How to Reset an Apple AirPort Extreme: Soft Reset, Hard Reset & Factory-Default Reset

In this video we’re showing you how to reset your AirPort Extreme. This works with this newer version shown here, or with the slightly older style that looks like this.

This is a very similar process to resetting your Airport Express or Airport Time Capsule

There are 3 ways you can reset your device:

1) 0:43 Soft reset: allows you to reset your password if you forgot it.

2) 1:37 Hard reset: allows you to set up your basestation from scratch again, but it keeps a copy of your last settings in case you decide to restore them.

3) 2:32 Factory-Default Reset: you want to do this if you are giving away or selling your airport device. This is going to delete all your settings and bring it to a like-new state.



Soft Reset:
1. To soft reset your AirPort Extreme, make sure your basestation is plugged in to power.
2. Using a paperclip, press and hold the reset button for 1 second, then release. The status light on the airport extremes flashes Amber
3. In the menu bar on your computer, choose the wifi network created by your AirPort Extreme.
4. From your desktop, click on Go in the menu bar - select “Utilities” and open up the airport utility
5. Click the icon for your AirPort Extreme in AirPort Utility, then click Edit from the pop-up menu. You can now change the password or reconfigure the base station as needed. Don’t forget to click “update” when you’re done.


Hard Reset:
1. Again, make sure your device is connected to power
2. Using a paperclip, press and hold for FIVE seconds and wait for the light to begin flashing amber rapidly, then release the button.
3. Wait for about a minute for the basestation to finish restarting
4. On your computer, click on Go in the menu bar then select “utilities” and open up the airport utility
5. Click the Other Wi-Fi Devices button, then select your AirPort Extreme from the list.
6. Click the “other options” button
7. Click ”Restore previous settings,” then keep clicking next until you get to the final window.
8. When AirPort Utility indicates that setup is complete, click Done.


Factory-default reset
1. To reset your AirPort Extreme to factory default, first make sure you’re on the latest firmware version, because the 802.11ac model needs to be on firmware 7.9.1 or newer.
1. To do this on your Mac, go to airport utility and click on the AirPort Extreme - the details pop up, and you’ll see the firmware version. If it’s not up to date,you’ll have the options to click on the “update” button
2. To do this on iOS, go to the airport utility app, tap on the AirPort Extreme, beside “version” it will indicate if an update is available.
2. For this type of reset, make sure your device is not connected to power.
3. While holding down the reset button, connect the power To the AirPort Extreme and keep holding for 6 seconds, or until the light on the unit flashed amber rapidly.
4. Wait for about a minute for the device to restart.
5. The AirPort Extreme is now back to factory default settings and is ready to be set up from scratch.