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.
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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
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. 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.
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.
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.
