There are a number of reasons our internet might not be working, from storms beyond our control to issues our internet providers are having. But sometimes, Wi-Fi routers are to blame. If you're experiencing outages or slower speeds than normal, start with your router (and modem if you have cable internet). Fortunately, router issues are often easy to remedy with a quick reboot.
Rebooting your Wi-Fi router -- and potentially your modem too -- can be as simple as unplugging it, waiting about 30 seconds and plugging it back in. If that doesn't work, resetting your router to factory settings could be necessary.
I've been writing about home internet -- and all the headaches that come with it -- for over five years. Rebooting and resetting your router is usually a sure fix. I'll walk you through all the steps you need to take to get your Wi-Fi up and running again and what to do if those steps don't work.
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Do a hard reboot of your router
"Unplug it and plug it back in" is some of the most tried-and-true advice for any electronics, and your router is no different. Imagine a computer game that's gone hopelessly wrong. Starting the game over lets you walk back all the mistakes you made to get you to that point. A hard reboot works the same way, allowing your device a fresh start from a "known state."
"It's amazing how that'll solve like 90% of the problems, because the drivers are the interface between the radio and the operating system, and they can get discombobulated," Dave Coleman, a Wi-Fi expert, author and director of wireless networking in the office of the CTO at Extreme Networks, told CNET. "I know it sounds simple, but it's the first troubleshooting thing people should do."
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Here's what you do:
- Unplug the router from the power source. You can unplug the power cord from the wall or the router -- either will work.
- Wait at least 30 seconds.
- Plug it back in.
Once the router is plugged back into the power source, you may need to wait another 30 seconds for it to reboot. Once all the lights are on, try connecting to Wi-Fi from a device.
Don't forget the batteries
Some routers are equipped with a battery backup to keep your internet on when the power goes out, at least for a brief period. If your router has a battery backup, it's possible that simply unplugging the router will not actually cut the power.
After you've unplugged your router, check to ensure all the lights went out. If lights are still on, your router is still receiving power. Check for a battery compartment and remove any batteries to ensure your router fully shuts off. Wait 30 seconds and plug your router back in, then reinstall the batteries.
Reset your router to factory settings
If your hard reboot didn't work, a more drastic step is to reset your router to its factory settings. A note of caution: This will erase all of your custom settings, like your network name and password, and give you a new public IP address. Your router will be the exact same as it was when you first took it out of the box.
You may want to take this step if you're having to reboot your router multiple times a day or if your Wi-Fi speeds are drastically slower than the speeds you're getting through a wired connection. I'd also recommend making sure your router's firmware is up-to-date before resetting it to factory settings. Here's what you'll do on most routers:
- Keep your router plugged into the power source.
- Insert a paper clip into the Reset opening on your router. Some routers will also have a button you can press with your finger.
- Hold this button down for about 30 seconds.
- Wait for the router's lights to come back on. This could take a minute or two.
You can also reset most routers using their app or website. To do so, you'll need your login credentials.
How to tell if it's a modem or router issue
If you have a separate modem and router, you may need to troubleshoot each of them on their own. To find out if your modem is up and running, connect a device to the modem directly using an Ethernet cable. If you can get online this way, the issue is coming from your router. If it's still not working, you should start with a hard reboot of both devices. Here's what you'll do:
- First, unplug your router and modem from the power source.
- Wait about 30 seconds, and plug them back in: first the modem, then the router.
- Wait a few minutes for them to completely power back on.
This restart should fix most issues with your modem and router and your internet should be back up.
It might be time to upgrade your router
If you're having consistent speed issues or outages that require you to reset your router on a regular basis, it might be time to upgrade to a newer model. Experts recommend replacing your router every five years or so, but if you have a lot of smart home gadgets or keep up with the latest electronics, it might be worth pushing that to two or three years.
That said, your router is only as good as the internet connection that's flowing through it. The best way to tell where the blame lies is to run some speed tests while plugged into your modem with an Ethernet cable and compare the results to the speeds you're getting through Wi-Fi. If the wired speeds are still slower than you'd like, it's probably time to switch to a faster plan or switch internet providers altogether.
Reset your router FAQs
No, unplugging a router reboots it. Resetting your router reverts it to factory settings and effectively erases all your custom settings (like your network name, password, and IP address). You can reset your router with a reset button on it, either by holding the button or inserting a paperclip to hold the button.
Resetting your router reverts it to factory settings and is a good way of clearing any malware giving your router a fresh start. Don't confuse a reset with a reboot, however. You should reboot more often than you reset your router. If you're finding you have to frequently reset your router to factory settings, that might be a sign it's time for an upgrade.
Yes, it's easy to reset your router. To reboot it, unplug it, wait 30 seconds and then plug it back in. To reset it, you'll have to hold in the reset button on your router. Sometimes the button is big enough to push with your finger, but in some cases, you'll have to use a paperclip. Hold the button in for 30 seconds and wait for the lights on the router to come back on.