For many WAPs, the following procedure is a good way to assure a reset to firmware defaults. There is, reportedly, a ‘recovery mode’ into which the below can send some ASUS WAPs, but for most it’s just an authoritative reset.
- Plug the WAP into power but not network.
- Wait until its lights stabilize.
- Press and hold the reset button for 30 seconds. Do not let up the button…
- Unplug the WAP and continue to hold reset for another 30 seconds…
- Still holding the reset button in, plug the unit back into power, and hold reset for 30 more seconds.
Many WAPs will respond with a ‘waiting’ or ‘working’ indicator, which means that the WAP is in the process of setting all configurations to default. Once that’s done, it’s ready to be set up again.