Last updated: 09th Oct 2026
If your standing desk stops working correctly, do not panic. It’s not you. It’s probably the desk. And there’s a 90% chance you can get it working again.
The culprit is likely a tiny memory chip inside your desk. It probably lost its reference points and needs a reset.
I’ll save you the technical, boring mumbo-jumbo deep dive – you just need to know that a reset is in order if your desk exhibits any of the following anomalies:
- Lopsided (one end is higher than the other).
- One-way street (the desk only moves down).
- Slow coach (the desk moves, but unusually slowly).
Expert Tip.
The most common reason users need to reset their standing desks is an extended power outage. If you unplug your desk for more than 2-3 days, you’ll likely need to reset it using the method below.
I have a Desky Dual and an UpDown Pro in my office, which are Australia’s top two-selling standing desk brands, so I’ll explain how the procedure works on these two desks.
But please note that this reset procedure will work on the majority of electric standing desks sold in Australia.
Universal 5-Step Standing Desk Reset Method.
- Remove anything from under the desk that may obstruct its travel.
- Unplug the desk from the mains power outlet for 30 seconds.
- Press the Down button until the desk reaches the bottom position.
- Release the Down button.
- Press the Down button again, holding it for 5-10 seconds until the desk does a “curtsy” – it will dip down further and return to the original bottom position.
Congratulations – your standing desk is now reset and ready for action.
Above: The Down button is your best friend when performing a standing desk reset.
If you’re still having issues with the desk after a reset, it likely has a fault in one of the actuators or the control box. The latter is easy to replace, but the former is less so.
Expert Tip.
If an actuator has died and you’re not a tech-savvy person, I recommend you replace the entire leg assembly. And yes, you’ll need to reset your desk after installing the new one.
This, by the way, is why a premium standing desk is a better buy than a cheap one. I once had to replace a control box on a cheap Artiss desk, and was told that they don’t sell it as a separate part.
Steven
