Can't reset ASUS RT-AC68U to factory

[Jesse Smitley]

So a while ago I changed the default login to my Asus RT-AC68U from 'admin' 'admin', and must have typed it in incorrectly to what I have written down. I've tried well over 100 variations, and haven't figured it out. Holding in the reset button on the back of my router does not reset it to factory; it simply restarts my router. I need to change settings in my router, and cannot do that unless I can actually log into the router. Thank you for any info you can provide.

 

[adamwinn]

How do you know it's restarting it, and not resetting it? Was there a wireless network name you configured (non-default) and it's still broadcasting after you do the reset?

Not to be insulting, but did you double and triple check that caps lock is not on when trying the defaults admin/admin after resetting?

Last resort, reset the firmware via Firmware Restoration utility. Instructions in the manual: http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/wireless/RT-AC68U/E9183_RT_AC68U_Manual.zip

 

[g90814]

Try the 30-30-30 reset, usually works with just about any home router:

1. when the unit is powered on, hold down its reset button for 30 seconds

2. while still holding down the reset button, unplug the router from power and hold for an additional 30 seconds

3. still holding down the reset button, turn on power to the router again and hold for 30 more seconds

After this process (a total of 90 seconds) is complete, your router should be restored to its factory default state.

 

[adamwinn]

That will put the device into firmware restoration mode

 

[shagz7]

That will put the device into firmware restoration mode

I have the AC68U and can tell you it's unlike any router I have had before with respect to the functionality for resetting it to factory defaults. I did the complete firmware restore and still was unable to obtain an IP from it (my issue was I turned off DHCP to use as a switch connected to my cheapo ATT router due to some weird connectivity issues over my powerline networking equipment and hadn't specified a local LAN IP to get back into it).

Long story short, the way I FINALLY got it to actually reset was to hold the factory reset button down for about 6-8 seconds. You will know because the power light on the front of the router starts to blink quickly. If you continue to hold it down longer it will start to blink slowly (part of what is needed to put it in the recovery mode). It will keep cycling between fast and short blinks. I believe as long as you let go of the button when the fast blink is going on it should reset everything back. Then you should be able to (once it boots up) access it via the 192.168.1.1 or http://router.asus.com address. NOTE: You may need to perform an ipconfig /release and renew to get the new IP address from DHCP.

Hope this helps

 

[John Krawczyk]

There is another thread on Tom's hardware which has the solution.

In brief I'll repost it here:

rbyers01 said:
This finally reset mine. The reset instructions in the manual didn't work but this did.

Try the following:
(1) physically turn off the router
(2) press WPS button and keep it pressed
(3) turn the router on with WPS button pressed for 5 sections after router powers on
(4) release WPS button
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This also worked for my RT-AC68U. This is the only solution I've found that worked. It seems that one is not using WPS to connect an additional device to the router, rather this WPS button seems as if during powerup it provides what the Reset button is supposed to do. I have no idea why Asus basically disconnected that Reset button on the back. This seems like a backdoor method to do a system reset as Asus engineers probably didn't like however they were supposed to reset the device.

Even after resetting it, my wireless devices still require a Network Key to access the Network. Thus it's clear that this is not bypassing WPA security but is actually "The Real Reset" method.

Also note that the RT-AC68U has a power switch on the back. Thus you don't need to unplug it.

 

[teddr]

I found that you are on the right track, but, at least for me, for it to work, I had to hold the WPS button down long enough for the power light to go into "fast flash" mode and then, I think I then pressed the reset button.

Remember, that the "official" instructions say "press the reset button until the power light flashes rapidly, then release." I found that did not work--that the power light went directly to slow flash mode, which is useless for resetting. Your method resulted in getting the power light to go into fast flash mode.

Sorry I can't remember whether getting into fast flash mode was followed by pressing the reset button while in fast flash mode. Those with this problem will need to try with and without pressing the reset button while in fast flash mode. It's working now, and I do not want to undo what I did just to verify the final step.

 

[shortstevenn]

Thank you so much, worked like a charm!

There is another thread on Tom's hardware which has the solution.

In brief I'll repost it here:

rbyers01 said:
This finally reset mine. The reset instructions in the manual didn't work but this did.

Try the following:
(1) physically turn off the router
(2) press WPS button and keep it pressed
(3) turn the router on with WPS button pressed for 5 sections after router powers on
(4) release WPS button
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This also worked for my RT-AC68U. This is the only solution I've found that worked. It seems that one is not using WPS to connect an additional device to the router, rather this WPS button seems as if during powerup it provides what the Reset button is supposed to do. I have no idea why Asus basically disconnected that Reset button on the back. This seems like a backdoor method to do a system reset as Asus engineers probably didn't like however they were supposed to reset the device.

Even after resetting it, my wireless devices still require a Network Key to access the Network. Thus it's clear that this is not bypassing WPA security but is actually "The Real Reset" method.

Also note that the RT-AC68U has a power switch on the back. Thus you don't need to unplug it.

 

[Marcelo Barros]

Hi, is there another way to clear NVRAM ? My router continues in its infinite boot loop. I´ve tried WPS when powering on, i´ve tried rescue mode, and nothing.

Thanks.


quotemsg=15920787,0,1991949]There is another thread on Tom's hardware which has the solution.

In brief I'll repost it here:

rbyers01 said:
This finally reset mine. The reset instructions in the manual didn't work but this did.

Try the following:
(1) physically turn off the router
(2) press WPS button and keep it pressed
(3) turn the router on with WPS button pressed for 5 sections after router powers on
(4) release WPS button
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This also worked for my RT-AC68U. This is the only solution I've found that worked. It seems that one is not using WPS to connect an additional device to the router, rather this WPS button seems as if during powerup it provides what the Reset button is supposed to do. I have no idea why Asus basically disconnected that Reset button on the back. This seems like a backdoor method to do a system reset as Asus engineers probably didn't like however they were supposed to reset the device.

Even after resetting it, my wireless devices still require a Network Key to access the Network. Thus it's clear that this is not bypassing WPA security but is actually "The Real Reset" method.

Also note that the RT-AC68U has a power switch on the back. Thus you don't need to unplug it.[/quotemsg]

 

[itz_speld_rong]

The only way I could fix my problem (web GUI not accessible, router wouldn't reset to factor default) was with the ASUS Firmware Restoration Tool. Make sure to follow the instructions regarding putting the router in rescue mode, etc.

I tried the most recent version of ASUS Firmware with the Firmware Restoration tool and it didn't solve the issue. I tried the oldest version of firmware on the ASUS site and it didn't work either. I ended up somewhere in the middle with firmware releases and my web interface was again accessible (after a router power cycle). Once I was in, I used the router's web GUI to install ASUS WRT-Merlin, and I'd recommend you do the same (so you don't have to deal with ASUS's poor firmware any longer.

After almost a year of stress, I conquered this. I hope this helps somebody else who payed way too much for an unfinished product!