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Beginner5 min read2026-09-12

Myth Buster: Restarting and Resetting a Router Are the Same Thing

They are not. One reboots the device; the other can erase your configuration.

Verdict: False

Restarting or rebooting turns the router off and back on while normally keeping its configuration. A factory reset returns it toward its original settings and can remove Wi-Fi names, passwords and ISP-specific configuration.

When to restart

A restart is a reasonable basic troubleshooting step when a router has become unresponsive or a temporary fault is suspected.

When not to reset

Do not press and hold the reset button unless you understand what will be erased and know how the router will be configured again afterward.

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