How to Reset a Forgotten Peplink Admin Password

Peplink and Pepwave devices support a password-only reset that restores web admin access without erasing your configuration, as long as you can reach the reset button.

QUICK ANSWER

Hold the reset button for around 5 to 10 seconds while the device is powered on. This resets the admin password to default and keeps your configuration intact. Holding it for longer, around 15 seconds or more, triggers a full factory reset instead.

Method 1: Soft reset (password only)

Steps

  1. With the device powered on, locate the recessed reset button, usually on the rear or underside panel.
  2. Insert a straightened paperclip or similar tool and press and hold for 5 to 10 seconds.
  3. Release once you feel it register, and do not hold past around 10 seconds.
  4. Wait for the device to reboot and the status light to settle back to solid green.
  5. Log in to the web admin using the default username and password for your model.
Timing matters

Holding the reset button for around 15 seconds or more triggers a full factory reset, which wipes your entire configuration in addition to the password. If you only want the password reset, release well before that point. If you do need a complete reset, see our factory reset guide instead.

Method 2: Change the password immediately after logging in

Once you are back into the web admin on default credentials, go to System > Admin Security and set a new password straight away, since the device is temporarily accessible with the same default password anyone would find on the label.

Method 3: No physical access to the device?

If you cannot reach the unit directly, for example it is deployed at a remote site, check whether it is enrolled in InControl2 under an organisation you or a colleague administers. Group and device permissions in InControl2 may already give another admin the access you need, without a site visit. If that is not available, our engineering team can help plan a resolution that does not rely on physical access.

Why the hold time matters

  • Under around 5 seconds. May not register at all. Try again and hold a little longer.
  • Around 5 to 10 seconds. Password-only reset. Configuration is preserved.
  • Around 15 seconds or more. Full factory reset. Both password and configuration are wiped.

Common questions

Will a password reset affect my WAN, VPN or firewall settings?
No. A soft, password-only reset restores the default admin credentials but leaves your WAN, VPN, firewall and other configuration exactly as it was.
What is the default password after a soft reset?
It is the factory default for your specific model, typically printed on the device label alongside the serial number and hardware revision. See our guide to checking your hardware version for where to find the label. Change it immediately after logging back in.
What if holding the reset button does not do anything?
Confirm the device is powered on, that the button is fully depressed rather than just touched, and try a slightly longer hold within the 5 to 10 second window. If it still does not respond, contact us and we can help confirm whether this points to a hardware fault.

Locked out at a remote site with no physical access? Our engineering team can help you plan a way back in.