How-toWi-Fi and Internet

How to restart your router and modem the right way

Restart your router and modem in the right order, with the right waits, and learn which lights show it worked. Your settings stay safe.

  • Updated
  • 10 min
  • Beginner
Applies to
  • Any device

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Restarting your router and modem is the most common first fix when the internet stops working or slows down. Here is the order to follow, how long to wait, and what the lights should look like when it has worked.

What you need

  • About 10 minutes. The restart itself is quick, but the modem needs time to reconnect.
  • Access to the power plugs of your router and modem. You do not need any tools or passwords.
  • A warning to anyone else at home. Every device will lose its connection for a few minutes, including video calls and downloads.

A restart does not erase your settings, your Wi-Fi name or your password. It clears the equipment's working memory and makes it ask your internet provider for a fresh connection.

Do you have one box or two?

The modem connects to your internet provider's line. The router shares that connection with your devices and creates the Wi-Fi network. Some homes have two separate boxes. Many internet providers supply one combined box, often called a gateway, which does both jobs. If you have one combined box, restart only that box.

Two boxes: the usual orderA diagram of 5 connected items with 4 one-way links. The full text follows the picture.Two boxes: the usual orderInternetModemRouterLaptopPhoneCable, phone line or fiberEthernet cableWi-FiWi-Fi
Switch off from the devices end, and switch on from the internet end.
Text version of this diagram
  • Internet connects to Modem (Cable, phone line or fiber).
  • Modem connects to Router (Ethernet cable).
  • Router connects to Laptop (Wi-Fi).
  • Router connects to Phone (Wi-Fi).

Restart the router and modem

  1. Save any work and tell others at home that the internet will go off for a few minutes.
  2. Unplug the power cable from the router. Pull the plug from the wall or the back of the box, not the network cable.
  3. Unplug the power cable from the modem.
  4. Check whether the modem has a backup battery. If it does and its lights stay on after you unplug it, remove the battery. Microsoft, NETGEAR and Google all give this advice, because the modem will not fully switch off while it is on battery power.
  5. Wait. Microsoft says to wait at least 30 seconds. NETGEAR advises 2 minutes before switching the modem on, and Google advises 2 to 3 minutes until the modem's lights go dark. Two minutes is a safe choice.
  6. Put the battery back, if you removed it. Plug the modem in first.
  7. Wait for the modem's lights to settle. NETGEAR suggests about 5 minutes, and some modems take longer. The modem's manual explains its lights.
  8. Plug the router in. Wait a few minutes for it to finish starting. Its Internet light should show it is connected, though the color depends on the model.
  9. Open a web page on your phone or computer to check that the internet is back.
Router lights to check afterwardsThe front of a typical home router with four round status lights, from left to right: power, internet, Wi-Fi and wired network (LAN). It has 4 numbered markers, explained in the list under the picture.1234Router lights to check afterwards
  1. Power light: on means the router has power
  2. Internet light: shows the link to your provider
  3. Wi-Fi light: shows the wireless network is on
  4. LAN light: shows a wired device is connected
Light names, colors and positions vary by model. Check your manual.
Text version of this diagram

The front of a typical home router with four round status lights, from left to right: power, internet, Wi-Fi and wired network (LAN).

  1. Power light: on means the router has power
  2. Internet light: shows the link to your provider
  3. Wi-Fi light: shows the wireless network is on
  4. LAN light: shows a wired device is connected

If you have a combined gateway, use the same steps but treat the single box as both the modem and the router: unplug it, wait, plug it in, and wait several minutes.

Do not press the Reset button

A small hole or button marked Reset on the back of the router erases its settings, including the Wi-Fi name and password. Restarting only needs the power unplugged. If you ever do reset a router, you must set it up again, so first find your internet provider's login details.

Back of a typical routerThe back panel of a typical home router with its antennas above and, along the panel, a power socket, a reset pinhole, a WPS button, a USB port, one Internet (WAN) port and four LAN ports. It has 4 numbered markers, explained in the list under the picture.1234Back of a typical router
  1. Power: unplug here, or at the wall socket
  2. Internet (WAN) port: the cable from your modem goes here
  3. LAN ports: wired devices plug in here
  4. Reset button: leave it alone
Port names and positions differ between models.
Text version of this diagram

The back panel of a typical home router with its antennas above and, along the panel, a power socket, a reset pinhole, a WPS button, a USB port, one Internet (WAN) port and four LAN ports.

  1. Power: unplug here, or at the wall socket
  2. Internet (WAN) port: the cable from your modem goes here
  3. LAN ports: wired devices plug in here
  4. Reset button: leave it alone

Check that it worked

  • The router's Internet light is on and steady, as your manual describes.
  • Your phone or computer rejoins the Wi-Fi network without asking for a password. Most devices do this on their own.
  • A web page loads.

If something goes wrong

  • The Internet light stays off or looks different from usual. Check that the cable between the modem and the router's Internet (WAN) port is pushed in at both ends. Then repeat the restart once, waiting longer for the modem.
  • Wi-Fi works but pages will not load. The fault may be on one device. Follow Wi-Fi connected but no internet, and try flushing DNS on your computer.
  • Your Wi-Fi network is missing. Give the router a few more minutes. If it still does not appear, see the guide on a missing network.
  • You need to ask your provider. Use the support page on your internet provider's website to check for an outage or a fault on your line. Do not ring a number from a pop-up or an unexpected message.

Restarting is not a cure for a fault that keeps returning

If you must restart the router every few days, something else is wrong. Check for a firmware update in the router's app or admin page, and see why Wi-Fi keeps disconnecting.

Frequently asked questions

How often should I restart my router?

There is no required schedule. Restart it when you have a problem such as no internet or a sudden slowdown. It is not needed every day.

Will I lose my Wi-Fi password or settings?

No. A restart keeps your settings. Only the Reset button, or a factory reset from the admin page, erases them.

Does the order really matter?

Yes, for two separate boxes. The modem must connect to your provider first, so the router can receive a working connection when it starts. Microsoft and NETGEAR both say to switch the modem on first.

Can I restart the router from an app instead?

Many routers have an app or admin page with a Restart option. That works for the router only. If the problem is the modem, unplug it as described above.

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Pages consulted while preparing this guide. Check them for the latest details.

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