Written by Rona Sabatin
Content Writer, Johnson Creative · Updated
Why is my router blinking red? It depends on the brand and which light is red. The same color can mean different things on different routers. On an eero, flashing red means it is resetting. On an AT&T BGW320 or BGW620, slow blinking red means there is an issue with your network. Check for an outage and your cables, then power cycle your modem and router.
Based on eero's light guide, AT&T's BGW320 guide and the other maker and provider pages below. Last verified Oct 23, 2026.
Your router is blinking red or orange, and the internet is down. What does the light mean?
Here is the catch, though. The same color can mean different things on different routers. For example, on an eero, flashing red means the eero is resetting. On an AT&T BGW320, however, slow blinking red means there is an issue with your network. In addition, NETGEAR’s light guide does not use red at all. Instead, it uses amber.
So this guide quotes each cited maker and provider, then gives you the fix steps.
What Does a Red or Orange Light on a Router Mean?
It depends on the brand, the provider and which light is lit. So the table below quotes the cited maker and provider guides.
| Brand or provider | Light | What the source says |
|---|---|---|
| NETGEAR | Internet LED, solid amber | The router detected an Ethernet cable connection to the modem |
| NETGEAR | Power LED, blinking amber | The firmware is upgrading or the Reset button was pressed |
| NETGEAR | Ethernet port LED, amber | A 100 Mbps or 10 Mbps Ethernet connection |
| TP-Link (Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 5) | Internet light, red | Labeled "Dual color (GREEN/RED)". Turns red for 0.5 seconds at power-on. No meaning published for steady or blinking red |
| eero | Solid red | Offline |
| eero | Flashing red | Resetting |
| eero | Flashing yellow or orange | Power supply problem |
| AT&T BGW320 and BGW620 | Slow blinking red | There is an issue with your network |
| AT&T BGW320 | Fast blinking red | A network service issue which may require AT&T |
| AT&T BGW320 and BGW620 | Solid red | The hub is overheating or has a hardware issue |
| Xfinity gateway | Steady red | No internet connection |
| Xfinity gateway | Orange | Not listed in Xfinity's light guide |
| Xfinity gateway | All other color combinations | Connecting to Xfinity systems. Wait about 15 minutes |
| Spectrum Invincible WiFi | Red, slow fade | Connectivity but no management access. Connectivity issues |
| Spectrum Invincible WiFi | Solid red | Router trouble |
Sources: NETGEAR (updated Jul 7, 2025); TP-Link (updated May 12, 2026); eero; AT&T BGW320, BGW620 (updated Sep 23, 2026) and BGW320 light guide PDF; Xfinity (updated Aug 31, 2026); Spectrum. Last verified Oct 23, 2026.
Which Light Is Red: Power, Internet or WiFi?
First, check which light is red before you read its color. For example, NETGEAR’s guide separates the Power, Internet and WiFi LEDs.
However, NETGEAR notes that, depending on the age and model of the router, the icons may vary slightly.
- Power LED. Shows whether the router is on and ready. NETGEAR says solid amber means “Your router is powering on.”
- Internet LED. Shows the link to your modem. NETGEAR says if it is off, “No Ethernet cable is connected between the router and the modem.”
- WiFi LED. Shows the wireless radios. NETGEAR says off means “WiFi radios are off.”
TP-Link, on the other hand, labels its Internet light as dual-color, green and red, on its Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 5 routers.
Also, on AT&T’s BGW320, AT&T says this about the red ONT port: “If a cable is connected from the service box to this port, don’t disconnect it.”
How Do You Fix a Router Blinking Red?
Find the light, check for an outage and your cables, then power cycle. Try these steps in order:
- Find your brand and which light is red. Then match it in the table above. TP-Link says to “refer to the user manual for your specific model for more accurate information.”
- Check for an outage with your provider. Our AT&T, Xfinity and Spectrum guides show each provider’s outage tools.
- Check the cable between your modem and router. NETGEAR says an Internet LED that is off means no Ethernet cable is connected between the router and the modem. On AT&T fiber, AT&T says not to disconnect a cable that runs from the service box to the red ONT port.
- Power cycle your equipment. eero says to unplug the eero for 30 seconds, then plug it back in. NETGEAR lists a power cycle of your home network as its first fix. For the right order, see how to power cycle your modem and router.
- Check the power adapter. NETGEAR says to use the power adapter that came with your router. eero says a flashing yellow or orange light means a “Power supply problem.”
- Contact the router maker or your provider. NETGEAR lists a factory reset only after its other steps, and says a factory reset restores the router to NETGEAR’s default settings.
What Do Red and Orange Lights Mean on Popular Router Brands?
So here is what the cited NETGEAR, TP-Link, eero and Linksys guides say.
NETGEAR
NETGEAR’s LED guide does not use red or orange. Instead, it uses amber. In that guide, however, amber is not always a problem. For example, amber on an Ethernet port shows a 100 Mbps or 10 Mbps connection.
| NETGEAR light | What NETGEAR says it means |
|---|---|
| Power LED, solid amber | Your router is powering on |
| Power LED, blinking amber | Your router's firmware is upgrading or the Reset button was pressed |
| Power LED, blinking white | Your router's firmware is corrupted |
| Internet LED, off | No Ethernet cable is connected between the router and the modem |
| Internet LED, solid amber | The router detected an Ethernet cable connection to the modem |
| Internet LED, solid green or white | The Internet connection is ready |
| WiFi LED, off | WiFi radios are off |
| Ethernet port LED, amber | A 100 Mbps or 10 Mbps Ethernet connection (white or green means Gigabit) |
Source: NETGEAR, What do the LEDs on my NETGEAR router mean? (Article 24244, updated Jul 7, 2025). NETGEAR does not use red or orange in this guide. Last verified Oct 23, 2026.
If the Power LED stays amber or keeps blinking, NETGEAR’s amber LED guide lists these steps: power cycle your home network, use the original power adapter, disconnect all Ethernet connections, avoid network loops, then factory reset or upload firmware.
TP-Link
TP-Link’s light guide labels the Internet light on its Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 5 routers as “Dual color (GREEN/RED)”. It also says the Internet lights turn red for 0.5 seconds when the router powers on. It does not say what a steady or blinking red light means. TP-Link says to check the user manual for your model.
On TP-Link Wi-Fi 7 routers with an LED display, TP-Link says an exclamation mark means “The router is disconnected from the internet.”
TP-Link does not publish a meaning for a steady or blinking red light on the support page we checked. So check your model’s manual before you trust a general answer.
eero
eero’s light guide lists a meaning for its light colors. On an eero, red is about the internet connection or a reset.
| eero light | What eero says it means |
|---|---|
| Solid white | Online |
| Flashing white | Connecting |
| Solid red | Offline |
| Flashing red | Resetting |
| Flashing yellow or orange | Power supply problem |
Source: eero, What do the colors of the LED light on my eero mean? eero says eero Signal uses different colors. Last verified Oct 23, 2026.
eero’s red light guide says: “A red LED means your eero isn’t receiving an internet connection.” For a wireless eero, eero says to unplug it for 30 seconds and plug it back in. If it stays red, move it closer to another eero.
Linksys (Routers From Your Internet Provider)
Linksys publishes light meanings for the Linksys routers that some internet providers supply. These meanings apply to those routers only, not to every Linksys router.
| Linksys light | What Linksys says it means |
|---|---|
| Blinking red, parent router | Router is not connected to the modem |
| Blinking red, child node | Node is disconnected from the network |
| Solid red, parent router | Internet is down |
Source: Linksys, Understanding the light behavior of the Linksys ISP routers. Applies to Linksys routers supplied by an internet provider, not all Linksys routers. Last verified Oct 23, 2026.
What Do Red and Orange Lights Mean on Internet Provider Equipment?
Here is one sourced line for AT&T, Xfinity and Spectrum, with a link to each full guide.
AT&T
AT&T’s BGW320 and BGW620 guides say slow blinking red means there is an issue with your network. See more AT&T models in our guide to an AT&T router blinking red.
Xfinity
Xfinity says a steady red light means no internet connection, and its guide does not list orange. See our guide to an Xfinity router blinking orange.
Spectrum
On Spectrum’s Invincible WiFi router, Spectrum says solid red means “Router trouble.” See our guide to a Spectrum router blinking red.
Is a Solid Red Light Worse Than a Blinking One?
It depends on the device. In the four cited examples below, solid and blinking red have different meanings.
| Device | Solid red | Blinking or flashing red |
|---|---|---|
| AT&T BGW320 and BGW620 | Overheating or a hardware issue | Slow: an issue with your network. Fast (BGW320): a network service issue which may require AT&T |
| eero | Offline | Resetting |
| Spectrum Invincible WiFi | Router trouble | Slow fade: connectivity issues |
| Linksys ISP router (parent) | Internet is down | Router is not connected to the modem |
Sources: AT&T BGW320 and BGW620 guides and BGW320 light guide PDF; eero light guide; Spectrum Invincible WiFi Troubleshooting; Linksys Article 425. Last verified Oct 23, 2026.
Is the Problem Your Router, Your Modem or Your Provider?
Start with the box that has the red light. Then check whether your provider reports an outage.
- Not sure which box is which? See our guide to the modem vs router.
- Your provider reports an outage? A restart at home will not end it. Follow your provider’s outage updates.
- Lights look normal, but nothing loads? Read WiFi connected but no internet.
- The connection keeps dropping every few days? See how to fix a router that keeps disconnecting.
Can a Router Rebooter or Always Router Help With a Red Light?
Only when a restart clears the problem. A device that power cycles your router cannot fix an outage on your provider’s side, a damaged cable or failed hardware.
| Situation | Can it help? |
|---|---|
| The connection drops and a power cycle brings it back | Potentially yes |
| An outage on your internet provider's side | No |
| A cut or damaged cable | No |
| Failed hardware | No |
| Equipment with a backup battery | Check the battery backup guide first |
Based on the Keep Connect manual (April 2026) and the Keep Connect, Keep Connect MAX and Always Router product pages. Last verified Oct 23, 2026.
Keep Connect Automatic Router Rebooter
Keep Connect is an automatic router rebooter. It plugs into the wall, and your router or modem plugs into it. By default, according to the Keep Connect manual:
- Every 5 minutes, it checks a primary test domain.
- If that check fails, it waits 1 minute and checks a secondary test domain.
- If both fail, it cuts power to your equipment for 30 seconds, then turns it back on.
- It waits 3 minutes for the equipment to start up, then checks again.
- Once the internet is back, it sends a notification by email or text, if you set one up.
After 3 resets in a row, it waits 4 hours before trying again. These settings can be changed. Basic automatic rebooting needs no subscription. It connects to 2.4 GHz WiFi only.
Johnson Creative rates it for a 10A total connected load and says it “suits a home router, or a router and modem within that limit.” Keep Connect’s product page also warns: “Removing external power may not shut down equipment with a working internal battery.” See the battery backup guide if your equipment has a battery.
Keep Connect MAX Router Rebooter
MAX does the same core job with higher-rated hardware. Johnson Creative says “MAX is the upgraded model, with 15A-rated hardware instead of the Standard model’s 10A.” Johnson Creative also says “a higher current rating does not make your internet faster.”
Always Router
Always Router is a router, not a plug. Johnson Creative says it “runs OpenWrt with Johnson Creative’s Keep Connect firmware, tests your connection automatically, and reboots when the internet drops or speeds fall below your limits.” It can also trigger a linked Keep Connect plug when a full power cycle is needed. Email and SMS alerts are included. Johnson Creative says to check your network before ordering.
| Product | What it is | Fits when |
|---|---|---|
| Keep Connect Automatic Router Rebooter ($49.99) | A plug that checks your internet and power cycles your equipment | Your home router, or router and modem, are within its 10A load rating |
| Keep Connect MAX Router Rebooter ($74.99) | The upgraded rebooter with 15A-rated hardware | You want the 15A rating |
| Always Router ($119.99) | A self-healing router that tests its connection and reboots itself | You want a router that checks itself, and can trigger a linked Keep Connect plug |
Prices and details from the Keep Connect, Keep Connect MAX and Always Router product pages. Check the product page before buying. Last verified Oct 23, 2026.
Keep Connect Automatic Router Rebooter
$49.99
- Checks your internet connection every 5 minutes by default
- Turns compatible equipment off for 30 seconds by default when the internet drops, then back on
- Sends an email or text when you are back online, if set up
- No subscription needed for basic automatic rebooting
- Connects to 2.4 GHz WiFi only
Need a 15A rating? Compare the MAX router rebooter ($74.99). Want a router that checks itself? See Always Router ($119.99).
Keep Connect is rated for a 10A total connected load. These products help only when a power cycle clears the problem. They cannot fix an outage on your provider's side, a damaged cable or failed hardware. Check the battery backup guide if your equipment has a battery.
What Are the Key Takeaways?
Here is the short version, based on the cited makers’ and providers’ support pages.
- The same color can mean different things on different routers. Meanings differ by brand, provider and which light is lit.
- NETGEAR’s LED guide uses amber, not red. In that guide, amber on an Ethernet port means a 100 Mbps or 10 Mbps connection.
- On an eero, solid red means offline and flashing red means resetting. Flashing yellow or orange means a power supply problem.
- TP-Link’s Internet light can turn red, but TP-Link does not publish what steady or blinking red means. Check your model’s manual.
- AT&T, Xfinity and Spectrum each publish their own meanings. Use the guide for your provider.
- Fix order: find the light, check for an outage, check the cable, power cycle, check the power adapter, then contact the maker or provider.
- A router rebooter helps only when a restart clears the problem.
What Else Do People Ask About Router Lights?
This section answers six questions about red, orange and amber router lights. The answers come from the same maker and provider pages used above.
Why is my router blinking red?
It depends on the brand and which light is red. On an eero, flashing red means the eero is resetting. On an AT&T BGW320 or BGW620, slow blinking red means there is an issue with your network. Find your brand in the table at the top of this guide.
What does an orange light on a router mean?
It depends on the brand. On an eero, eero says flashing yellow or orange means a power supply problem. NETGEAR's LED guide uses amber: solid amber on the Internet LED means the router detected an Ethernet cable connection to the modem. Xfinity's light guide does not list orange.
What does an amber light on an Ethernet port mean?
In NETGEAR's LED guide, NETGEAR says amber on an Ethernet port means a 100 Mbps or 10 Mbps connection. White or green means a Gigabit connection. Other brands may use different colors, so check your model's guide.
What does a flashing red light mean on an eero?
eero says flashing red means the eero is resetting. Solid red means it is offline. eero also says a red light means your eero isn't receiving an internet connection.
Will restarting fix a red router light?
It can. eero says to unplug a red eero for 30 seconds and plug it back in. NETGEAR lists a power cycle of your home network as its first fix for an amber Power LED. A restart cannot fix an outage on your provider's side, so check for an outage too.
Is a red router light always a problem?
No. TP-Link says the Internet light turns red for 0.5 seconds when the router powers on. On an eero, flashing red means the eero is resetting. Watch what the light does after startup, then match it to your brand's guide.
What Should You Do Right Now?
Find your router brand and which light is red. Match it in the table at the top. Check for an outage with your provider and check the cable to your modem. Then power cycle your equipment in the right order.
If a restart keeps bringing your internet back, see the Keep Connect automatic router rebooter. It checks your internet and power cycles compatible equipment when the connection drops.
Provider guides: AT&T router blinking red, Xfinity router blinking orange and Spectrum router blinking red.
About the Author
Rona writes guides for Johnson Creative on router rebooting, internet reliability and home monitoring. Product details come from Johnson Creative's manuals and support articles. AI tools help with drafting, and every guide is reviewed and edited by Rona before publishing.
