Cisco SPA112 Factory Reset: Methods, Default Login, and Security Context

If you need to factory reset a Cisco SPA112 because you lost the password, inherited a used ATA, or need to reprovision it for a new VoIP provider, this guide walks through every working method. It also covers what to do after the reset, including how to find the device IP, log back in, and avoid the common SPA112 versus SPA122 confusion that trips up even experienced admins.

Before You Reset Your Cisco SPA112

A full factory reset wipes every user-changed setting on the device, including network configuration, SIP credentials, and service provider data. Be ready to re-enter those credentials or reprovision the ATA from scratch after the reset completes. If you are migrating the device to a new provider and need to move the phone number, handle the number port separately before or after the reset so you do not lose service continuity.

Cisco's documentation makes an important distinction that catches people off guard: the SPA112 uses DHCP for its management IP, while the SPA122 uses 192.168.15.1 as a static default. If you are trying to reach the web interface after a reset and you type 192.168.15.1 into your browser, you are looking at the wrong address for an SPA112. That address belongs to the SPA122.

Method 1: Cisco SPA112 Factory Reset with the Physical Reset Button

This is the most common method and the one most admins reach for first.

1. Wait until the system light has finished booting and is steady.
2. Use a paperclip or SIM tool to press and hold the rear RESET button.
3. Hold for a full 20 seconds. Do not release early.
4. Release the button and wait for the device to finish rebooting. The system light will cycle and then become steady again when the ATA is ready.

You may see older Cisco quick start guides that reference 10 seconds for a factory restore. Later admin and support documentation from Cisco uses 20 seconds. For a practical, dependable instruction set, 20 seconds is the safer recommendation. Holding it longer than needed does not cause harm, but releasing too early may only trigger a soft reboot instead of a full factory wipe.

Method 2: Cisco SPA112 Factory Reset Using the IVR Code

If you cannot physically access the rear of the device (wall-mounted unit, remote closet, sealed enclosure), the IVR method lets you reset it from any analog phone connected to one of the SPA112 ports.

1. Connect an analog phone to Phone 1 or Phone 2 on the SPA112.
2. Pick up the handset and dial **** to enter the IVR menu.
3. If the IVR asks for an administrator password, enter 1234# (this is the factory default IVR admin password).
4. Dial 73738# (which maps to R-E-S-E-T on the phone keypad).
5. Press 1 to confirm the factory reset.
6. Hang up and wait for the device to reboot.

Method 3: Reset the Cisco SPA112 from the Web Interface

If you still have access to the web configuration utility (meaning you know the current IP and login credentials), you can trigger the factory reset from the browser.

1. Open a browser and navigate to the SPA112 IP address.
2. Log in with your current administrator credentials.
3. Go to Administration > Factory Defaults.
4. Select the option to restore the default configuration (including router and voice defaults).
5. Confirm the reset and wait for the device to reboot.

This is the software-based equivalent of the hardware reset button. It produces the same result: a full wipe back to factory defaults. Most admins use this method when they still have access but want to clean the device before handing it off or redeploying it.

How to Find the Cisco SPA112 IP Address After a Factory Reset

After a factory reset, the SPA112 reverts to DHCP and receives whatever IP address your router assigns it. Unlike the SPA122 (which defaults to a static 192.168.15.1), the SPA112 will have a dynamically assigned address that you need to discover before you can access the web interface.

Two reliable options:

• IVR code 110: Pick up a phone connected to the SPA112, dial ****, then 110. The ATA will read the current WAN IP address aloud.
• Router DHCP client list: Log into your router and check the DHCP lease table. Look for the MAC address on the SPA112 label or a device name that matches.

Default Cisco SPA112 Login Credentials After Factory Reset

After a successful factory reset on standard Cisco firmware, the SPA112 has two sets of default credentials depending on how you access it:

Web interface login:

• Administrator account: username admin, password admin
• Limited user account: username cisco, password cisco

IVR access:

• Administrator password: 1234#
• User access: press # when prompted

The web interface credentials and the IVR password are separate systems. Changing one does not change the other. After logging in, change both sets of credentials immediately, especially if the device is accessible on a shared network.

What to Do If the Cisco SPA112 Factory Reset Is Not Working

If you are pressing the rear reset button and nothing happens, the most likely explanation is that a previous administrator disabled the hardware reset button in the SPA112 admin settings. Cisco's documentation confirms that the reset button can be toggled on or off in software, and the factory default is enabled. If someone turned it off, the physical button will not respond regardless of how long you hold it.

In that case, use the IVR reset (73738#) or the web interface reset instead. Both methods work independently of the hardware button setting.

If the device resets successfully but you still cannot reach the web interface afterward, check these common issues:

• Wrong IP address: You are typing 192.168.15.1, which is the SPA122 default, not the SPA112. Use IVR code 110 or your router DHCP table to find the actual assigned IP.
• Device still booting: A flashing system LED means the ATA is not ready yet. Wait for a steady light.
• Network issue: Confirm the Ethernet cable is connected and the port has DHCP enabled. Try a different cable or switch port.
• Browser cache: Clear your browser cache or try a different browser. Old cached pages sometimes interfere with ATA web interfaces.

Security Context: The Cisco SPA112 Is Now Legacy Hardware

This is the section most competing pages skip entirely, and it is arguably the most important part of this guide for anyone managing these devices in production.

Cisco published an end-of-sale notice for the SPA112 in 2020. The last date of support listed in that notice is May 31, 2025. After that date, Cisco will not provide bug fixes, maintenance releases, or any form of technical support for the device.

More critically, Cisco disclosed a remote command execution vulnerability affecting the SPA112, tracked as CVE-2023-20126. The advisory states that this vulnerability affects all firmware releases of the SPA112, that there are no workarounds, and that Cisco has not released and will not release firmware updates to fix it. That last detail is the important one: this is not a "patch pending" situation. The vulnerability is permanent and unfixable on this hardware.

For that reason, an SPA112 should never be exposed directly to the public internet. If you are still running SPA112 units behind a NAT firewall on an internal network for basic analog device connectivity, the risk is lower but not zero. On any modern deployment, the Cisco ATA 191 (model ATA191-3PW-K9) is the documented replacement product.

Cisco SPA112 Factory Reset: The Complete Reference for VoIP Admins

The fastest path for most admins is simple: wait for the SPA112 to finish booting, hold the rear reset button for 20 seconds, then use **** and IVR code 110 to hear the new IP address, and log back in with admin/admin. If the hardware button was disabled, the IVR reset code 73738# or the Administration > Factory Defaults page gives you a second and third path to the same result.

What separates a quick fix from a lasting solution is what happens after the reset. If you are reprovisioning this ATA for a customer, the reset is just the first step. The real work is getting the SIP credentials configured correctly, confirming audio quality, and making sure the device is managed within a platform that handles provisioning, billing, and ongoing support without requiring you to touch each unit manually.

For MSPs and telecom resellers who manage dozens or hundreds of analog adapters, desk phones, and voice endpoints across customer sites, the operational question is not "how do I reset one ATA" but "how do I manage all of this without it eating my margins." That is where a white-label VoIP and UCaaS platform changes the math. Automated billing through ViiBE, centralized provisioning, AI voice agents that handle inbound calls before they ever reach a phone, and a partner program built for resellers who want to own the customer relationship, not rent it.

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