UniFi switch PoE hard reset
Published onby Iron (edited on )
When your UniFi Switch is acting up, sometimes a simple restart just doesn’t cut it. That’s where a hard reset comes in. It’s like a "refresh button" for your switch, wiping out all custom settings and restoring it to its factory defaults.
Let's dive in!

Table of Contents
- Why would you need to hard reset a UniFi switch?
- What does a hard reset do?
- How to hard reset a UniFi PoE switch (3 methods)
- How to know if the reset was successful?
- How to re-adopt the switch after a reset
- What to do if a UniFi switch gets stuck in “Managed by Other” mode?
- Tips to avoid having to hard reset your switch
- When NOT to hard reset your UniFi switch
- Final Thoughts
Why would you need to hard reset a UniFi switch?
Hard resets aren’t your everyday troubleshooting tool, but they come in handy for specific issues like:
- Adoption Problems: The switch is stuck in "managed by another" status and won’t connect to your UniFi Controller.
- Configuration Glitches: Misconfigurations that leave your switch in an unusable state.
- Forgotten Admin Credentials: You can’t log in because you forgot the password.
- Switch Replacement: If you’re handing off or selling your switch, you should factory reset it.
- Device Confusion: Sometimes, switches may not adopt correctly if they think they’re already managed by another controller.
What does a hard reset do?
When you hard reset a UniFi switch, it:
- Wipes Custom Configurations: VLANs, port profiles, network settings, and all other custom configurations are erased.
- Disconnects from the Controller: The switch "forgets" its controller, which means you’ll need to re-adopt it.
- Restores Default Passwords: If you’ve changed the admin credentials, they’ll revert to defaults.
- Does NOT Update the Firmware: The current firmware version will remain intact, so no updates are required.
How to hard reset a UniFi PoE switch (3 methods)
There are three ways to perform a hard reset on a UniFi switch. Each method has its own perks depending on your situation.
1. The physical reset button method
This is the classic "press-a-button" approach. All UniFi switches have a small, recessed reset button.
Steps:
- Locate the reset button on the back or underside of the switch. It’s usually a tiny hole labeled “Reset”.
- Grab a paperclip or similar object to press the button.
- Hold the button for 10 seconds (you may see the LED lights change).
- Release the button when the LED starts flashing. The switch will now reset itself.
- Wait for it to reboot. This can take a few minutes, so be patient.
Pro Tip: If the LED flashes differently, you might have held the button too long and accidentally put the device into TFTP Recovery Mode. If this happens, power cycle it and try again.
2. The UniFi Controller method
If your switch is still accessible from the UniFi Controller, you can do a hard reset remotely.
Steps:
- Log into your UniFi Controller (you can use UniFi Cloud or a local controller).
- Go to Devices and select the switch you want to reset.
- Click Settings (gear icon) in the switch’s control panel.
- Scroll down and select Forget Device or Factory Reset.
- Confirm the action and wait for the device to reboot.
Note: The "Forget" option releases the switch from the controller but does not reset it. To force a factory reset, use the "Factory Reset" option, which is found in the controller’s "Manage" section.
3. SSH command method
If you know how to use SSH, this is the quickest and geekiest way to factory reset a UniFi switch.
Steps:
-
Find the switch’s IP address (you can use tools like WiFiman or check your controller's "Devices" page).
-
Open an SSH terminal (like PuTTY on Windows or Terminal on macOS/Linux).
-
Log in to the switch using the command:
ssh [email protected]
Replace 192.168.1.X with the IP address of the switch.
- Enter the default or custom admin password.
-
Once connected, type the following command to reset the switch:
syswrapper.sh restore-default
- Wait for the device to reboot. The whole process usually takes 3-5 minutes.
Pro Tip: If the device doesn’t let you log in with "admin" and you don’t know the password, you might need to use the physical button method to reset it.
How to know if the reset was successful?
After a successful hard reset, here’s what you’ll see:
- The switch's LED indicator will flash, then turn solid white (indicating it’s ready for adoption).
- It will no longer be listed as managed in your UniFi Controller.
- If you connect to the switch’s IP address in a browser, it will display the "Ready for Adoption" screen.
- If it’s connected to a UniFi Cloud Key or Controller, it will appear as a new device available for adoption.
How to re-adopt the switch after a reset
Once the switch is reset, it’s like a brand-new device that needs to be “adopted” into your network.
Steps:
- Log into your UniFi Controller.
- Go to the Devices section.
- You should see the switch listed as “Adopt”.
- Click Adopt and wait for the switch to provision.
- Configure VLANs, port profiles, and any other settings as needed.
If the device doesn’t show up for adoption, try the following:
- Make sure it’s connected to the same network as the controller.
- Disable firewalls that might be blocking discovery.
- Try using Layer 3 adoption (IP-based instead of broadcast-based).
- Use the set-inform command from the SSH method:
set-inform http://<controller-ip>:8080/inform
What to do if a UniFi switch gets stuck in “Managed by Other” mode?
This is one of the most frustrating issues and often happens when switches are moved between different controllers. Here’s how to fix it:
- Forget from Controller: If you have access to the previous controller, log in and "Forget" the device.
- Reset the Switch: Use the physical reset button method or the SSH method to factory reset it.
- Adopt It Again: Log into your new controller, find the switch under "Devices," and click "Adopt."
- Use the SSH Override: If adoption fails, SSH into the switch and run this command:
set-inform http://<controller-ip>:8080/inform
Tips to avoid having to hard reset your switch
- Back up your configurations regularly via the UniFi Controller.
- Avoid "over-managing" switches by bouncing them between multiple controllers.
- When replacing controllers, always transfer ownership properly and do a clean migration.
- Label your devices with their IP addresses, ports, and purposes.
- Keep your switch firmware up-to-date to prevent bugs and glitches.
When NOT to hard reset your UniFi switch
You should avoid hard resets if you’re only troubleshooting minor issues like:
- Port issues (try disabling/re-enabling ports via the UniFi Controller instead).
- Internet connectivity issues (check upstream devices like modems and gateways).
- Minor VLAN misconfigurations (you can change port profiles remotely).
Final Thoughts
Hard resetting a UniFi PoE switch is your go-to solution for adoption issues, forgotten passwords, and misconfigurations. You can reset it using the physical reset button, UniFi Controller, or SSH commands, depending on your access level.
If you run into problems with adoption or "managed by other" messages, be sure to use the Forget option in the UniFi Controller and the set-inform command via SSH.
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