconnect my WiFi router? Use the default name and password on the label, then run through setup again.
Why is my router not working? Possible causes include power, cables, the modem, provider outages and settings. Go through the steps above in order.