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Factory Reset via Reset Button vs WPS Button

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I believe all Asus routers have a reset button you can push with a paper clip or similar item, however, the instructions from Asus to reset a router involve the WPS button (https://www.asus.com/support/FAQ/1039077/ and https://www.asus.com/support/FAQ/1039078/). Is there a difference between using the reset button vs using the WPS button to reset the router?

Thanks,
Harry

The only difference I'm aware of is you can short press the reset button to reboot the router (at least on certain models). Otherwise long press of that and holding WPS during power on should do the same thing.
 
The only difference I'm aware of is you can short press the reset button to reboot the router (at least on certain models). Otherwise long press of that and holding WPS during power on should do the same thing.
Do not think a long press of the reset button does the same as a gui reset and initialize all settings. Hard factory reset is supposed to wipe everything including the jffs.
 
I believe all Asus routers have a reset button you can push with a paper clip or similar item, however, the instructions from Asus to reset a router involve the WPS button (https://www.asus.com/support/FAQ/1039077/ and https://www.asus.com/support/FAQ/1039078/). Is there a difference between using the reset button vs using the WPS button to reset the router?

Thanks,
Harry

As I understand it from lurking here...

Reset button/webUI Restore/node removal clears settings in NVRAM; reboot restores firmware defaults from CFE (fw defaults)

Hard Reset via WPS button/webUI Restore+Initialize also clears data logged in /jffs partition (fw defaults+clear data)

The buttons serve when you can't access the webUI.

After upgrading AiMesh node and then router firmware, I use node removal to Reset nodes, and webUI Restore+Initialize to Hard Reset the router before configuring the router/firmware from scratch to reinstall the network.

OE
 
As I understand it from lurking here...

Reset button/webUI Restore/node removal clears settings in NVRAM; reboot restores firmware defaults from CFE (fw defaults)

Hard Reset via WPS button/webUI Restore+Initialize also clears data logged in /jffs partition (fw defaults+clear data)

The buttons serve when you can't access the webUI.

After upgrading AiMesh node and then router firmware, I use node removal to Reset nodes, and webUI Restore+Initialize to Hard Reset the router before configuring the router/firmware from scratch to reinstall the network.

OE

I always format JFFS after a hard reset anyway so never noticed any difference.
 
I always format JFFS after a hard reset anyway so never noticed any difference.

And you long and short press the Reset button... I've never seen that discussed here.

Formatting the /jffs partition must be an ASUSWRT-Merlin feature... I've never done that... just a Hard Reset to clear the stored data... so I feel directly reformatting afterward is not required with stock ASUSWRT.

OE
 
And you long and short press the Reset button... I've never seen that discussed here.

Formatting the /jffs partition must be an ASUSWRT-Merlin feature... I've never done that... just a Hard Reset to clear the stored data... so I feel directly reformatting afterward is not required with stock ASUSWRT.

OE

Short press of the reset should just reboot the router. May vary by model, that's what mine says.

Yeah I'm on Merlin so have the option of formatting it, guess on stock you need to long hold the WPS button to do that. Easier than using a pen anyway.
 
Short press of the reset should just reboot the router. May vary by model, that's what mine says.

Yeah I'm on Merlin so have the option of formatting it, guess on stock you need to long hold the WPS button to do that. Easier than using a pen anyway.

On stock ASUSWRT, I Hard Reset as ASUS explains. Maybe this formats the partition... maybe it just clears stored data. Regardless, a "Hard Reset" has always been sufficient here.

OE
 
I believe all Asus routers have a reset button you can push with a paper clip or similar item, however, the instructions from Asus to reset a router involve the WPS button (https://www.asus.com/support/FAQ/1039077/ and https://www.asus.com/support/FAQ/1039078/). Is there a difference between using the reset button vs using the WPS button to reset the router?

Thanks,
Harry

Actually one other thing I forgot, the recessed reset button is used to put the router into restore mode.
 
Xt12 Pro, the documented "factory reset" approach using the WPS button no workie. It doesn't work at all, tried a handful times, no soap. On the other hand press the reset button for 3 seconds or so, the light goes out, and the job's done. The published instructions are wrong.
 

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