How to Restart Your Router the Right Way

The internet has slowed to a crawl or dropped entirely, and support asks you to restart the router. The order matters: modem first, then router.

Unplug the modem and the router from power

Pull the power cord from the back of the modem and the router. If you have a single combined gateway from your internet provider, unplug that one box. Leave the internet cable (coax, fiber, or phone line) alone. Do not press the reset button. That is a different thing.

Wait 30 seconds

This clears the memory and lets the hardware fully power down. Counting to 30 is enough. Some providers suggest a full minute, which does no harm.

Plug the modem in first

Reconnect the modem's power and wait. Its lights will blink for 1 to 2 minutes while it reconnects to your provider. Wait until the internet or online light is solid before moving on. With a combined gateway, this is the only box to plug in, and you can go straight to testing.

Plug the router in

Now reconnect the router's power. Its lights take about a minute to settle. When the Wi-Fi light is on, the network is broadcasting again.

Test the connection

Open a web page on a phone or laptop. If it loads, you are done. If it does not, look at the modem's internet light. A blinking or dark internet light on the modem points to a problem on the provider's side, which a restart cannot fix.

If you would rather not unplug anything. The router's admin page usually has a Reboot or Restart button in its System, Administration, or Advanced section, and ISP apps offer the same. It restarts the router without touching the modem.

A restart is not a reset. The recessed reset button on the back wipes your Wi-Fi name, password, and every other setting when held for about 10 seconds. Only use it if you intend to start over.