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Forum Discussion
Router wifi settings gone after power outage
After a power outage, my Nighthawk router's wifi settings were gone and only I found default Netgear SSID's. I was able to log into the router with my admin password and other network settings seem to have been kept.
I had to completely redo all my wifi settings. (create SSID's, security settings, guest wifi, etc.)
How do I prevent this issue the next time the power goes out or when I have to unplug the router? Is this a known bug?
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> After a power outage, my Nighthawk router's wifi settings were gone
> [...]
A typical power failure is seldom a clean off-on event, so some
device confusion is possible.
> I had to completely redo all my wifi settings. (create SSID's,
> security settings, guest wifi, etc.)
ADVANCED > Administration > Backup Settings
> How do I prevent this issue the next time the power goes out [...]
That may be difficult. Better power conditioning (as from a UPS)
might help.
> [...] or when I have to unplug the router? [...]
Is that enough to cause the problem?
> Is this a known bug?
That depends on how you define "bug".This issue is not power condition or spikes. It happens when power is removed and then restored.
If you want to prevent these issues, get a UPS!
While a surge suppressor will help some with spikes a power outage may also have a power sage, spikes and other things happen. A good UPS will isolate you from these issues. I have my modem and router both on a UPS just for this reason. For what a router needs they are not that expensive and frequent power outages could in some isolated cases damage the router. I have a whole house surge suppessor, but know that will not protect the electronics like a UPS will.
UnderPressure, along with what antinode said, I don't think it was 'normal'. Normal in the sense that losing power should have that happen. The settings and even the F/W is held in NVRAM... that should not be cleared at all with the general loss of power.
It is quite possible that there was a power spike or drop prior to the loss of power. It is possible that that caused some NVRAM to be reset even or just modified.
I'd suggest NOT saving the configuration at this point. I'd RELOAD the Firmware with a new copy first, then do the RESET or CLEAR NVRAM and then re-enter manually all your settings.
I'd think either the power state caused your problem, and you might not have noticed or be aware of all the implications due to that or you have a h/w problem if the NVRAM can't hold the contents without power.
I have the exact same issue. Power goes out, wireless configuration is erased. Admin password remains the same. WIFI goes open BTW, so after a power outage my entire network is exposed. This is not a power issue at my house. I have another NightHawk r7000, and it has never ever done that. Netgear has to investigate this.
I unable to replicate the problem by turning on/off the router as well as moving the router to another power outlet. I also turned on/off the wifi button. The power outage was several hours long so it was likely the memory not being able to hold its data as you stated IrvSp.
BTW, my router IS connected to a high-end power conditioning system for our media center. Unfortunately, my UPS died in the last power outage so I didn't have one connected during the last power outage. I just need to install the new UPS (CyberPower CP1000AVRLCD) ordered during Black Friday. Any suggestions for how to connect a UPS when there is a power conditioner in the mix? I'm thinking I should just skip the power conditioner.
(Support team closed my case before I could respond so I just opened up another case today.)
> [...] The power outage was several hours long so it was likely the
> memory not being able to hold its data as you stated IrvSp.
That's not what he said. Most likely, it's not a question of how
long the power stayed off. (Try it for a few hours. Or
days/weeks/months/years.) The likely hypothesis is that there was a
transient (surge, spike, whatever) around the time the power was lost or
restored, and that transient is what caused the data corruption/loss. A
hardware problem is much less likely, but very easy to test.
> [...] a high-end power conditioning system [...]
That tells me approximately nothing about that gizmo.
> [...] Any suggestions for how to connect a UPS when there is a power
> conditioner in the mix? I'm thinking I should just skip the power
> conditioner.
Ask someone who knows something about your (unspecified) "a high-end
power conditioning system"?
- Netgear routers are very sensitive to power surges. Had 2 previous routers go to crap after a brownout. Ever since been on an UPS and have had no further issues. Highly recommend you keep any router/modem on a good UPS, one with automatic voltage regulation.
I can reproduce this exact issue on my R7900P simply by disconnecting the power overnight. Last night I disconnected the router power at 11:30pm, and then plugged it back in at 7am. Upon bootup, the Wireless settings including the Wireless name and password were reset to the default values (name NETGEAR, with no security enabled). Other settings were not wiped.
So it has nothing to do with power spikes or surge anomalies.
This is a major issue that Netgear is totally ignoring. Their support team told me to reset the router back to factory settings... like that would help.
Same issue. Power was interrupted for about 1 minute last night. When power was restored, all router settings went to default. Network was left open with no security.
Same issue here. I reset my cable modem and router once/day. I have used always used a timer to shut off my cable modem at 4 am and turn back on at 4:01 am, then use a second timer to shut off my router at 4:15 am and turn it back on at 4:16 am. I never had any issues until I bought the X6S at Costco yesterday. This morning my settings were erased, and the router was back to factory. I am taking the router back today.
I am not very impressed with Netgear. This is my second router in a week. I spent 2.5 days trying to get the new AX12 router to work, and finally, Netgear support said they believe it is a faulty router and to return or replace. I returned the $444 router to best buy and bought the $150 X6S at Costco. :)Same issue. Power has nothing to do with it. Loss of settings has occured when rebooting the router from the admin screen. After the reboot all defalt settings have been loaded. The unit makes me log into my account at Netgear, then I am told I cant buy a contract, then I have to attempt login to the router several times, and finaly get the the admin page so I can restore my setting from the backup file. I should have done a little more research before buying a Netgear product. Their support is very poor. I am going to Amazon to leave feedback on my purchase, not going to be very good.
Dumping this unit and purchasing one that doesn't make you have an account at Netgear to install. This is as bad as Microsoft and Windows 10.
Same issue for me with a C7000v2, and power loss/spikes have nothing to do with this. I had to cycle power to the device and it happened. This will NOT work for me because what if I'm not home and there's a power outage? I will be out of internet in my house until I get back (could be days or months before I can restore the config settings). In the mean time, I rely on the internet for both home automation and home security, and an incidence like this would leave all of that dead in the water. This is a deal breaker. I had owned many Netgear products in the past, but this one really shake my confidence in Netgear.
I also have similar problems with my X6S router purchased at Costco. In my situation, a UPS keeps it powered during brief power outages, but when the ISP (CenturyLink) goes down for an extended period of time, the router loses it's wifi settings. Of course, this only happens when I am 1200 miles from home. An Orbi, at another property, never does this and it is connected to Comcast with frequent outages.
- Since having ditched Netgear and replaced with Ubiquiti Unifi I haven't had issues or even had to reboot since June's installation. The only regret is not having done so earlier!
For those of you recommending being on a UPS, or backing up your settings....read on.
I woke up this morning to find our network down. Couldn't log into router. Rebooted. All wifi still down, logged in from wired connection. Took my login like others have stated, but all settings gone, factory SSIDs, but worse yet, SSID broadcast enabled with NO SECURITY. Same thing you've been reading. I tried restoring setting from a backup. FAILED.
I ended up trying to download new firmware (minor version upgrade from what I was on), failed first 2 attempts, succeeded third time. Afterwards, tried to restore backup settings again. Failed. SSID still wide open and broadcasting. Immediately shut that down, so I could get my settings applied. Tried to use smart connect, and asked "are you sure that you do not want any wireless security on your network?" - which all 3 radios had WPA-PSK selected. Then I got an error saying the 2.4 and 5Ghz SSID aren't the same, so SMART CONNECT will be disabled (they WERE the same). Then I was immediatley prompted to log back in (wasn't idle or anything). Logged back in, started SSID setup again, this time cleared SMART CONNECT, and typed in all fields manually, which oddly enough it allowed the same SSID name across the 3 radios without smart connect enabled. Applied, successful. Then Turned SMART CONNECT back on, applied, successful.
Lost all of my other settings, device naming, and the like. An hour and 20 minutes later, having missed my treadmill time I'm sitting here wondering if Netgear will be in my list of future purchases. No router should EVER default to open SSID or any other open security after any type of fault, blip, or reset.Oh, and the UPS never lost power - UPS been up all night.
This a huge security issues. My house power went off a few times and the router rebooted fine. Then today 12-12-20 it looses all setting and is open wifi. This is a huge security issues. That means anybody on can see your files on your network that is hard wired to the router. This is garage. This my last netgear product. The router also decide to reboot itself all the time rather then have a schedule time. No more netgear for me. And my firmware is up to date, huge security issues here.
I was having the issue of the router resetting after power pulling pulled and leaving an open network. I contacted customer service and we reset the router with the Back reset button and paper clip, used the nighthawk app and updated the Firmware and it worked...unplugged and replugged in 3 times today and it came back online each time with settings saved.
What model router are you referring too?
KAHUNA757575 wrote:I was having the issue of the router resetting after power pulling pulled and leaving an open network. I contacted customer service and we reset the router with the Back reset button and paper clip, used the nighthawk app and updated the Firmware and it worked...unplugged and replugged in 3 times today and it came back online each time with settings saved.
I put it at the bottom of what I wrote(it may not have shown up)..Model: R8000P|Nighthawk X6S AC4000 Tri Band WiFi Router
Nighthawk AX2700 WiFi Cable Modem Router (CAX30S)
I have been experiencing the same as many of you, power off restart or power outage and all my Wi-Fi settings are *poof* gone! I bought this router after a bit of research and on reputation. Apparently I didn't do enough research. Shame on me. I guess Netgear rep is worthless now.
Others have mentioned an OpenWRT fix, will this work for my AX2700? I really wish I could return it to Bestbuy.Usually 3rd party FW isn't supported on modem gateways.
Have you been in contact with NG support?
Coben67 wrote:
Nighthawk AX2700 WiFi Cable Modem Router (CAX30S)
I have been experiencing the same as many of you, power off restart or power outage and all my Wi-Fi settings are *poof* gone! I bought this router after a bit of research and on reputation. Apparently I didn't do enough research. Shame on me. I guess Netgear rep is worthless now.
Others have mentioned an OpenWRT fix, will this work for my AX2700? I really wish I could return it to Bestbuy.Unifi all the way baby! Never looked back. Well worth the spend.
Has a full factory reset and setup from scratch been performed yet?
What FW version are you using?
Coben67 wrote:
Nighthawk AX2700 WiFi Cable Modem Router (CAX30S)
I have been experiencing the same as many of you, power off restart or power outage and all my Wi-Fi settings are *poof* gone! I bought this router after a bit of research and on reputation. Apparently I didn't do enough research. Shame on me. I guess Netgear rep is worthless now.
Others have mentioned an OpenWRT fix, will this work for my AX2700? I really wish I could return it to Bestbuy.Reset - Yes. Although that shouldn't matter since I only purchased it less than 2 months ago. It lost all it's settings 3x, after the 2nd I did a complete reset to default settings.
Firmware 1.4.10.8No, I have not contacted Netgear support. 9 times out of 10 support will blame another entity. IE Microsoft will blame Dell, Dell will blame Microsoft and the end user is left holding the bag. Skipping the increased blood pressure, I asked the hive mind.
