Help! I Disabled My Router’s 5G and Now Can’t Restore It

Check inside your router settings after resetting. There’s usually a WiFi section—ensure that the 5GHz band is enabled. You might see multiple entries for 5GHz, such as one for the main network and another for a guest network. If you're unsure what the default name is, you might just need to look it up depending on your router model.

A USB to Ethernet adapter is a game-changer in situations like this. It’ll allow you to connect directly to your router without needing a new device. Just plug it in, and you should be able to access the router settings easily.

First off, make sure your factory reset worked properly. Press and hold the reset button for at least 60 seconds—this should revert your router to its default settings. After resetting, you should see a default WiFi name pop up, so check for that. If you’re still not seeing anything, you might want to consider getting a USB Ethernet adapter; they’re pretty affordable and would let you connect your laptop directly to the router to reconfigure it. Also, if your router has a WPS button, try using that; it might help you connect even if the network is hidden.

If the reset didn't bring back a signal, you might need to contact your Internet Service Provider to have them reprovision the router. Sometimes, after a reset, the settings need to be updated on their end, especially if it’s a specific model they support.

It’s possible that when you reset the router, it reverted back to a default network name and password. Try connecting to that on your phone. If all else fails, you could press the reset switch again, either a single press or hold it for about 30 seconds if that doesn’t work.