The reset ladder in one table
Each rung erases more than the one below it, so start low. The durations and what each option clears come from GL.iNet firmware 4 documentation. [1][2][3]
| Rung | How | What it clears | Use when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soft reset | Hold reset 4 seconds, release | Internet interface back to defaults; Wi-Fi, VPN and system settings kept; Wi-Fi re-enabled if it was off [1] | Router is up but cannot get online, or you lost access after a mode change |
| Factory reset | Hold reset 10 seconds, release | All user data [1] | Forgotten admin password, settings too tangled to fix |
| Web panel reset | SYSTEM, Reset Firmware, Delete All and Reboot | All settings, applications and data; about 2 minutes [2] | You can still log in and want a clean start |
| U-Boot web recovery | Hold reset while powering on, upload firmware at 192.168.1.1 | Settings and installed plugins; firmware reinstalled; about 3 minutes [3] | Router will not boot normally after a failed flash or modification |
Before you press anything
Let the router finish booting. GL.iNet says to make sure the router has fully booted before a reset, because pressing the button right after power-up can trigger U-Boot failsafe mode instead. [1] That turns a simple network fix into a recovery session.
Check the model. Most firmware 4 routers use 4 and 10 seconds, but GL.iNet's Spitz AX guide lists a 5-second network reset and a 10-second factory reset. [5] If your model guide gives different timings, follow it. Make sure you have a backup from LuCI, made on the firmware version you are running. A backup only applies to the firmware version it was made on. [6]
Rung 1: the 4-second soft reset
Hold reset for 4 seconds and release. GL.iNet describes this as a soft reset that reboots the network interface and restores the Internet interface to default settings, while keeping Wi-Fi settings, VPN settings and system settings. If Wi-Fi had been turned off, it comes back on. [1]
The same press solves a common lock-out. GL.iNet's network mode page says that if you cannot reach the upstream router after switching to Access Point, Extender or WDS, holding reset for 4 seconds reverts the router to the default Router mode. [4] Try this first whenever the router has power and lights but you cannot reach it or it cannot reach the internet.
Rung 2: factory reset by button or admin panel
Hold reset, or a pin in the pinhole on models that have one, for 10 seconds and release. GL.iNet says all user data will be cleared. Touchscreen models can also factory reset from the screen. [1]
If you can still log in, the admin panel route is tidier. Go to SYSTEM, Reset Firmware, and click Delete All and Reboot. GL.iNet warns that all current settings, applications and data will be lost, says the process takes about 2 minutes, and says not to power off during it. [2] Afterwards, run first-time setup again at 192.168.8.1, check the firmware version under SYSTEM, Upgrade, then restore your settings.
Rung 3: U-Boot web recovery
U-Boot recovery is for a router you cannot reach because of a failed modification or wrong firmware flash. It reinstalls firmware from a small recovery web page and, GL.iNet warns, removes your settings and installed plugins. [3]
You need a computer with Ethernet or a USB-Ethernet adapter, and the firmware file for your model. Some models have two variants, so pick the U-Boot-compatible one. Connect to a LAN port only, with other ports unplugged. On the Flint 2 (GL-MT6000), GL.iNet says to use LAN 2 to 4, not LAN 1. Set the computer to 192.168.1.2 with mask 255.255.255.0. Turn off VPN, Tailscale and ZeroTier on the computer before browsing to 192.168.1.1. [3]
Hold reset while powering on, and release once the LED flashing pattern changes. On Flint 2 and Beryl AX the blue LED flashes several times and then turns solid white; patterns vary by model. Upload the firmware and wait about 3 minutes without cutting power. Then restore the computer network settings and log in at 192.168.8.1. GL.iNet notes that the GL-E5800 (Mudi 7) does not support U-Boot flashing. [3]
What you lose and how to rebuild
After a factory reset or U-Boot recovery, plan to restore or re-enter the following. A LuCI backup from the same firmware version covers much of it; anything stored with a provider, such as VPN tokens, may need regenerating. [6]
| Item | Soft reset | Factory or web reset | U-Boot recovery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admin password | Kept | Set again | Set again |
| Wi-Fi name and key | Kept | Back to label defaults | Back to label defaults |
| Internet connection settings | Reset to default | Cleared | Cleared |
| VPN profiles | Kept | Cleared | Cleared |
| Installed plugins and applications | Not stated by GL.iNet | Cleared | Cleared |
Reset is not a firmware plan
A reset fixes a broken configuration; it is not a way to manage updates. If a problem started right after an upgrade, the documented route is a local upgrade or downgrade with a file from GL.iNet, with Keep Settings off when downgrading. [6] Use our firmware change plan guide to schedule updates so you are not testing new firmware and new settings at the same time.
- Router online but no internet: 4-second soft reset
- Locked out after a network mode change: 4-second soft reset back to Router mode
- Forgot admin password: 10-second factory reset, then first-time setup
- Can log in but want to start clean: SYSTEM, Reset Firmware
- Router will not boot after a bad flash: U-Boot web recovery, if your model supports it
Questions before you decide
How long do I hold the reset button on a GL.iNet router?
On firmware 4 GL.iNet documents 4 seconds for a soft reset that repairs the network and 10 seconds for a factory reset that clears all user data. Some models differ; the Spitz AX guide lists 5 seconds for a network reset. Wait until the router has fully booted before pressing.
Does a factory reset roll back the firmware version?
GL.iNet does not say on its reset pages. After a reset, log in at 192.168.8.1 and check SYSTEM, Upgrade to see which version is running before you restore a backup, because a backup only applies to the firmware version it was made on.
Can I use U-Boot recovery on any GL.iNet model?
No. GL.iNet uses Flint 2 (GL-MT6000) and Beryl AX (GL-MT3000) as examples in its U-Boot steps, but says GL-E5800 (Mudi 7) does not support U-Boot flashing. Check your model on the debrick page before you start.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- GL.iNet Router Docs 4: Repair network or reset Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- GL.iNet Router Docs 4: Reset Firmware Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- GL.iNet Router Docs 4: U-Boot web recovery (debrick) Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- GL.iNet Router Docs 4: Network Mode Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- GL.iNet Router Docs 4: GL-X3000 (Spitz AX) user guide Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- GL.iNet Router Docs 4: Upgrade or downgrade your router Accessed 30 Oct 2026
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