One of the first things you do when your internet goes down is power cycle your router and modem.
Most people call this ‘unplug it and plug it back in’ but a proper power cycle is a little more specific than that. It means turning off your network gear entirely, waiting a bit, and then turning on each device in the correct order.
If you have a separate modem and router, it is worth noting the order.
In this guide, we’ll cover what power cycling is, how to properly power cycle your router and modem, why it works, when to power cycle just the router, when to include the modem, and how Keep Connect can automate the routine when your internet drops.
How To Power Cycle Your Router & Modem Quick Answer
Power cycle the router and modem. Unplug the router first, then the modem. Hold for 30 to 60 seconds. First, reconnect the modem and wait for it to reconnect completely. Then plug in the router and wait for your WiFi network to come back.
If you have a modem/router combo device, unplug it, wait 30-60 seconds, then plug it back in.
What is a Power Cycle?
Power cycling means to turn a device completely off, wait a short period, and then turn it back on.
For Internet equipment, this generally means unplugging the router, modem, or gateway from its power source.
A power cycle is not the same as just turning off WiFi on your phone or rebooting your laptop. It reboots the hardware that actually handles your internet connection.
This may help fix stuck network sessions, failed modem communication, router software glitches, temporary connection issues, and issues that sometimes happen after a power outage or power flicker.
Think of power cycling as giving your router or modem a reboot.
Power Cycle, Restart, Reboot, Reset
These terms are not synonyms, although they are often used interchangeably.
Power cycling
Power cycling means just taking all the power off, waiting, and putting it back on.
This generally means unplugging it from the outlet or power adapter for a router or modem.
Reboot or Restart
Restart or reboot usually means to power the device off and power it back on. This can be done by a button, an app, a web dashboard or simply by pulling the power plug.
Restart and reboot are often used interchangeably in everyday troubleshooting.
Reboot
It’s not a reset.
To reset a router, you usually mean to set it back to factory settings. This may remove your WiFi name, WiFi password, admin password, port forwarding rules and other custom settings.
In most cases with internet connection issues, you don’t want to reset your router. You want to cycle it with power.
The Order of Modem and Router Matters
When you have two separate devices, the modem and the router are doing different things.
It links your home, office or property with your internet service provider.
Then the router shares that Internet connection with your devices over WiFi or Ethernet.
That is why you should power on the modem before the router.
If the router powers up before the modem is ready, your WiFi network may seem to be working, but your devices may still not have access to the internet. The router is probably broadcasting WiFi, but hasn’t yet gotten a clean internet connection from the modem.
The right order is:
Turn off the router.
Second, disconnect the modem.
Wait 30-60 seconds.
First, plug the modem back in.
Now wait for the modem to reconnect.
Second, plug the router back in.
This gives the cleanest restart sequence for your network equipment.
How To Power Cycle Your Router And Modem, Step By Step
If your internet is down, flaky or just not reconnecting properly, follow these steps.
Step 1: Determine if you have one or two devices
Before you unplug anything, check your setup.
Some homes and businesses have one device that acts as both a modem and a router. This is often referred to as a gateway.
Other setups are two separate devices:
A modem that connects to your internet provider.
A WiFi network created by your router
If you have only 1 device then you only need to power cycle that one device.
If you have two devices, carefully follow the order of the modem and the router.
Step 2. First, unplug the router.
First of all, unplug the router from the power source.
You can disconnect it from the wall outlet, power strip or power port on the back of the router.
Do not press that reset button. Holding the reset button for too long may wipe out your router settings.
Step 3: Unplug the modem last
With the router off, unplug the modem from the power.
You may also need to remove the battery if your modem has a backup battery. Otherwise the modem may still be powered up after unplugging it.
The idea is to completely cut the power so the modem actually turns off.
Step 4: Wait 30 to 60 seconds.
Don’t reconnect the devices right away.
This gives the equipment time to fully shut down and clear temporary operating states.
Wait for a minimum of 30 seconds.
If the issue started after a power outage, power flicker or a modem freeze, it’s even better to wait 60 seconds.
Step 5: First Plug the Modem Back In
Now plug the power back into the modem.
Wait for it to reconnect to your Internet service provider.
It may take a few minutes. Lights may flicker as it reconnects. Depending on your modem, you may see lights labeled as Online, Internet, Broadband, Cable, Fiber, or DSL.
Plug the router back in, and wait for the modem to appear fully connected.
Reconnect Router Step 6: Reset Router
Plug the router back in when the modem is online.
The router will power back up and begin broadcasting your WiFi network again.
This can take some minutes as well. Your phone, laptop, smart TV, cameras, smart speakers and other devices may reconnect in sequence.
Step 7. Check Your Internet Connection
Test the connection after both devices have fully returned to service.
Open a website, run a speed test, check a streaming app or test a device that was formerly offline.
If you can see your WiFi network but still have no internet, the issue might be with your modem, ISP connection, cable line, router configuration or the internet provider itself.
The Power Cycle: What Takes Place
A proper power cycle is more than just turning the lights off and back on.
First, the device fully powers down. This ends active network sessions and clears temporary operating states.
Then the modem reconnects to your Internet provider. It checks the line, it sets up communication, it comes back online.
Then router boots up again. The modem connects to the internet and gives that connection to the router. The router takes the internet connection from the modem and starts broadcasting WiFi and starts giving out local network addresses to your devices.
Finally your connected devices reconnect to the router.
This is the reason why the process can take several minutes. You don’t just switch on your modem and router. They are re-establishing the connection.
How Power Cycling Works
Routers and modems are little computers.
They run software, manage traffic, assign IP addresses, talk to your internet provider and keep your connected devices online.
Like any computer, they can sometimes get hung up.
Clearing the following can be helped by power cycling:
- Software bugs (temporary)
- Network sessions jammed
- Unsuccessful IP address assignments
- Modem to ISP communication issues
- Router connection problems
- Problems after a power failure
- No internet connection with wifi on devices.
A power cycle won’t increase the speed of your internet plan. If you’re paying for 100 Mbps, power cycling isn’t going to magically give you 500 Mbps.
But it can help return your gear to normal performance if it was frozen up, overloaded, or stuck in a bad connection.
How Often Should You Reboot Your Router and Modem?
Power cycling is a good first step in troubleshooting when:
- Connected to your WiFi but no internet
- Your internet randomly goes out
- Your modem lights are acting funny
- Your router is not answering
- Just had a power outage or flicker.
- Your smart devices or cameras have gone offline
- Your modem came back online but not wifi
- Your router seems to be frozen
- Your internet provider says the service is up but your connection still doesn’t work
If this happens only once, a manual power cycle might be enough.
For persistent problems you might need to check the modem, router, ISP Signal, wiring, power stability or network setup.
When to Only Power Cycle the Router
If your modem is online and the problem is really just with your local WiFi network, you may only need to power cycle the router.
This could be true when:
The lights on the modem look ok
Internet from modem through wire is working
The WiFi network was gone
WiFi devices that can’t connect
The router dashboard is unresponsive.
Only wireless devices affected
Router appears to be frozen but modem is online
In this case, the modem can still have a functional internet connection but the router is the device with the issue.
When Should You Power Cycle the Modem as Well?
If the issue appears to involve the actual internet connection, you want to include the modem.
This may be the case when:
- No internet on both wired and wireless devices
- The modem online light is off or blinking irregularly
- Your ISP connection just dropped
- The lights went off
- Modem to Router working, but No internet?
- Your ISP reports service is active but your modem won’t reconnect
If you’re not sure, the better troubleshooting step is usually to power cycle the modem and then the router (in the right order).
What to Do If You Have a Modem/Router Combo?
It’s easier if you only have one device, a combined modem/router.
Remove the device from the power source.
Wait 30-60 seconds.
Plug it back up.
Wait for the internet and WiFi lights to become stable.
Check your connection.
Since the modem and router are combined in one unit, you don’t have to fret about plugging in different pieces of equipment in a specific order.
Common Mistakes When Power Cycling
Power cycling is simple enough, but these mistakes can reduce its effectiveness.
Mistake 1: Turning It Back On Too Soon
Unplugging and replugging quickly doesn’t shut down the device completely.
Restore power after at least 30 seconds.
Mistake 2: Rebooting Your Router Before Your Modem Is Ready
If the modem isn’t online yet, then the router isn’t getting a proper internet connection.
Let the modem boot back up first. Then power up the router.
Mistake 3: Hitting the Reset Button
Power cycling is not the same as the reset button.
Pressing the reset button might delete your router settings and return the device to factory default.
Error 4: Only Restart One Device at a Time
Sometimes the router is the problem. Sometimes the issue is the modem.
If power cycling the router alone doesn’t work, try power cycling both in the correct order.
Error #5: Repeatedly Ignoring Connection Problems
If you have to power cycle your router or modem daily, there could be an underlying issue.
A power cycle might restore the connection, but it won’t always fix the root cause.
Why You May Need to Power Cycle Your Internet Equipment After an Outage
Power outages and power flickers can lead to an improper order of restart of network equipment.
Your router might be back online before your modem is fully reconnected to the internet provider. In that case, you will be able to see your WiFi network but you will not be able to access the internet.
In other cases, the modem may reconnect but the router may not refresh its link.
This is why power cycling after a power outage is often helpful. It allows you to bring the equipment back up in the proper order.
For homes, rentals, offices and remote properties that experience frequent power outages, automatic power cycling can be a great tool.
The Trouble With Manual Power Cycling
If you are close to the router and modem, manually power cycling is a good solution.
But when you are not there it is inconvenient.
For instance:
An Airbnb guest says that the WiFi is down
Security cameras stop responding while you are out
Office internet out after hours
The property is inaccessible a distance away
Smart lock/thermostat disconnects
The router is placed behind furniture or somewhere hard to reach
In those cases, the fix could be as simple as someone physically unplugging the equipment, waiting, plugging it back in and confirming the connection is back.
That’s the pain point Keep Connect is built to address.
How Keep Connect Automates the Power Cycling Process
Keep Connect is an automatic router rebooter that monitors your internet connectivity and power cycles the connected router, modem or network device when your connection drops.
Keep Connect can detect when the internet is not responding and cut power to the device connected instead of waiting for someone to manually unplug the equipment. It waits a few moments , then powers back up and the equipment can reboot .
The basics of the process are simple:
Keep Connect watches the internet connection.
In case of connection failure it checks for outage.
If the connection fails, it removes power from the connected equipment.
It waits a minute.
It has power again.
The router, modem or connected network device restarts and tries to reconnect.
This way you can do a proper power cycle without having to be physically near the router.
Why Keep Connect Is Not Your Typical Smart Plug
A smart plug can turn power on or off . A smart plug typically uses WiFi to take commands in a basic implementation .
That’s a problem.
If your router is offline then smart plug may also be unreachable. And when you most need to reboot the router you may not be able to get to the smart plug to do so.
Keep Connect is designed to cycle power on routers and modems. It is designed to monitor internet connectivity and automatically power cycle the connected equipment as needed.
Making it more suitable for internet recovery than a regular WiFi smart plug.
Where Automatic Power Cycling Comes In Most Handy
Automatic power cycling can be useful when Internet access is important, especially if there is no one around to manually restart the equipment.
Typical use cases include:
Holiday rentals
Airbnb list
Homes in isolated areas
Cabins & Lake Houses
Small office
CCTV systems
Smart homes
Home office arrangements
Shop locator
Devices connected to the Internet
Internet downtime can be a real inconvenience in those environments. A brief power cycle can restore the connection – if there’s someone there to do it.
Close the gap with Keep Connect.
Does Power Cycling Fix Internet Problems?
No.
Power cycling can resolve many common connection problems, but it cannot resolve everything.
Will not fix:
Total ISP Outage
A cut cable line.
Modem failed
A busted router
Internet provider billing problem
Wrong account provisioning
A poor signal from the ISP
A device-specific issue (phone or laptop)
Connect also cannot fix these issues directly.
What it can do is automatically do the power cycle when that is the right fix. In many real-world Internet problems, that simple reboot is all it takes to get you back online.
The Bottom Line
One of the easiest and most effective ways to fix a stuck internet connection is to power cycle your router and modem.
The trick is to get it right.
If you have separate devices, unplug the router first, and then the modem. Wait 30 to 60 seconds. Plug the modem back in first, wait for it to reconnect, and then plug the router back in.
That process gives your modem and router a fresh start, and helps them connect back in the right order.
But if you’re not home when your internet drops, manual power cycling isn’t always practical.
That’s where Keep Connect comes in.
Keep Connect automatically checks your Internet connection and power cycles the router, modem, or network appliance when the connection drops. It helps reduce downtime, manual troubleshooting, keeps your home, business, rental, or remote property connected.
No need for the manual grind. Keep Connect does this 24/7 automatically.
Common Questions
What is meant by power cycle router?
Power cycling a router , means to completely cut power to the router , wait a few seconds , then restore power . This gives the router a clean reboot without deleting your settings.
How do I restart my modem and router?
First unplug the router, then the modem. Please wait 30 to 60 secs. First, reconnect the modem and give it time to reconnect. Reconnect the router. Then.
Is power cycling the same as restarting?
Yes, in many everyday situations. Both rebooting and power cycling restart your device. Power cycling, however, is specifically cutting power entirely and then turning the device back on.
Is power cycling the same as resetting?
Nah. Power cycle resets the device without clearing settings. Resetting will usually restore everything to factory settings and can delete your WiFi name, password and custom configuration.
Should I restart my router or modem first?
When switching off the devices, unplug the router first and then the modem. When you turn them back on, the modem first, then the router.
How long do you unplug the router to power cycle it?
Wait 30 seconds or longer before plugging it back in. It is often better to wait 60 seconds, especially after an outage or connection problem.
Why does rebooting your router fix Internet problems?
A power cycle can solve temporary software glitches, stuck connections, failed IP assignments and communication problems between your modem, router and internet provider.
Will power cycling boost internet speed?
It can help get back to normal speed if your router or modem was overloaded or hung. It will not improve the speed of your internet plan.
Will Connect power cycle my router automatically?
Yes. Keep Connect monitors your internet connection and can automatically power cycle the connected router, modem or network device when the connection drops.
Should I use Keep Connect as a smart plug?
Yes, for router recovery. A smart plug usually connects via WiFi to get commands. If the router is down the smart plug might not be reachable. The program Keep Connect is intended specifically for monitoring the Internet connection and automatic reboot of network equipment.
