This is a common thing home internet users want to know – how to factory reset their routers; in other words, restore them to completely default settings, as they where when the router shipped new from the factory.
This is possible on almost all routers, and in this guide, we’ll provide a detailed guide for Australia based users on how to factory reset the routers of all the major Australian internet providers that most people will have heard of.
We’ll first start with a general process for doing this that more or less applies to most routers, and then move onto specific steps for the routers of specific Australian ISPs, for more clarity and precision, covering:
- Telstra
- Optus
- TPG
- iiNet
- Vodafone Australia
- Dodo
- Belong
- Aussie Broadband
- Exetel
- SpinTel
The General Process For Factory Resetting a Router
Here’s a generic process for factory resetting any router that should more or less make sense regardless of the brand or internet provider. It’s a generic template of how to restore a router to default settings that should work and make sense with most routers:
In list form:
- Make sure the router is switched on
- Find the recessed “reset” or “factory reset” hole on the side or back.
- Push a pin or safety clip into this hole for up to 30 seconds.
- Wait for all lights to go out on the router and release
- Wait up to 5 minutes for the process to complete.
- Once the lights on the front are solidly on, it’s completed.
- All login, passwords and settings are reverted to default.
The 2 most common scenarios:
Scenario #1 – The router’s got a simple reset button somewhere prominent, and also a reset/factory reset hole somewhere else. This is pretty clear. Quickly pressing the reset button quickly resets the router (also known as a power cycle – does not wipe any settings). The reset hole is what you push a pin into for 20 seconds for the full reset (will wipe all settings and restore router to default).
It often looks something like this:
Scenario #2 – The router seems to only have one reset button sticking out, with no reset hole anywhere. When this is the case, it’s more likely that quickly pressing the reset button will do a quick reset, whereas pressing and holding the reset button for 10-20 seconds will do the full factory reset.
However, the exact buttons and process, and the location of the factory reset button, can vary a little bit between different ISP routers; we’ll cover specific steps for each of the major Australian ISPs further below.
What Does Factory Resetting a Router Do?
Just so users know exactly what they are doing when factory resetting a router, here is a list of things that will be lost or reverted to default once you do this:
- All custom Wi-Fi SSIDs/usernames and passwords to access the network will be lost and reset to the defaults indicated on the sticker on the back of the router. So any users who need to reconnect will need to find the router again on the network list and re-enter the default password to use the Wi-Fi.
- If you have also set custom values for the router login admin/password (to change settings), these will also be reset back to the default values indicated on the sticker on the back.
- If any gamers have set a static IP for their console on the router, this will be deleted and they’ll have to do it again.
- Any other custom settings that were configured on the router (eg. QoS, DNS settings, DMZ) will be lost and need to be reconfigured.
- All logs and stored browsing history will be wiped off the router.
- Factory resets can sometimes also take longer than quick resets, with a disruption of connection for sometimes several minutes.
- See our article on resetting your router for more on this, plus how to get settings back to how they were if you need to.
Now that readers know the general process and what it does, let’s specifically cover the process for each of the biggest and well known Australian internet providers.
Factory Resetting Telstra Routers
To factory reset a Telstra router, press a paperclip or other sharp object into the reset hole, located just below the power button, for about 10 seconds, while the modem is turned on. The process may take several minutes to complete, but will restore all login and Wi-Fi credentials to default.
See here for a quick guide on this from Telstra.
Factory Resetting Optus Routers
To factory reset an Optus router, make sure it is turned on and push a paperclip or sharp object into the reset hole on the back of the router for about 10 seconds, until the lights on the front all flash. It may take 5-10 minutes for the process to complete.
See here for an Optus forum on this.
Factory Resetting TPG Routers
I searched TPG’s website and actually couldn’t find any direct information from them on factory resetting their routers. However, one would assume that the process is going to be very similar to other routers and ISPs, so users should still follow the general process:
To factory reset a TPG router, look for a small recessed reset pinhole somewhere on the back or side, and push a sharp object into it when it’s turned on for up to 20 seconds or until the lights on the front flash or go out. It may take up to 10 minutes for the process to complete.
If you’re having trouble with this, contact TPG support for help.
Factory Resetting iiNet Routers
iiNet use several different router types, but thankfully the process for physically hard resetting their routers seems to be identical across all the routers they use:
To factory reset iiNet routers, make sure they are turned on and find the recessed “reset” pinhole, usually located near the WAN/LAN ports or the power button. Push a sharp object into this hole for 6-8 seconds only (not longer), and wait up to 10 minutes for the reset to complete.
However, iiNet routers also have the option of factory resetting their routers from within their settings pages.
Here are quick steps on how to do this for their main routers:
- TP Link VR1600v – Type 192.168.1.1 into any browser address bar, and login with the default “admin” username/password. Go to Advanced…System Tools….Reboot….Factory Restore. Click Yes to confirm and wait several minutes for the process to complete, before setting up your modem again.
- TG-789 Broadband Gateway – Type 10.1.1.1 into any browser address bar, then login with the password printed on the back. Go to Gateway, and click Reset next to Factory Defaults. Wait up to 10 minutes for the process to complete, and then setup your router again as if it were new.
- Smart Modem Gateway (VX420-G2H) – Type 192.168.1.1 into any browser address bar and login with the default password “admin”. Go to Advanced…..System Tools….Reboot Schedule. Click Factory Restore, and then Yes to confirm, then wait up to 10 minutes for the process to complete.
- Cable Gateway Pro (CG2200) – Type 192.168.0.1 into any browser address bar and login with the default username/password (both “admin”). Go to Management….Security, set Restore Factory Defaults to Yes, and then click Apply. Click OK to confirm the popup and then wait several minutes for the process to complete.
- Cable Gateway Pro (EPC3940L) – Type 192.168.0.1 into any browser address bar, then login with the default username (“admin”) and password (“password”). Go to Advanced>>Administration>> Backup/Restore Settings. Select Erase Settings once, and then again when the popup appears, and then wait several minutes for the process to complete.
If you’re stuck on any of this, see here for an excellent illustrated guide from iiNet on factory resetting all their routers, with both the physical and digital options covered.
Factory Resetting Vodafone Routers
To factory reset your Vodafone Wi-Fi Hub, make sure it is turned on and push a sharp object into the reset hole near the USB port for 7 seconds and release. Wait about 20 seconds for all the lights except the power light to turn off, and then wait several more minutes for the reset to complete.
See here for Vodafone’s own page on this.
Factory Resetting Dodo Routers
I could not find anything on Dodo’s own website specifically on performing a hard factory reset on their Wi-Fi routers. They do have a page on Power cycling their routers, but this is only a quick reset, not a factory reset. Therefore you are best following the general process outlined above:
To factory reset a Dodo Wi-Fi router, make sure it is turned on and look for a recessed reset hole somewhere on the back. Push a paperclip or pin into this hole for up to 20 seconds until the lights flash or go out, and then release. The process may then take up to 10 minutes to complete.
Here is Dodo’s Internet Help page, and also you can contact their support here if you need help with this.
Factory Resetting Belong Routers
I searched Belong’s site and could not find anything in their help sections about factory resetting their routers. Therefore just follow the general process outlined above:
To factory reset a Belong router, look on the back somewhere for a recessed reset hole. When the router is turned on, push a paperclip into it for 10-20 seconds until the lights on the front flash or go out, and then release and wait for several more minutes for the process to complete.
If you need further help with this, you can contact their support here.
Factory Resetting Aussie Broadband Routers
Again, I could not find anything specifically on Aussie Broadband’s site on factory resetting their Wi-Fi routers. There is a page on factory resetting their Fetch Box, but this isn’t the same as the Wi-Fi router.
Therefore you are best to follow the generic hard reset process:
To factory reset an Aussie Broadband router, look for a recessed reset hole somewhere on the back. When the router is turned on, push a paperclip into it for 10-20 seconds until the lights on the front flash or go out, and then release. The reset may take several more minutes to fully complete.
See Aussie Broadband’s support page here if you need to speak to someone. See also our factory reset router guide which covers all the major brands, so if you can identify the brand of your router, this may help.
Factory Resetting Exetel Routers
To factory reset an Exetel router, when it is turned on, press and hold the reset button on the back of the router for 10 seconds and release. This will restore all settings on the router to default, and may take several minutes to complete.
See here a router user guide from Exetel which may help.
Factory Resetting SpinTel Routers
To factory reset a SpinTel router, look for a small reset hole on the back, near the yellow LAN ports and the USB port. When the router is turned, push a sharp object into this hole for 15 seconds until the LEDs turn off, then release and allow several minutes for the process to complete.
See here for an illustrated help page from SpinTel on this.
