TP Link are a company that has been around for a long time, and make excellent routers as well as a range of smart home products. Their routers are very common and come packaged with an internet plan, and can be bought separately. They can have issues from time to time, so in this article I will explain how to reset a TP link Wifi connection or router.
There are two different types of resets on a TP link router, a soft reset and a hard (factory) reset. Doing a soft reset can fix a lot of issues and will reset the Wi-Fi connection. It’s done by turning off the router and turning it on again. Or, by unplugging it from the wall.
A hard also called a factory reset should only be done if it really has to. This is generally if you forget the password for your router, are selling it or giving it away, or if a soft reset hasn’t fixed an issue you’re having with your router. Below I will explain how to do a factory reset on a TP Link router, as well as, how to change the IP address, reset it remotely, and everything you need to know about resetting a TP Link router.
How to Reset TP Link WiFi/Router
After doing a soft reset a lot of issues will be fixed. But, if you still can’t connect to the internet or then your next best option is to do a factory reset. Here’s how to do that on a TP Link router.
Press and hold the WPS/RESET button at the back of the TP Link router for 10 seconds while the TP Link router is turned on to factory reset a TP Link router. After 10 seconds release the WPS/RESET button. The router will turn off and then turn on again to complete the factory reset.
There is a light labeled ‘SYS’. As you press the WPS/RESET button it will flash slowly and then flash quickly once the factory reset has been done. On some TP Link router models the WPS/RESET button will be labeled as simply ‘RESET’.
Some are also a very small button about the size of a pinhole. And can only be pressed using a bent paper clip or similar sized object.
Such as, the tool used to open the sim card slot on smartphones such as the iPhone. When pressing this type of button be careful to press the button lightly, and only enough to press it down. If you press into the hole too hard it can damage the small button inside.
Doing a factory reset using the built in software using a computer
There are two ways to do a factory reset on a TP Link router. The other way is by logging into the software of the router using a computer. To do this the router does not need to be connected to the internet. But, it does need to be turned on.
And the computer needs to be connected to the router. It can be connected using the ethernet cable, or with the WiFi connection.
For instructions for full step by step instructions for how to log into your router using a computer go to this page on the official TP Link website. Once you’re logged in select the following options using the menu that is shown after you’ve logged in:
1. Advanced options
2. System Tools
3. Backup & Restore
4. Factory Default Restore
5. Factory Restore
After you select factory restore the router will turn off, and turn on again which will complete the factory reset.
How to Reset TP Link WiFi Name and Password
The password and username for a TP Link WiFi router are required to log in to your TP Link router. If you’ve changed the password or forgotten what the password is, here’s what to do, and then how to reset it if it doesn’t work.
As a general rule, a factory reset needs to be done to reset the password and username on a TP Link router. Overall, the username is always admin, and the default password is admin so try this first. A factory reset is done using the factory reset button or in the settings.
A factory reset can also be done by logging into the router. The software for TP Link modems has slightly different options depending on the model. If you click around you can generally find it.
But, this page on the official TP link website lists the different options to select based on what type of modem you have. After a factory reset is done, the default username and password will be “admin”. For details on how to do a factory reset by using the reset button refer to the heading a bit further down in this article that says ‘How to Reset TP Link WiFi to Factory Settings.’
How to Reset TP Link WiFi Admin Password
To log in to the software to change the setting on a TP Link router you need the admin name and the password. On older models it is admin for both, for example the admin is admin and the password is admin. On newer models it asks you to set the password the first time you log in, but you may have forgotten it, so this is how to reset the admin and password on a TP link router.
It can only be done by doing a factory reset of your TP Link router. First try putting admin for the admin username, and admin for the password. If it’s not this then do a factory reset by holding down the WPS/RESET for 10 seconds while the router is on, and then release it.
After you release the button the router will power cycle. This can take a few minutes. To verify that the factory reset is done, log in to your router by going to http://tplinkwifi.net on a computer that is connected to the router. It can be connected over Wi-Fi or by plugging in the ethernet cable from the router to the computer.
Once you log in put the username: admin. It will ask you to set the password. If it doesn’t then put the admin as the password and it will log you in.
How to Reset TP Link Router Forgot Password
There is a default user name of admin to log in to the software on a TP Link router. For newer TP link routers it will prompt you to set a password the first time you login. If you’ve forgotten this password then you need to reset the TP Link router so that it goes back to the default.
First try the default password which is admin. If it’s not this then do a factory reset by holding down the WPS/RESET button on the router for 10 seconds. The TP link router will power cycle to complete the factory reset. It will prompt you to set a new password when you login.
On some TP Link routers the reset button will be labeled ‘reset’ rather than WPS/RESET. The ‘reset’ button will do the same thing as the WPS/RESET which is a factory. Therefore, press the ‘reset’ button instead to do a factory reset.
How to Reset TP Link WiFi to Factory Settings
A factory reset is required for a few different reasons on a TP Link WiFi router. Step by step instructions for exactly how to do a factory reset is listed below:
There is a button that you press to do a factory reset that is either labeled ‘reset’ or ‘WPS/RESET’. You press and hold this button for 10 seconds and then release it. A TP Link router or the WiFi connection can also be factory reset in the options by logging into the router using a computer.
To log in to your router using a computer connect your computer to your router using the WiFi connection or an ethernet cable. Then select:
Advanced > System Tools > Backup and Restore > Factory Default Restore > finally click Factory Default.
The router will turn off and turn on again to complete the factory reset.
How to Reset TP Link Router IP Address
IP addresses are susceptible to network conflicts which can stop devices from being able to connect to the internet. To fix this issue the IP address can be changed or reset. This is how to reset the IP address for a TP Link router:
Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on February 24, 2022.
You need to log in to the router using a computer that is connected to the router either with an ethernet cable or over WiFi. On a web browser such as Google Chrome or Safari on the computer that’s connected and go to http://tplinkwifi.net. Then log in and select the options shown below.
When you log in use the username “admin” and the password “admin”, unless you have set a new password to log in to the router yourself manually. If admin doesn’t work for the password or you’ve forgotten your password you will need to do a factory reset on your TP Link router to put the password back to admin. On newer routers when you do a factory reset and log in to the router it will ask you to set a new password.
Step by step details on how to do a factory reset on your TP Link router are listed above under the heading ‘How to Reset TP Link WiFi to Factory Settings.’ Once you’ve logged into your router choose the following options on the menu tabs.
- Advanced (top menu)
- Network
- LAN (side menu)
- There is then an option to put in the new IP under LAN IP
- Then hit ‘Save.’
The default IP is set to 192.168.0.1 in case you need to put it back. After that the new IP will be saved.
How to Reset TP Link Router Flashing Lights
There are typically 3 to 4 lights on a TP Link router to indicate if there’s an issue and the status of your TP Link router. When some or a few of these lights are flashing you can reset your TP Link router to stop this from happening. Although some flashing lights are normal, here’s what to do in cases when the normal lights that flash on a TP Link router are flashing.
Turn the TP Link off by unplugging it at the wall or by pressing the power button if your TP Link router model has one. Some amount of flashing lights is normal for a TP Link router. In all cases the internet light will flash constantly during normal function.
If there is a specific light that is flashing that isn’t the ‘internet’ light then it can indicate an issue. Doing the soft reset above is a very good troubleshooting step and will typically fix most problems.
If the flashing light issue on your TP Link router persists
If the flashing light issues persists – where a light is flashing other than the ‘internet’ light then do a factory reset. This is done by pressing the button on the router labeled ‘WPS/RESET’ or ‘reset’. This button can have a pinhole sized hole.
This requires a bent paper clip or similar sized object to be inserted into the hole to press the button on the inside. The button needs to be pressed and held for 10 seconds, after that release the button. The router will turn off, and then turn on again and can take a few minutes.
If you still have flashing lights after 10 seconds then your TP Link router is very likely faulty and needs to be repaired or replaced. In this case contact TP Link directly to see how they advise to have it repaired or replaced and whether it’s covered by warranty. If your TP Link router was provided as part of your internet plan from an internet service provider company such as Verizon or Sprint.
Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on February 24, 2022.
Then you should contact them to enquire about how to get it repaired or replaced. In most cases they will have you run through a series of checks to verify what the issue is. And they will ask you to do the two types of resets which you’ve already performed.
How to Reset TP Link Router Remotely
It can be easier to reset a TP Link router remotely. Particularly if you’re away from home, and the people at home that are having the issue don’t know how to fix it. So, then how can a TP Link router be reset remotely?
A TP Link router can only be reset remotely if you have remote access to a computer that is connected to the router over WiFi or with an ethernet cable. Otherwise, it can not be done. The router can be reset with a computer that’s connected to it by logging into the router.
This is done by going to a web browser on the computer that is connected to the router and going to http://tplinkwifi.net. After that it will ask you to login to the router, and you can select the options in the menu to reset it.
Full step by step instructions for how to do that are explained in the heading above that says ‘Doing a factory reset using the built in software using a computer’. This heading is located close to the very top of this article.
ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on February 24, 2022.
A soft reset is done by disconnecting the power or pressing the on/off button, and then connecting the power again. This won’t revert the settings back to default. A factory reset is done by pressing the button labeled either ‘reset’ or ‘WPS/RESET’. But, returns all the settings back to default.