To reset a router, restart it first: unplug it for about 30 seconds, plug it back in and wait a few minutes. A restart keeps all your settings. A factory reset uses the recessed button, held about 7 to 10 seconds on NETGEAR and TP-Link and up to 30 seconds on some provider modems. It erases your WiFi name, passwords and settings and cannot be undone.
PCBy the Pixl Canada install team. Maker instructions read October 31, 2026. 8 min read.
- Restart vs factory reset explained
- Hold times by maker and provider
- What a reset erases
- Time to reconnect your devices
- A restart keeps your settings. A factory reset erases them. Always restart first.
- Factory reset hold times range from about 7 seconds on NETGEAR to 30 seconds or more on some provider modems.
- A reset can erase your WiFi name and password, admin password, provider login, port forwards and reserved addresses.
- Re-enter your old WiFi name and password and your devices rejoin on their own. A new password for a 37-device home is about 2.5 hours of re-pairing (planning estimate).
Restart, reset or factory reset: which one do you need?
People use these words loosely. A restart is harmless and a factory reset is not, so start at the top and move down only if the row above did not help.
| Option | What it does | Settings kept? | Use it when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restart (reboot, power cycle) | Powers the router off and on and reconnects to your provider | Yes. Everything stays | WiFi is slow, drops, or the internet light is off. Try this first |
| Restore WiFi settings only | On some provider gateways, resets just the WiFi settings | Partly | You want to clear WiFi settings only. Rogers offers this on its Xfinity gateway |
| Factory reset | Wipes every setting back to the factory state | No. Everything is erased | You forgot the admin password, or a maker or provider tells you to |
How do you restart a router?
- Unplug the power. Pull the power cord from the router, and from the modem if they are separate boxes. Rogers says to wait about 30 seconds.
- Wait 30 seconds. This lets the router clear its memory.
- Plug the modem in first. TP-Link’s setup guide waits about 2 minutes after powering the modem before powering the router. Use the same order.
- Plug the router in. Wait a few minutes until the internet and WiFi lights are steady.
- Test one device. Open a website on a phone or laptop. If it loads, you are done.
Still slow or dropping after a restart? See slow or disconnecting WiFi.
How long do you hold the reset button?
It depends on the maker. The button is usually recessed, so use a paperclip, and keep the router powered on while you hold it.
| Router | Button hold | Other route | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| NETGEAR routers | About 7 seconds. Some models, such as certain Nighthawk routers, need at least 10 seconds | Admin page, if you can log in | NETGEAR router factory reset guide |
| TP-Link routers | More than 10 seconds. Release when the SYS light changes from slow to fast flashing | tplinkwifi.net, then Advanced, System Tools, Backup and Restore, Factory Restore | TP-Link FAQ 497 |
| Rogers Xfinity gateway | Gen 1: Reset until the light turns green. Gen 2 and 3: WPS for 30 seconds or more. Gen 4: Reset for 15 to 30 seconds | Admin page at 10.0.0.1, Restore Factory Settings | Rogers support page for the Xfinity gateway |
| Bell Home Hub | Home Hub 3000: at least 30 seconds. Home Hub 4000 and Giga Hub: use the front-panel menu | Front-panel menu on the Home Hub 4000 | Bell support pages for each Hub |
| TELUS modems | Varies by model. TELUS has a separate reset article for each modem, so use the one for your model | Use the article for your model | TELUS support articles |
Menu names and button positions change by model and firmware. On TP-Link routers a combined WPS and Reset button does two jobs: a short press starts WPS and 10 seconds or more resets.
What do you lose in a factory reset?
| Setting | Lost after a factory reset? | What to have ready |
|---|---|---|
| WiFi name and password | Yes. Back to the label defaults | The old name and password |
| Router admin password | Yes. Back to the default on the label | A new admin password to set straight away |
| Internet login from your provider | Can be. Some plans use a username and password (PPPoE) | That login. Bell asks Connection Hub users to re-enter their Bell Internet ID and password |
| Port forwards, parental controls, reserved addresses | Yes. TP-Link lists them as erased | Screenshots of those pages before you reset |
| Mesh nodes and extenders | A node you reset usually has to be added again in the maker’s app | The app login, and the maker’s steps to add the node back |
A reset cannot be undone, so save the configuration file first if the router offers one. It also puts back default passwords, which the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security says to change.
What should you do before you reset?
- Try a restart first. Unplug the router for about 30 seconds, plug it back in and wait a few minutes.
- Write down your WiFi name and password. If you do not know the password, see how to find your WiFi password before you wipe it.
- Find your provider login. Check the bill or the provider app for a username and password if your plan needs one.
- Screenshot custom settings. Port forwards, reserved addresses, parental controls.
- Check the label. It shows the default WiFi name, password and admin login you will use afterward.
Re-entering the same WiFi name and password is the biggest time saver, because devices already hold those details. Our planning estimate assumes 1 minute per phone, 3 per TV, 4 per printer, 5 per smart plug and 8 per camera or thermostat.
| Home | Devices | If you set a new WiFi name and password | If you re-enter the same name and password |
|---|---|---|---|
| Condo, 2 adults | 13 | 39 min | A few minutes to check |
| Family house | 37 | 2.5 hours | A few minutes to check |
| Smart-home house | 61 | 4.6 hours | A few minutes to check |
What do you do after the reset?
- Log in with the label details. Join the default WiFi or plug in a cable, then open the address on the label. TP-Link routers use tplinkwifi.net or 192.168.0.1.
- Set a new admin password. Make it different from your WiFi password, and enter your internet login if the setup asks.
- Set the WiFi name and password. Use your old pair to keep devices connected. Choose WPA2 or WPA3 security.
- Update the firmware. The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security says current firmware closes known holes. Turn on automatic updates if the router has them.
- Check each room. The full walk-through is in how to set up a router.
With several floors, a mesh system and many smart devices, a reset can take an afternoon.
Pixl installs this: WiFi set up again from $129
Home WiFi or mesh setup is a posted Pixl price of $129 and up, before tax. We place the router or nodes, set the name and password, move your devices over and test the rooms you use. The router is not included, and you pay after the job. Same-day service is available when we have an opening.
You forgot the admin password, a restart did not fix it, or the maker or your provider told you to. You have the WiFi password and provider login written down.
You have not tried a restart, you do not know your provider login, or the problem is one weak room. A reset will not fix weak signal. See how to improve WiFi signal.
How to reset a router: frequently asked questions
What is the difference between restarting and resetting a router?
A restart turns the router off and on and keeps every setting. A factory reset erases all settings, including the WiFi name, WiFi password and admin password. Try a restart first.
How long do you hold the reset button on a router?
NETGEAR says about 7 seconds, and some models need at least 10. TP-Link says more than 10 seconds. Some provider modems need 15 to 30 seconds or more. Check the maker’s page for your model.
Does resetting a router delete my internet settings?
A factory reset can. Plans that use a provider username and password need that login entered again. Bell asks Connection Hub users to re-enter their Bell Internet ID and password.
Will a reset change my WiFi password?
Yes. The name and password go back to the defaults on the label. You can type your old ones back in so your devices rejoin without being set up again.
How do I reset a router without the button?
Log in to the admin page and use the factory restore option. On TP-Link it is under Advanced, System Tools, Backup and Restore. Rogers offers Restore Factory Settings at 10.0.0.1. Menu names change by firmware.
Is rebooting the same as resetting?
No. Reboot and restart mean turning the router off and on, which keeps your settings. Reset usually means a factory reset. Read what the button says it erases.
Can Pixl set my WiFi up again after a reset?
Yes. Home WiFi and mesh setup starts at $129 before tax. Send your home size and a photo of your modem for a fixed price before you book, and you pay after the job.
Router reset and you want it done right?
Text your home size and a photo of the modem. You get a fixed price before you book, and you pay after the job. Same-day service is available when we have an opening.
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Sources and method. Hold times and what is erased come from NETGEAR’s router factory reset guide, TP-Link FAQ 497 and its router setup FAQ 3841, Rogers’ Xfinity gateway restart and reset page, Bell’s Home Hub reset pages and TELUS’ restart article, all read October 31, 2026. Router password and firmware advice follows the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security’s router guidance (October 2022). Menu names change by firmware, so check the manufacturer’s page for your model.
Reconnect estimate. Calculated with Python from our planning assumptions, not measurements. Condo: 5 + 6 + 8 + 20 + 0 = 39 minutes. Family house: 10 + 15 + 16 + 60 + 48 = 149. Smart-home house: 12 + 18 + 24 + 125 + 96 = 275. Pixl’s price is the posted price on our WiFi installation page, before tax.
About Pixl Canada. Pixl Canada is an installation company based in Edmonton, Alberta, serving cities across Canada with TV mounting, security cameras, appliance installation and smart home setup. Call or text (587) 899-7495. Open Monday to Saturday 8am to 8pm and Sunday 9am to 7pm.