Jan 23, 2008 | 
61 Comments | 
Once of the most popular pages on Technically Easy is the post titled Securing Linksys WRT54G Wireless Router. In that post I outlined the steps needed to secure that particular wireless router.
The one problem I didn’t mention is how to reset the router back to the factory defaults. You may need to do this if you forget your router’s password or made a mistake and you can’t connect to the router. In this post I’ll outline two methods you can follow to reset your Linksys WRT54G wirless router.
Note:
Reseting the router to the factory defaults will delete any changes you have made to the router, including any security settings. This should be used as a last resort.
Reset Button
The first method involves simply pressing a button located on the back of the router. The image below (courtesy of Linksys) shows where the button is located.
To reset your router, use the following steps:
- Press the reset button for 30 seconds.
- Open up your Web browser and enter 192.168.1.1 in the address bar.
- For the login, leave a blank ID and enter admin as the password.
The settings should now be returned to the factory default settings, meaning any changes you had made would be deleted.
The router has now been reset. Follow the steps in Securing Linksys WRT54G Wireless Router to secure your router.
Through the Web Administration Pages
The second method involves logging into the Web administration pages of the router. Use the following steps to reset the router using this method:
- Open your Web browser and enter the IP address of your router. By default, the address is 192.168.1.1.
- Enter your user ID And password when prompted. Hopefully this has been changed, but if it hasn’t, the default is no ID and admin as the password.
- At the top of the Web page, click Administration and then Factory Defaults.
- Beside Restore Factory Defaults, click Yes.
- Now click the Save Settings button at the bottom of the Web page.
Your WRT54G wireless router should now be reset to the factory defaults. Ensure you follow the steps outline in Securing Linksys WRT54G Wireless Router to secure your router.
Summary
This post has provided two methods you can use to reset your Linksys WRT54G wireless router. If you are having problems with your router, try reseting the router to the factory defaults, and then make the changes again and see if the router starts working again.
61 Responses to “How to Reset the Linksys WRT54G Wireless Router”:
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I reset my router, now I get a Westell setup page and not the normal black and blue Linksys page when in input 192.168.1.1
Looks like you are getting your modem’s setup page and not your router’s. Ensure that you have connected the router to the modem correctly, and that you have connected to the router wirelessly.
The best way is to use a network cable and connect to the router to set it up, and then setup the wireless connection on your PC.
Thanks. I really need these settings.
Hi there. I am unable to access my Linksys router. When I reset and use the admin password, it comes back with Realm Level 15 access. Can you please help me!!? Thanks.
@Jonathan Cox: What ID and password are you using to log in to your router?
Does the Linksys need to be plugged in or unplugged while holding the reset button? Does it matter?
-C
I believe the router needs to be plugged in.
cant excess my wireless router and have searched ur whole website found nothing cant we chat with online technician to sort this out.
Your reset procedure worked perfectly for me. Thanks.
I held the reset button for 30 seconds, but when I access the IP address online and enter the admin under password, it still does not allow me to access the administration page. Any pointers for me with this problem? Thanks!
@Mitch: What id and password are you using to access the administration page?
hi, i reset the router through the admin page and everything went well, but i still cant connect, both my laptops found the connection and connected but would not go online.
i tried the reset procedure 4 times now i still get the level 15 access. i tried admin as id and admin as password and i tried just admin as id no password
and i tried no id and password admin. nothing any help?
How many times can take to reset the linksys wireless router? and it is required to turn off the wireless router before to reset? what happened if the wireless is turned on then it tried to push the reset button?
The router should be on when you push the reset button. You can push it as many times as you want, but it only takes one time to reset the router.
Hi, I am unable to access the ip address page. It just comes up with an error message when I type in 192.163.1.1.
Other web sites say that you have to change your ip address to 192.163.1.2,although this also does not work.
I have also tried resetting, no joy!
My internet is working fine, I just need to secure my wireless connection on the ip address site.
Any suggestions?
@Sheridan: Click “Start Menu->Run” and type “cmd”. At the DOS prompt, type “ipconfig”. The IP address listed next to “Default Gateway” is the IP address you enter into your browser.
Hi,
I purchased a new laptop which would not connect to my wireless connection. I played around on my desktop and managed to screw everything up.
I have been on the phone with Comcast who cannot help whatsoever.
I have re-installed Linksys but to no avail.
I have reset it also.
With the ethernet cable or USB straight from my modem into PC I can connect to the internet but not through the router.
Then the ethernet cable stopped working.
I get a dial -up box but when I press “connect” it informs me it is connecting via WAN miniport (PPPOE).
I’ve changed it to “never dialup”
Under the broadband connection properties it asks for a Service Name.
I tried putting in “www.comcast.net” but to no avail.
What am I doing wrong?
I’ll worry about the laptop connection later.
Try using 192.168.1.1 not 192.163.1.1 …. And jim reset the router to factory defaults a lot of pranksters like to screw with the router setting and return them
Earlier I had cable modem which was getting connected Linksys WRH54G. It was working fine.
I changed the connection to an ADSL modem. I connect that to my Linksys WRH54G wireless router, which further is used to bring my laptop online.
I am not able to connect neither wired nor wireless - as soon as I bring the wireless router in. It works absolutely fine when I connect my modem directly to my laptop.
I tried to reset the router’s setting using reset button. When I do ipconfig, I get IP address as 192.168.1.100 and gateway as 192.168.1.1. Is there any setting that I have to do in wireless router? Its a PPoE type of connection. Do I have to provide LAN Ip, starting IP address, DNS, Gateway in the router’s page?
Pls help
@Sachin: The IP addresses look correct. I haven’t setup many PPoE connections with routers, but have you setup the router correctly?
In the router administrative pages, change the “Internet Connection Type” to PPPoE, and then enter your User Name and Password give to you by your ISP.
typing http://192.168.1.1 into the browser doesn’t take me anywhere. Any suggestions?
From a DOS command prompt, type “ipconfig” (without the quotes), and then type the address displayed next to the Gateway in the browser.
I’ve used ipconfig and I’m using the correct address in my browser but I still cannot access the admin interface. I’d really rather not reset my router settings, are there any other options available to me?
Hae you enabled SSL security in your admin previously? If that is the case, then you need to specify https://192.168.1.1 (note the https and not http).
HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have a ps3 hard wired and a computer hard wired to the wrt54g(comcast service). When i unplug then plug the modem back in and do the same of the router, which ever one i try to access to the internet first will be the only one i can use. In other words after i do the little aka soft reset if i turn on my ps3 and play a game on the internet my computer cant connect to the internet….. The real issue is that it was working and it just stopped… I tried all the ports toooooo…. Can someone help me b4 i throw this thing through the wall………
p.s. I have tried the ipconfig and getting my address, then typing it in the internet web browser, nothing happens.
Hmm…interesting.
I have a few questions.
1. How many IP address is your router set to assign? Ensure you have enough IP addresses assigned by your router.
2. What are the IP addresses assigned by your router in your DHCP Clients table? Log in to your administrative pages, then go to Status->Local Network. Click the DHCP Clients Table button to view.
3. Is any of the machines connecting to your wireless router using a static IP address, or all they all set to use DHCP?
4. Will you be repairing your wall before you fix your router or after? If you wait until after, you can just throw the router through the same hole.
Thanks for helping…
How do i get to the admin pages because i tried the ipconfig the putting that number in the internet browser and nothing happens….
Well i had my router at my house then i moved and hooked it up where i live now, so will that give me more the 1 ip adress ….
When it was working i had other things hooked up wirelessly with the ps3 and the computer…
And as for the wall hahaha what ever will work…..
Was it the Default Gateway IP address (from ipconfig) that you entered into your browser?
Did you put it in the form: http://nnn.nnn.nnn.nnn (or https://nnn.nnn.nnn.nnn if you enabled the SSL security)?
What do you get when you enter the IP address in your browser?
Was it the Default Gateway IP address (from ipconfig) that you entered into your browser?
Did you put it in the form: http://nnn.nnn.nnn.nnn (or https://nnn.nnn.nnn.nnn if you enabled the SSL security)?
What do you get when you enter the IP address in your browser?
yup……. i tried both http and https and it says Internet Explorer cannot display the web page….
the format was nn.nnn.nn.n
Thanks for all the advice. I followed what was written and my modem is working great.
Joe Bear
I tried many times(more then 30 seconds), for reset button. then I tried login with blank user name and admin password. but not getting administrator page.
What page are you getting instead of the admin pages?
i cant access my router when i place 192.168.1.1. it sends me to my modem. someone was playing with my laptop and it appears that something was changed. however i can connect using a wired connection. i tried the reset by holding the reset botton down. can u give me some ideas? what can i try?
When you run ipconfig from a DOS prompt, what is the IP address next to the default gateway?
To Deepak and others.
I had same problem with nothing happening when entering “admin” as password. As a last attempt i tried to disconnect the power to the router, and put it back on power. Also i tried using IE to write the IP (used Google Chrome before). Wich did the trick i don’t know, but it works now.
I disconnect the power from my router once in a while when I lose my connection to the router. Once I reconnect the power, my computer tends to automatically reconnect to the router again.
I usually only use IE when connecting to the admin panels of my router.
Thank you, I’m glad I found this info, now can set up a small netowrk bettween my computrs
Thanks
Thank you, I’m glad I found this info, now can set up a small netowrk bettween my computrs
Thanks
I had a cable modem and lynksys G router (WRT54G2) that was working fine. I unplugged the cable modem from the Lynksys — and hooked the ethernet cable directly to a laptop computer. Once I unplugged the computer and re-plugged the Lynsys - my laptops that had worked previously, found the connection and was receiving a signal, but I could not connect to the internet.
What steps do I need to take to restablish the working connection. After running the Lynksys CD again to try and restablish the connection it tells me that the ethernet cable is not plugged in (it is) and it is unable to repair the connection.
At the moment I have all the computers off, the xbox and Wii off and the power supply off to the modem and router - leaving the ethernet connections as they were before.
I would try to power up your modem, and wait for the modem to finish starting. Once that is done, I would then try to power up the router and once again wait for it to reconnect.
Once the router has powered up, try connect your laptop to the router, and see if you are able to connect to the Internet. If you can’t do it wirelessly, connect your laptop to the router using a cable. Go into your administrative pages and check to ensure your router has received an IP address from your ISP.
The reset method always works… everytime…. for me at least…
but how do you do it without resetting…
For some reason, i can never go to 198.168.1.1
and i am forced to reset each and everytime.. Why is this? and how can i just type in 192.168.1.1 next time, so i don’t have to reset the router…
Why do you need to reset the router each time? You should be able to just type in http://192.168.1.1 to access your admin pages from your browser.
I tried to put in the IP address into IE and it asks me for password, I put blank for username and admin as the password but it keeps asking me again, as if it’s the wrong password! what can I do?
Also,
I have a desktop and a laptop in my house and I have a router.
I used to have the modem connected to the router, the desktop connected to the router via a cable and my laptop would connect wirelessly.
Since last week, my desktop’s internet doesn’t work even when I directly connect it to the modem!
My laptop’s wireless also stopped working. It doesn’t work when I connect to the router with a cable either. The only time it works, is when I connect it directly to the modem with a cable!
‘ve tried resetting the modem and router but neither have worked!
help please!
When you connect your desktop directly to the modem, do you get an IP address? Run ipconfig from a DOS prompt and check for the IP address in the list of information.
my default username and password after resetting my linksys router is always as follows:
user id: admin
password: admin
ip is always 192.168.1.1 after a reset, the router is your default gateway.
I’ve reset the router using the IP, but accidentally reset using the button on the router itself afterward. Now, when I type the IP in the browser again, it takes me to management mode where it gives me a dialogue box to browse for a firmware update. What do I do if I lost my linksys disc?
Hmm…I don’t understand why it would ask for a firmware file. The only thing that comes to mind is that you tried to update your firmware, but something interrupted the process. If you need one, you can always visit the Linksys web site and download the latest firmware version, and follow the instructions.
The reset buttons should have just reset your router back to the factory default settings, and doesn’t affect the firmware.
I have this router in my home and it works great! However, I have a small issue, which is more of a nuisance than a problem, but something I would like to resolve. I got this router used, from my parents. When I use my i pod touch, and tell it to locate me, it says that I am at my parents house, but I am indeed at my own house. The router still thinks it is at my parents house. When I first got the router I reset it. I wonder if i can fix this location problem without resetting. I have an extensive home network and I would hate to re add everything to it.
if u dont have the disc for a linksys WRT54G2 V1 how can you download it.
You can try the Linksys site at:
http://www.linksysbycisco.com/CA/en/support/WRT54G2/download.Hi Paul
I have a slight problem with my WRT54G, it has stopped sending me a wireless signal. I am still able to use a network cable to the back of my laptop, but when i try to access the setup 192.168.1.1, I am not getting anything at all. How do I get it’s ip address back?
Regards
Easty
Some laptops include a switch to disable the wireless connectivity. Is the wireless connectivity turn on?
Hi
Yes the laptop switch is on. I reset the router back to the factory settings, but still could not access the set up page. So I bought a new router. Back on line again.
Anyway Thanks for replying
Easty
Hi,
After a few years of absolutely no issues, my WRT54G router suddenly stopped sending a wireless signal. My PC is okay because it is connected directly to the router, but my mom’s computer and my iPod touch can no longer connect to the internet, and the wireless network I created is no longer one of the option when I am prompted to “connect to a network.” It’s like it was randomly deleted or something. Is this a common issue? Is this where I would use the reset feature? I have tried setting up the network again using the installation disk that came with the router, but it doesn’t let me… it gets halfway through the process and then I get an error message. Any advice would be much appreciated!! Thanks!
You can try resetting the router back to the factory defaults, and then reset up the network. What error message are you getting when you try to configure the router?
I pressed the reset button on the linsys router and now whenever I try going to http://192.168.1.1/ it says it cannot connect. I really need to get my network up again and secured. HELP!!!
Try the following:
1. Connect your computer directly to your router using a network cable.
2. Go to a command prompt and type “ipconfig” (without the quotes).
3. The IP address beside the “Default Gateway” is the IP address of your router. If you still can’t connect using that IP address, try holding down the reset button longer, or using https instead of http.
I there, I have a Linksys WRT54GL Router and for some time, I led it to a friend. When he refunds me it, I plugged in and… the green power button only winks, it’s not stable. No hard resets (10-20-30 secs and more), I can’t get in via http… I don’t know what I must do. Any ideas? Thank you very much.
It sounds like a hardware issue, and if it is, then you will need to replace the router.
Try taking it to a store that can test the router and see if they can get it to work.