How to Restart Your Wi-Fi Router

Is your show constantly buffering on Netflix? Mayhap you're tired of seeing that dreaded "No internet connectedness" error when y'all're trying to work from dwelling? Whatsoever the case, nosotros feel you.

Earlier you rage at your internet service provider (ISP), try restarting your wireless router to meet if a refresh fixes your result. Who knows, this simple set up could mean you don't take to call customer support. That'due south a win if we always heard ane.

Ready to requite information technology a go? Permit's fix that internet and become you dorsum online, pronto!

How To Restart Your Wi-Fi Router

  1. Unplug your router and modem

A router sits on a desk with notebooks and a pencil

Heads Up

Be careful: Restarting is not the aforementioned as resetting your router

While restarting and resetting your router sound the same, they actually hateful ii very different things.

Resetting your router volition completely wipe whatsoever configurations you've saved and restore your router to its factory default settings. That ways you'll have to ready your countersign, network name (SSID), and more than all over again.

Restarting your router, which we're covering in this guide, lets your equipment flush out whatever problems stored in the memory and cool off. All your configurations are still saved after a restart.

1. Unplug your router and modem

First, you'll want to unplug both your router and modem from the power outlet in the wall. Next, you'll want to unplug whatever connections between your modem and wireless router.

Then it'due south time to footstep abroad. You want your router and modem to remainder for a bit and then the equipment's memory has time to refresh. This volition have about a minute or ii—but letting your equipment remainder for longer won't hurt it.

Go brand a cup of coffee, chat with a family member, or have your canis familiaris out for a walk while you wait.

Megaphone

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2. Plug your modem back into the wall

After you've let your modem and router clear out their memory, you lot'll want to plug your modem into the wall commencement.

Nosotros echo, plug your modem's ability cord in showtime!

Don't plug your router in just yet, and don't claw up any other connections.

Now give your modem nearly a infinitesimal to power up. You'll come across the lights on the front end of it blink or turn on and off, and this is normal. In one case most or all of your modem'southward lights steadily glow dark-green, you lot're set up for the next stride.

three. Plug your router back in

At present it's time for your router to start broadcasting that Wi-Fi indicate. And then become ahead and plug it back into the wall and reconnect it to your modem.

Once you've plugged your router dorsum in, requite it a minute to power back up.

Again, you lot'll probably see lots of flashing lights at showtime—this is still normal every bit the router goes through the process of starting all of its processes back up once again.

4. Update your firmware and apps

In one case both your modem and router are powered support, information technology's time to do your due diligence and update your firmware and any apps your equipment uses.

Why should you lot update the firmware? Well, firmware contains updates for your router and modem that keep them running smoothly. These firmware updates might squash any functioning bug and may fifty-fifty boost your internet speed.

Pin

Download firmware only from official sites

You lot should never download anything from a site you don't know. Cybercriminals are always looking for ways to sneak malware onto your computer, so be sure you download firmware for your router and modem direct from the manufacturer'southward website only.

Recap: How do you restart your Wi-Fi router and ready your internet?

Restarting your modem and router is equally easy as unplugging all your equipment, waiting a couple of minutes, so plugging in your modem and plugging in your router later your modem has powered back up.

We besides recommend updating your equipment'southward firmware and apps to make sure you take the latest technical issue fixes and optimizations. Updated firmware tin assist you get faster net speeds, and who could say no to that?

Now that you know how to restart your router, check these out adjacent.

Is information technology fourth dimension for a new router? Hither's what to await for.

We've got more than like shooting fish in a barrel ways to speed up your internet—without paying a dime.

FAQ

Do you still have questions virtually restarting your router? We can help.

You lot should aim to restart your router at to the lowest degree once a month. This gives it a adventure to mend any issues, take a breather, and fix certain internet connection issues.

Also, if your cyberspace is moseying along at a snail'southward stride, go alee and restart your router fifty-fifty if it hasn't been a month yet.

It's recommended that you check for router firmware updates every three to four years. Some router companies may likewise send an email or other alarm if they have a disquisitional firmware update waiting for you.

If your router seems to be slowing downwardly your net, it's worth checking to meet if there'due south a firmware update on the official manufacturer's site.

Internet company reps love to tell you to "power cycle" your modem, but what the heck does that hateful? Basically, power cycling your router and modem is unplugging your equipment from the wall, letting information technology rest for a few minutes, and then plugging everything back in.

Power cycling, merely like restarting your router, should help your equipment refresh itself and make clean upwards whatsoever errors in its internal memory that could crusade your internet to boring down.

Catherine McNally

Written by

Catherine McNally

Catherine has a degree in journalism and an MBA, and has spent the concluding ten+ years writing everything from Okinawa travel guides to stories on Medium. She'due south been online since AOL CDs were a matter and is an unapologetic PC gamer. She believes the internet is a necessity, non a luxury, and writes reviews and guides to aid anybody stay connected. You can also find her on Twitter: @CMReviewsIt.

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