Restart Your Internet Equipment the Right Way
Restarting your network equipment fixes many internet problems, but the order matters. Follow these steps to restart everything cleanly without losing any settings.
Know your equipment
- Modem: the box your internet provider's cable or fiber line connects to. It brings the internet into the building.
- Router: creates your Wi-Fi and office network. Sometimes the modem and router are one single device (often called a "gateway").
- Switches: boxes with many network ports that connect wired devices.
- Access points or mesh units: extra Wi-Fi devices placed around the office.
Do not press the reset button. The small "Reset" hole or button restores factory settings and erases your Wi-Fi name, passwords and configuration. A restart means unplugging the power, not pressing Reset.
Before you start
- Save your work. Everyone will lose internet for a few minutes.
- If your phones use the internet (VoIP), calls will drop during the restart.
- Take a photo of the lights on each device. It helps if you need to call us or your provider.
The correct order
- Unplug the power from the modem and the router (and switches and access points, if you are restarting everything). If the equipment has a battery backup, remove the battery or use the power button if there is one.
- Wait at least 30 seconds. This lets the devices fully clear their memory.
- Plug in the modem first. Wait until its lights are steady, usually 2 to 5 minutes. The "Online," "Internet" or "WAN" light should be solid, not blinking.
- Plug in the router. Wait another 2 to 3 minutes until its lights settle.
- Plug in switches and access points, if you unplugged them, and wait a minute or two.
- Test by opening a website on a computer. If a device still cannot connect, restart that device too.
If you have a single gateway device, just unplug it, wait 30 seconds, plug it back in, and wait until the lights are steady.
Label each power cable ("Modem," "Router," "Switch") with tape or a tag. Next time, anyone in the office can restart the right device without guessing.
If it still does not work
- Check your provider's app or website for an outage in your area.
- Make sure all cables are firmly connected, especially the line coming into the modem.
- If the modem's internet light stays off or red, the problem is likely on the provider's side. Contact your provider.
- If the modem looks normal but there is still no internet, the router or network may need attention.
After a storm or power outage
When power returns, equipment may start in the wrong order and not connect. If the internet does not come back on its own after 10 minutes, do the restart above. Consider a battery backup (UPS) for the modem and router to ride out short power blips, which are common during summer storms.
