How to restart the router

When we have problems with the Internet connection we start looking for solutions. A typical measure that we tend to take is to restart the router, and on many occasions, it has a positive effect. In this sense, it is beneficial because it helps to empty all the temporary data that the router stores, such as the NAT table, registers and other internal information of the router itself. However, by restarting a router, we sometimes cannot solve the problem. For example, a bad configuration of some parameter that we have made, can weigh down our connection and could even stop working. So, resetting the router completely and leaving it as it came from the factory may be the best measure we can adopt.

Our router will allow us to connect to the Internet through an Ethernet or WiFi network cable. Thanks to this we will be able to navigate, send emails, watch streaming videos, play online and more. However, on some occasions we may have a problem where our connection is too slow, or we simply cannot connect to the network. So we must adopt one of these two measures.

1. Restart the router.
2. Reset the router completely.

How to restart the router and what advantages it can bring us

Before taking more drastic and complex measures such as resetting the router to factory settings, try restarting it, as we have already mentioned before, should be our first option.

Generally, on the back of our current routers we find the power button often labeled Power , and the power connector to supply power. To this we have to add the typical Ethernet ports, the reset buttons and WPS, and sometimes a USB port.

The process to correctly restart the router consists of:

1. We turn off the router by pressing the power button on the router. Then we will see how all the lights of the device go out.
2. It must remain off at least between 25 and 30 seconds. If it is longer, nothing happens, you will not lose the configuration.
3. We press the Power or ignition button again to put it into operation, and we wait about two minutes until it is fully operational.

Thus, when restarting the router we obtain a series of benefits:

• We release you from IP connections and other information that is not being used.
• The Wi-Fi network starts again, and if you have a good router, it will look for the channel with the least interference.
• We can solve conflict problems between IPs.

As for the restart process, until you have an Internet connection again, it is normal that it takes up to two minutes.

If your router does not have an on / off button, then you will need to remove the router’s power cord, or the power transformer. It is recommended that it be disconnected for 25-30 seconds, and then reconnect it to the power supply.

Restart the router via web configuration

Some routers such as the AVM FRITZ! Box do not have an on / off button. Then the solution would be to unplug it, wait about 30 seconds and plug it back in. However, due to accessibility problems to that plug or for convenience, we may prefer to do it from its web configuration. It should also be noted that, in the same way, but in a different section, we could reset the router to its factory settings.

The first thing we have to do to access the router’s configuration is to know its IP. Now, to find out, we are going to follow these steps:

• We go to the Windows start menu.
• We write run and press enter.
• There we type CMD and hit enter again.
• Next, a command prompt window will open to put commands.
• Now it’s time to write ipconfig / all and press enter.

Then, in the command prompt window you will see results like these:

The IP of our router is the one in a red box and is called the Default Gateway . In this case it would be 192.168.1.1.

The next thing we are going to do now is access the router’s web configuration, for which we would follow the following steps:

1. We open our usual browser.
2. In the address bar we type our router IP and press enter.
3. Next, a screen will appear asking us to enter our password. Sometimes it also asks for a user. Everyone here has to consult the manufacturer’s or operator’s manual. Sometimes, if you haven’t changed it, it usually comes on a sticker that comes underneath.

In the AVM FRITZ! Box router that we have used we would have to go to System , Protection and Restart .

In this case, click on the restart button and the process will begin. This function is quite common to find in routers, especially those that are not operator.

How to reset the router and what should we take into account

When with the restart we do not achieve our objectives, it is time to reset the router completely. However, before we start, we should take into account a couple of considerations:

1. We must have the configuration data of our operator. This is especially important if you are using a different router than the one provided by the operator.
2. Before starting, it is convenient to save a router configuration, in case you later need it or need it or want to restore it.
3. It is recommended to take screenshots of the WiFi settings, open ports and other specific settings that you have made.

Save current router configuration

Therefore, the best way to proceed, before resetting the router, is to make a backup of its configuration. We would enter the router through the web as we explained previously, and we would go to System , Protection and Save .

All routers always have a configuration menu where we can save a backup of the configuration. On some occasions, we must put a password to protect the configuration file, and we would click on save . In case of having a problem, or wanting to put the same configuration back, we would do it through the Restore tab .

As for the reasons we have for wanting to do a factory reset, they can be:

1. Slow or problem browsing.
2. We have changed configuration parameters that have made it worse, and we do not remember the modifications we have made.
3. We don’t remember the password we set to access the router, and we need to open ports or change the Wi-Fi password.

By resetting the router completely, we will leave the equipment as it came the first day. Minimum for security, it would be necessary to change the Wi-Fi password and open the ports that are needed. In the event that there has been a firmware update, it is convenient to do a configuration from scratch. The reason is that sometimes new sections are added and the configuration file remains the same.

In the back where we have the Ethernet ports, a button is usually located to reset the router and leave it as it came from the factory.

The button to reset the router is usually referred to as RESET . This button is usually housed inside, so that it is not accidentally pressed and the settings are lost. The way to reset the router completely would be:

1. We have to insert the tip of a pen or needle into the hole where the reset button is, and keep it pressed.
2. We must press and hold this button for about 10-12 seconds until we see that the router reboots. We will realize that you have done it when we see that all the LED lights turn on and off.
3. We stop pressing the RESET button and wait for it to start normally.

On other occasions, especially when we have third-party firmware such as DD-WRT or other firmwares, to reset the router it is necessary to do the following steps:

1. We remove the power from the router through the power cable.
2. While we have the power of the router removed, we keep the RESET button pressed, and while you are pressing it, you put the power cable back.
3. You wait about 10 seconds and the router will start normally with the default values.

Reset the router through the web configuration

In some cases, such as the AVM FRITZ! Box routers with which we have made this manual, it also does not have a RESET button. That means that to reset the router we will have to enter its web configuration to return it to its factory settings. Once we are in the router configuration, we go to System , Protection , Original factory configuration .

There we will click on Load the factory configuration to make a RESET. In case of not being able to access the administration web of the AVM FRITZ! Box router, we must put a fixed IP on our PC with the following IP: 169.254.1.2 and access the router administration via 169.254.1.1, which is the IP to access in case of catastrophic failure on these routers.

In this tutorial you have learned how to restart and reset the router appropriately according to the situation that corresponds to you, we hope it has helped you to solve your problems with the router.