MikroTik Netinstall: reinstall RouterOS step by step
Last updated: 2 October 2026
Netinstall is MikroTik's tool for installing RouterOS onto a router over a network cable, from a computer. It works even when the router no longer boots, which makes it the last resort that nearly always succeeds.
When you need it
- Forgotten password and the reset button does nothing, because the button was turned off in the settings (protected bootloader aside, which Netinstall cannot bypass).
- A broken system: the router restarts in a loop, an upgrade was interrupted, or storage is full and it will not boot.
- A suspected break-in. A clean install removes anything hidden. See how to secure the router afterwards.
- Going back to an older RouterOS version cleanly.
If you can still log in, a normal reset or upgrade is easier. Use Netinstall when those are not possible.
What you need
- A computer with a network port and a cable. Wi-Fi does not work for this.
- Netinstall from mikrotik.com (Software page). There is a Windows program and a command-line version for Linux.
- The RouterOS package for your router's architecture, from the same page: one
.npkfile such as arm, arm64, mipsbe, mmips, smips, tile or x86. A package for the wrong architecture is not offered for the router.
If the router still runs, read the architecture and the oldest version it accepts before you start:
/system resource print
/system routerboard printarchitecture-name tells you which package to download. A router cannot be installed with a RouterOS version older than its factory-software.
The steps (Windows)
- Give the computer a fixed address on its network port, for example 192.168.88.2 with mask 255.255.255.0. Leave gateway and DNS empty.
- Turn off other network connections (Wi-Fi, other adapters) and allow Netinstall through the Windows firewall, or turn the firewall off for these few minutes.
- Plug the cable into the router's boot port. That is ether1 on most models. On a few it is another port, usually the one marked for PoE input or "boot".
- Start Netinstall. Open Net booting, tick Boot Server enabled and enter a free address in the same range, for example 192.168.88.3. Newer Netinstall versions fill this in by themselves.
- Put the router in etherboot mode: unplug the power, hold the reset button, plug the power in and keep holding until the light goes off (about 15 seconds on most models), then release.
- The router appears in the Netinstall list with its MAC address. Select it.
- Choose the package: press Browse, pick the folder with the
.npkfile and tick the package. - Decide about the configuration (next section) and press Install.
- Wait for "Installation finished successfully" and press Reboot if the router does not restart by itself. Set the computer back to automatic addressing.
Keep or discard the configuration
| Option | Result |
|---|---|
| Keep old configuration ticked | RouterOS is reinstalled, your settings, users and passwords stay. Right for a broken system. Useless for a forgotten password, because the password stays too. |
| Not ticked, Apply default config ticked | A factory-fresh router with the default configuration and the login on the sticker. |
| Neither ticked | A completely empty router with no address. Connect with Winbox by MAC address. |
After a clean install, log in as described in default login and Winbox and import your saved export if you have one (backup and restore).
Etherboot without the button
If you can still log in but want a clean reinstall, tell the router to boot from the network once:
/system routerboard settings set boot-device=try-ethernet-once-then-nand
/system rebootThe router does not appear in Netinstall
- Windows firewall or antivirus blocks Netinstall. This is the most common cause.
- Another network adapter is active and Netinstall listens on that one. Disable Wi-Fi and virtual adapters.
- Wrong router port. Try ether1 first, then the PoE-in or last port.
- The button was released too early or too late. Short holds do a reset or CAP mode instead. Start again and wait until the light is off.
- The computer has no fixed address, or the boot server address is in a different range.
- A switch or a second DHCP server in between. Connect the computer straight to the router with one cable.
- The network port goes down while the router restarts. Some laptops are slow to bring the link back up; a small plain switch between the two helps in that one case.
Where RadiusNest fits
Netinstall wipes what is stored on the router, including any hotspot users and PPPoE secrets kept there. Customers kept in RadiusNest are not on the router, so after a reinstall you set up the hotspot or PPPoE server again, paste the one setup command, and your customers, packages and vouchers are back as they were.
Start the free trial See pricing
Questions and answers
Does Netinstall remove a forgotten password?
Yes, when you install without keeping the old configuration. Everything else on the router is erased too.
Which port do I plug the cable into for Netinstall?
The boot port, which is ether1 on most models. On some it is the PoE-in port or the last port.
Can I install an older RouterOS version with Netinstall?
Yes, but not older than the version the router left the factory with. That version is shown as factory-software in /system routerboard print.