I reset my router and now can’t connect to the internet…..Wondering why is there no internet after resetting modem?
This hurdle certainly happened to many of us after deciding to factory reset our modem due to an existing issue.
Well, luckily for you, we’re here to provide you with some peace of mind by sharing with you an easy solution at home!
When you reset the modem, the internet may disappear temporarily because the DHCP is reverted to default settings, which can result in a loss of connectivity until the modem re-establishes a connection with your service provider.
This ultimately means that your modem cannot acquire the IP automatically from the DHCP server, which is why there is no internet.
Let’s continue to unwrap and grasp the solution!
I reset my router and now can’t connect to the internet
The primary reason why your modem doesn’t have internet after performing a factory reset is that the device hasn’t received the necessary IP addresses.
There are many different models of modems and many of them come with different initial settings, which typically causes this fuss.
The number one reason why the modem doesn’t have internet after a reset is that the (DHCP) or Dynamic Host Configuration client is disabled.
This protocol allows your modem to send and receive the necessary IP addresses automatically to the local and to the external network.
In Short…
Bringing your modem to default settings, most likely disabled the DHCP setting, thus the device cannot receive the IP addresses automatically.
This means that there is going to be no internet coming from the supplier to the modem, or to any of the Ethernet-connected devices.
The Solution?
There are only two ways to deal with this:
- Call your service provider and manually insert the IP addresses.
- Enter the modem’s control panel and enable the DHCP option.
Info: Some providers (even if rarely), lock their modems in a way that after the user performs a reset, only the supplier can upload the necessary scripts.
Hence, if your modem is locked by the supplier, which is unlikely, your only way out would be to call them.
No Internet After Resetting Modem – Easy Solutions!
The guide below will illustrate the best and fastest way to restore the internet connection on the modem after a factory reset.
However, there are two possible scenarios of your setup, where a router might be involved, so we’ll cover both situations, respectively – with or without a router.
Standalone Modem *Without Router*
When there is no router involved, then your computer receives internet directly from the modem via an Ethernet cable.
In those cases, you’re ready to jump into the control panel of your modem and carry out the setup wizard or simply enable the DHCP option manually from the settings.
Note: Keep in mind that your modem might involve a different set of menus and settings!
How to Enable DHCP on Modem?
- Connect a computer directly to the modem via Ethernet.
- Open a web browser and insert “192.168.0.1” and Enter.
- Login via admin (username) and admin (password).
- In case this doesn’t work, try with “password” for the password.
- If a setup wizard appears, follow the on-screen prompts.
- When asked, choose to receive IP automatically (DHCP).
- If there is no setup wizard, go into Advanced Settings.
- Locate the DHCP Settings tab, and enter and enable the feature.
If you’re asked for an IP address, on your Windows machine open the CMD (Command Prompt), type “ipconfig”, hit Enter, and copy the IPv4 from the list.
Then insert that IP into the DHCP settings in your modem, save the changes, and test whether the internet is back.
Modem + Router Combo – *With Router*
In case you’ve got a router involved in the setup (Modem > Router > Computer), then by using the computer, you can only access your router’s GUI.
Well, to enable the DHCP on the modem we would need a direct connection, hence you would need to undertake some extra steps.
- Simply disconnect the router from the modem, and connect your computer to the modem (directly) via an Ethernet cable.
By doing this, you would establish a setup without a router, so enabling the DHCP is easy by following the previous tutorial.
When the DHCP is enabled, you would be confident that your modem is now receiving internet, and when you connect the router later, it will receive it as well.
In addition, you will have to enable the DHCP protocol on the router by following the exact same steps.
The only difference would be the default gateway IP, which of course would be different when your computer is connected to the router directly, thus accessing the router’s GUI.
Tip: On a Windows machine, you will find the default gateway received by the connected device in the Command Prompt after typing “ipconfig”.
No Internet on Computer After Resetting Modem?
Regardless of whether your computer is directly connected to the modem or there is a router in-between, it’s normal not to have internet after the reset.
This happens for the same reason as the modem, hence the computer is not receiving the necessary IP addresses.
We’re going to present a guide for Windows-operated machines and how to configure the IP’s the correct way, only after receiving them from your internet supplier. So follow the steps below:
1. Acquire the Necessary IPs
Note: We’re not going to use DHCP IP assignment, instead this is a guide for a manual setup!
The first step is only possible during the weekdays or unless your internet supplier would help on the weekend.
You need to call them and write down the general IP addresses that you need:
- The IPv4 IP Address
- The subnet mask
- The default gateway
If you’re connected to customer service, you might be redirected to technical support where you should be provided with the IP addresses.
Do not forget to share that you’ve performed a reset on the modem, and as per your provider’s policy, they might even guide you through it!
Reminder: Ensure that your modem or router is connected to your computer via an Ethernet!
2. Open the Manual IP Assignment
On your Windows-operated machine follow the steps below to assign IPs manually:
- Click on the “Start Menu” to show the options.
- Type “Settings” in the search field to enter.
- Click on the “Network & Internet” tab on the right.
- Then select the “Ethernet” tab from the top.
- Click on the “Edit” button next to “IP Assignment”.
- Select “Manual” and click on the IPv4 toggle.
- Insert the IPv4, subnet mask, and default gateway.
- Save the changes and exit the Settings menu.
This way you manually provide your computer with the modem or router’s IP addresses, which can only be acquired by reaching out to your supplier (without DHCP).
3. Enter Router/Modem Control Panel
The final step is to enter the router or control panel (GUI) and adjust the rest of the settings based on your setup.
If you’ve recently factory reset your router, then you would need to adjust the SSIDs of your wireless network or carry out the steps from an existing setup wizard.
If your modem or router has to be configured through a setup wizard, well, you’re lucky because the prompts will carry you through.
In contrast, you need to separately enable DHCP on your router (when connected to the modem), so the router can receive the IP addresses easily.
Finally, your computer connected to the modem or router should have an internet connection!
Still No Internet On Modem After Reset…
In case enabling the DHCP on your modem didn’t resolve the issue, it’s not excluded that your modem is locked by the supplier.
Well, many internet suppliers do this to prevent the average user from logging into the settings or changing any of the technical configurations made prior.
In those cases, the supplier must manually install the necessary scripts for your modem to regain access to the internet.
So, if it’s Saturday or Sunday, we’re sorry to inform you that you might remain without internet until Monday or until you can reach out to your service supplier.
Quick Tip: If you’re stuck without internet for the weekend, share a hotspot from your mobile!
Quick Recap:
When there is no internet after resetting modem we should enable the modem’s DHCP protocol, for the machine to be able to acquire the IPs automatically.
Alternatively, you should call your service supplier, acquire the IP addresses and insert them manually. Follow us for more related content!
Read Next: What to Do with Old Modems? – Best Options
Finn Wheatley holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from UCL, London. He helped small data science consultancy firms, helping large corporations to grow their data capabilities, deploy advanced machine learning-based analytics and troubleshoot tech-related issues. Check out more about him here.