How to Properly Restart a Router Modem

How to Properly Restart a Router Modem

How to Properly Restart a Router & Modem GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Internet, Networking, & Security > Home Networking 1,154 1154 people found this article helpful

How to Properly Restart a Router & Modem

Rebooting your network devices in the right order makes all the difference

By Tim Fisher Tim Fisher Senior Vice President & Group General Manager, Tech & Sustainability Emporia State University Tim Fisher has more than 30 years' of professional technology experience. He's been writing about tech for more than two decades and serves as the VP and General Manager of Lifewire. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on October 19, 2021 Reviewed by Ryan Perian Reviewed by Ryan Perian Western Governors University Ryan Perian is a certified IT specialist who holds numerous IT certifications and has 12+ years' experience working in the IT industry support and management positions. lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Home Networking Routers & Firewalls The Wireless Connection Network Hubs ISP Broadband Ethernet Installing & Upgrading Wi-Fi & Wireless

What to Know

Unplug the router and modem. Wait at least 30 seconds. Plug in the modem and press the power button to turn it on, if needed.Wait at least 60 seconds and then plug in the router. Press the power button to turn it on, if needed.Wait at least 2 minutes before testing or using the devices. This article explains how to restart a router and modem. It includes information on the types of problems a restart can correct and on the difference between a restart (or reboot) and a reset.

Steps to Reboot a Router and Modem

Restart your router and modem if you suspect your network isn't working as it should. Maybe web pages aren't loading, Netflix freezes halfway through a movie, or your smart speakers suddenly stop playing music. Restarting the router gives it time to cool off and flush out its memory. Restarting (or rebooting) is not the same as resetting a router or modem. See Resetting vs. Rebooting for more information. Unplug the router and the modem. If you have other managed network hardware, such as network switches, unplug that hardware. Unmanaged devices can be left powered on, but use your judgment if you think these might be part of the problem. Don't use a button labeled Reset or Restart, since these likely start the factory reset or restore process. A clearly labeled power button is probably fine to use, but unplugging removes any doubt. Wait at least 30 seconds. This time lets the devices cool down and indicates to your ISP, computers, and other devices that the router and modem are offline. This step may not be necessary if you know what the problem is with the connection. Restart the router and modem when you don't know what's wrong. Plug in the modem. If it doesn't power on in the first few seconds, press the Power button. The modem is the device that your connection to the internet attaches to. For example, with cable-based internet service, the modem attaches to the coax cable from outside the home. Wait at least 60 seconds. During this time, the modem authenticates with your ISP and is assigned a public IP address. Most modems have four lights: a power light, a received light, a send light, and an activity light. When the first three lights are stable, the modem is fully powered on. If there's an internet light, wait for it to turn on to confirm that the modem is getting internet from your ISP. Plug in the router. Some routers may require that you press a Power button. On a combination modem-router, skip this and the next step. The software in that device initiates things in the proper order. The router is physically connected to the modem, so the device next to the modem is probably the router. Not all routers have an antenna, but many do, so if you see one or more of those, that's probably the router. Wait at least 2 minutes. This gives the router time to boot up. It also gives computers, smartphones, and other devices that use the network time to get new private IP addresses assigned by the DHCP service in the router. If you turned off the power for switches or other network hardware, power those back on. Then, wait a minute. If you have several devices, power them on from the outside-in, based on your network map. When the router and modem restart, test to see if the problem went away. It's not necessary to restart computers and other wireless devices, but you may need to if some of the devices are online and others aren't. Restart the computer the right way. If restarting isn't an option, renew your IP address by entering ipconfig /renew in Command Prompt. Lifewire / Miguel Co

If Rebooting Doesn' t Work

If rebooting the router and modem didn't fix the problem, follow more specific troubleshooting methods for the network or internet issue. If the modem has trouble getting a signal from your ISP (the first three lights aren't solid), contact your ISP for help. Otherwise, look closer at the network setup inside your home. How to Fix Wi-Fi Connection Drops

A Restart Doesn' t Change Your Settings

There is a fundamental difference between resetting a router or modem and restarting or rebooting one. One is more temporary than the other and both are used for unique purposes. The directions on this page are for restarting or rebooting a modem or router to shut them down and start them back up again without removing any settings or making any changes to the software.

A Reset Reverts to Factory Settings

To reset a router or modem is the short version of a factory reset of the device, which means removing the wireless settings and other configurations. Resetting puts the router or modem in its original default state before any changes were made to it, which includes reinstating the default router password, clearing the Wi-Fi password, deleting custom DNS servers, and more. Why Does My Modem Keep Resetting? Reset a modem or router by using the Reset button that's usually located on the back or side of the device. Find out how to reset a router if you can't log in with the default password or if there's a bigger problem with the network hardware that rebooting doesn't fix. The 9 Best Asus Routers of 2022

Rebooting A Frequent Fix

Restarting (also known as rebooting) is one of the simplest troubleshooting steps you can take to fix what isn't working properly. Does Windows seem a little buggy today? Reboot the computer. Is your iPhone not connecting to Wi-Fi anymore? Restart the phone and try again. It can be annoying when describing a problem to an IT department or a tech support agent and they suggest a restart or reboot right away, but the fact is, restarting fixes a lot of problems.
Why Is My Modem Not Working?

Rebooting Can Correct Network Issues Too

Restarting also fixes problems with network hardware, such as a digital modem (be it cable, DSL, satellite, or fiber) and a router. Did your smartphone and laptop both lose connection to the internet? Is your NAS no longer showing up on your desktop? Are your connected devices sluggish when it comes to streaming and browsing online? If so, reboot the router and modem. Rebooting network hardware corrects network and internet issues 75 percent of the time or more. The router and modem must be restarted in the right order for the reboot to fix the problem. If the devices are not rebooted in the correct order, you could lose internet connectivity completely.
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How to Reboot a Router & Modem

FAQ How often should I reboot my router? There is no hard and fast rule about how often to restart your router. For smoother performance overall, consider taking this step on some schedule outside of addressing sluggish network issues as they arise. You may prefer to create your own weekly or monthly routine or look to the router’s manufacturer for guidance. How do I restart a router from a computer or phone? If you want to try restarting your router alone from your computer or phone, you can do that in a few steps. Download a companion mobile app if it’s available or enter your router’s IP address in a web browser. Log in and look for a reboot or restart option. How do you restart your router on a PS4? Power your modem/router off, wait at least 30 seconds, and power it back on again. Also, fully power down your PlayStation console and power it back on; don't use Sleep Mode. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Properly Reboot (Restart) a Windows Computer How to Fix Wi-Fi Authentication Problems on Android How to Connect a Router to the Internet How to Fix a "Failed to Obtain IP Address" Android Error How to Fix Netflix Error Code NW-2-5 on Any Device How to Follow the 30-30-30 Hard Reset Rule for Routers NETGEAR WNR1000 Default Password Can't Connect to the Internet? Try These 10 Tips Linksys E4200 default password How to Fix an IPv6 No Network Access Error What to Do When Windows 11 Can't Connect to a Network How to Fix It When PS4 Won't Connect to Wi-Fi How to Fix Windows 11 Ethernet Driver Problems D-Link DIR-600 Default Password How to Find the Default IP Address of a Belkin Router How to Fix It When Discovery Plus Is Not Working Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies
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