You need to reset your Netgear Orbi RBE973S. Maybe the web UI and the Orbi app are showing different settings. Maybe a satellite keeps falling offline. Or maybe you're selling this $1,500 flagship mesh system and need it pristine for the next owner. The RBE973S is Netgear's top-end Wi-Fi 7 (BE27000 quad-band) three-pack, and resetting it means handling the main router correctly while leaving the satellites alone.
The short version: power cycle first if you can get into the app, then use the reset button on the back of the main router (hold about 10 seconds) if you need a full factory wipe. Most problems people blame on a faulty unit actually resolve with a simple power cycle.
Here's how to approach each level of reset and what to expect.
Start With a Power Cycle Before Anything Else
A reset button is not the same as a power cycle. If your network is acting weird, satellites dropping connections, or the Orbi app won't sync with the router, unplug the main RBE973S router from power, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in. Do the same for each satellite.
This clears the router's cache, re-establishes WAN connectivity, and forces a fresh DHCP lease from your ISP. In my experience, this fixes about 70% of intermittent issues with these 2023-generation Orbi systems. It takes two minutes and costs nothing.
The Orbi app lets you reboot remotely too. Open the app, tap your network, find the router, and look for a reboot or restart option. That does the same thing as unplugging it, just without having to crawl behind furniture.
Know What a Factory Reset Actually Erases
The RBE973S reset button is a proper factory reset. Holding the recessed button on the back of the main router for about 10 seconds wipes the local configuration completely: your Wi-Fi network name and password, admin credentials, port forwarding rules, QoS settings, VLAN tags, static IP reservations, Armor security preferences, guest network, and any custom DNS entries. Everything goes back to stock firmware defaults.
This is important because the RBE973S has a known quirk where the web UI (orbilogin.com) and the Orbi app sometimes disagree on what's configured. A factory reset aligns them by force, since both read from the same config space after the wipe. If you've been fighting inconsistent settings between the two interfaces, a reset is the cleanest fix.
But don't reach for the reset button unless you're ready to rebuild your whole network from scratch. A power cycle is nearly always the better first step.
Back Up Your Settings First
The RBE973S has no formal backup or restore function. All settings live on the router and the Orbi cloud account. Before any reset, log into orbilogin.com and take screenshots of everything you'll need to recreate:
- WiFi network name and password (SSID and passphrase)
- Admin username and password (if you changed from default)
- Any port forwarding or port triggering rules
- Static IP reservations for devices that need fixed addresses
- Custom DNS settings (if you're using something besides ISP default)
- QoS rules and device priorities
- Guest network name and password
- Armor security settings if you have a subscription
This takes maybe 10 minutes but saves you from guessing your old settings later.
Do the Full Factory Reset
With the main RBE973S router powered on and the LEDs lit, locate the reset button on the back panel. It's a small recessed hole near the Ethernet ports. Use a paperclip or SIM eject tool to press and hold.
Hold for about 10 seconds. You'll see the LEDs behave differently as it enters reset mode, then the router reboots. Once the LEDs cycle back to a steady white or blue (depending on your firmware version), the reset is complete. The router is now in factory-fresh state with the default SSID and password printed on the bottom label.
This resets only the main router, which is the only unit that stores configuration. The satellites don't hold config independently, so you don't need to reset them.
If You're Selling the System, Remove It From Your Orbi Account Too
Here's the catch that catches people: a factory reset does not automatically unlink the RBE973S from your Netgear Orbi account. The router remains tied to your login in Netgear's cloud. That means a buyer cannot claim it, update its firmware, or use the Orbi app with it until you remove it.
To remove it: open the Orbi app on your phone, select the router, look for an option like Remove Device or Delete Network, and confirm. Do this before the hard reset if possible. If you already reset it and the router shows as offline, many Orbi account dashboards still let you remove a disconnected unit.
For a clean sale, factory reset the router, then immediately remove it from your account. That way the buyer opens a pristine system with no cloud baggage.
Reset Only the Main Router, Not the Satellites
The RBE973S three-pack comes with one main router and two satellites. Because the satellites connect to the router via a dedicated 6 GHz Enhanced Backhaul (320 MHz channel width for full Wi-Fi 7 speed), they do not store configuration. They simply follow the router's lead.
If you reset every box in the pack individually, you create extra work with no benefit. The satellites re-pair automatically when you set up the main router again. Just leave them powered on and within range after the router reset, and they will be discovered during the setup process.
One note: daisy-chain topology is not supported on the RBE973S. All satellites must connect directly to the main router, not to each other. If you have a satellite that cannot reach the router reliably, reposition it rather than trying to route through another satellite.
Set Up the RBE973S From Scratch
After the factory reset, you have two ways to set it back up. The Orbi app is the easiest for most people. Download or open the Orbi app on your phone (iOS 14+ or Android 9+). The app detects the router in setup mode and walks you through naming your network and setting a password.
You can also use the web interface at orbilogin.com from a computer connected to the router. This gives you full access to advanced settings that the app might hide, like VLAN tagging, 802.1X authentication for some ISPs, and detailed QoS controls. I prefer the web UI for initial setup if my ISP requires PPPoE credentials or custom DNS.
The app handles most cable and fiber ISPs automatically. If yours needs manual WAN settings, the web UI is your friend.
Restore Your Custom Settings
Once the router is back online and you have internet access, open orbilogin.com and walk through the settings you photographed earlier. Reapply your SSID and passphrase, add custom DNS, recreate static IP reservations, and re-enter any port forwarding rules.
If you use Netgear Armor security (which requires a separate paid subscription), activate it again through the Orbi app. The trial period counts from first activation, so a factory reset won't give you a new trial.
Budget 15 to 20 minutes for this step if you have a complex setup with multiple reservations and advanced routing rules. The QoS engine in particular can behave oddly if Smart Connect is misconfigured, so double-check that the band steering settings match what you had before.
Verify the Satellites Re-Paired
After the main router setup is complete, the satellites should automatically reconnect over the 6 GHz backhaul within about 10 minutes. Open the Orbi app or log into orbilogin.com and check the attached device list. Both satellites should appear as connected with a solid link quality indicator.
If a satellite stays offline after 15 minutes, unplug it, wait 30 seconds, plug it back in, and give it another 5 minutes. The satellite searches for the main router's Wi-Fi 7 backhaul signal automatically. If it still won't connect, check that the satellite is within reasonable range of the router, about one to two rooms away in most homes with standard construction.
