How to Restart Your Router: The Right Way to Reboot or Power Cycle a Modem and Router
Slow WiFi, a video call that keeps freezing, or a "no internet" warning on every device usually has a three-minute fix. Restarting your router clears its memory, drops stale connections, and forces a fresh handshake with your modem and your internet provider. It keeps your WiFi name, password, and every custom setting exactly as they were. This guide covers the right way to do it, the correct order when you have a separate modem and router, and how to reboot remotely from the Xfinity, Spectrum, and Verizon apps.
If you are looking to wipe the router back to factory settings instead, that is a different procedure with different consequences. See our guide on how to reset a router to factory defaults.
Key Takeaways
- A restart (also called a reboot or power cycle) turns the router off and on. It does not change any settings. A factory reset erases everything.
- Unplug the power cable, wait a full 30 to 60 seconds, then plug it back in. Give the router two to three minutes to come fully back online.
- With a separate modem and router, always bring the modem back first and wait for its online light before powering the router.
- Do not press the pinhole Reset button to restart. Holding it will factory reset the router.
- If you are restarting more than once a week, the router is telling you something. Aging hardware, overheating, or an outdated WiFi standard are the usual causes.
Restart vs. Reset: They Are Not the Same Thing
The words get used interchangeably, but the two actions are very different. Knowing which one you are about to do saves you from re-entering your WiFi password on every device in the house.
| Action | What it does | Settings kept? | When to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restart: Restart (reboot, power cycle) | Turns the router off and on, clears memory, rebuilds connections | Yes, all of them | Slow speeds, dropped connections, devices that will not connect, after an outage |
| Factory reset: Factory reset (hard reset) | Erases all settings and returns the router to out-of-box state | No, everything is wiped | Forgotten admin password, corrupted settings, selling or returning the router |
Always start with a restart. It fixes the majority of everyday problems and costs nothing but a few minutes.
When Restarting Your Router Helps
Routers are small computers that run for months without a break. Over time their memory fills with connection tables, cached DNS entries, and half-closed sessions from dozens of devices. A restart wipes that slate clean. It is the first thing to try when you notice:
- Speeds well below what you normally get, especially on a speed test run over Ethernet
- WiFi that drops and reconnects throughout the day
- Devices that show "connected, no internet"
- Streaming that buffers on every device at once
- A smart home device or printer that suddenly cannot be found on the network
- Internet that never came back properly after a power outage or ISP maintenance
A restart will not fix a bad coax connection, a failing router, or an outage on your provider's end. If the problem returns within a day or two, skip to the troubleshooting section below.
How to Restart Your Router (Power Cycle Method)
This works on every router ever made and does not require logging into anything. Use it when you only have one device to restart, or when the modem is fine and only the WiFi is misbehaving.
- Unplug the power cable from the back of the router. If your router has a power button, you can use that instead, but unplugging guarantees a full shutdown.
- Wait 30 to 60 seconds. This is the step people rush. Capacitors inside the router hold a charge for several seconds, and the memory does not clear until power is fully gone. Sixty seconds is a safe number.
- Plug the router back in. The lights will blink through a startup sequence.
- Wait two to three minutes. The router needs to boot, negotiate with the modem, and bring both WiFi bands up. Do not judge the result until the lights settle.
- Check the lights. A solid internet, globe, or WAN light means the router has a working connection. Your devices should reconnect on their own within a minute.
If the internet light stays off or turns red, the problem is upstream. Move on to the modem-and-router restart below.
How to Restart a Modem and Router Together (Correct Order)
Most homes with a separate modem and router need to restart both, and the order matters. The router gets its connection from the modem, so if the router boots before the modem is online, it can lock in a failed connection and you end up restarting it again anyway.
- Unplug the modem from power. If it has a battery backup (common on modems that handle phone service), pull the battery too.
- Unplug the router from power.
- Wait 60 seconds with both devices dark.
- Plug in the modem first. Wait for the online or internet light to turn solid. On cable modems this is usually one to two minutes; you will see the downstream and upstream lights blink, then lock solid, then the online light comes on.
- Plug in the router. Wait another two minutes for its startup sequence to finish.
- Test on one device over WiFi, then one over Ethernet if you can. If wired works and WiFi does not, the router is the issue. If neither works, the modem is not getting service.
For a detailed look at the modem side, including what each light means while it reconnects, see how to restart your modem.
Restarting a gateway (modem and router in one box)
If your provider gave you a single unit, such as an Xfinity xFi Gateway, a Spectrum WiFi router with the modem built in, or a Verizon Fios Home Router, there is only one thing to unplug. Follow the single-device steps above, but allow a bit longer to come back online. Gateways have to re-register with the provider and bring up the WiFi, and five to ten minutes is normal.
How to Reboot a Router From Its Admin Page or App
Nearly every router has a software reboot option. It does the same thing as pulling the plug, and it is handy when the router is on a high shelf, in a closet, or you are not at home.
- Netgear: Go to routerlogin.net (or 192.168.1.1), sign in, open the Advanced tab, and click Reboot. Nighthawk owners can also use the Nighthawk app: tap the router, then Reboot.
- TP-Link: Go to tplinkwifi.net, sign in, open Advanced, then System, then Reboot. The Tether app has a Reboot option under the device's settings.
- Asus: Go to router.asus.com, sign in, and click the Reboot button at the top of the page.
- Mesh systems (eero, Deco, Orbi, Google Nest): Each app has a restart option in the network settings. Restarting the main unit will typically restart the satellites as well.
The router will go dark for two to three minutes, then come back with all of your settings intact.
Restarting ISP Equipment: Xfinity, Spectrum, Verizon, and Others
If you rent your gateway, your provider's app can restart it for you. This triggers the same reboot as unplugging it, and in some cases also refreshes the connection on the provider's side.
Xfinity
Open the Xfinity app, tap Internet at the bottom, select your gateway, and tap Restart this device. Xfinity says a network-triggered restart can take up to 12 minutes, so give it time before assuming it failed. You can also unplug the gateway for 60 seconds. Note that the 10.0.0.1 Admin Tool is disabled by default on Xfinity gateways as of early 2026 and has to be turned on in the app before you can use it, so the app is the fastest route for most customers. If your gateway keeps dropping offline even after restarts, see our guide to Xfinity xFi Gateway going offline.
Spectrum
Open the My Spectrum app or sign in at spectrum.net, go to Services, then Internet, select your modem or router, and choose Restart Equipment. If you have a separate Spectrum modem and WiFi router, restart the modem first and let it come fully online before restarting the router. The physical Reset button on Spectrum equipment is a factory reset, not a restart, so avoid it unless that is what you intend.
Verizon Fios
In the My Verizon app, open your equipment list, select your Fios router, and choose Reboot. From a browser, go to 192.168.1.1, sign in, open Advanced, and select Reboot. The Fios Home Router (G3100) and Quantum Gateway (G1100) do not have a separate power switch, so unplugging the power cable is the manual method. The recessed button on the back is a factory reset.
Cox, AT&T, and other providers
The Cox app and AT&T Smart Home Manager both list your gateway under your equipment with a restart option. Optimum, Mediacom, and most other providers offer the same in their account apps. In every case, the unplug-and-wait method works if the app does not.
Should You Restart Your Router on a Schedule?
A weekly or monthly restart is reasonable preventive maintenance, and some routers let you schedule one automatically. Netgear, TP-Link, and Asus all have a scheduled reboot option under their system or maintenance settings. Set it for 3 or 4 AM so nobody notices.
Restarting every night is unnecessary. Routers are designed to run continuously, and a daily power cycle does not extend their life. If you feel the need to restart daily to keep the WiFi usable, that is a symptom, not a solution. The next section covers what to check.
Restart Did Not Fix It? Work Through This List
- Look at the modem lights. If the online light is off or blinking after a full restart, your modem is not getting service. Check for an outage in your provider's app before doing anything else.
- Check the cables. Hand-tighten the coax at the wall and the modem. Reseat the Ethernet cable between the modem and the router's WAN port. Swap the cable if it looks worn.
- Test over Ethernet. Plug a laptop directly into the router. If wired speeds are fine and WiFi is not, the router's WiFi radio or its placement is the problem. If wired is slow too, the issue is the modem, the line, or the plan.
- Feel the router. A router that is hot to the touch is throttling itself. Move it out of the cabinet and off the floor.
- Update the firmware. Log into the admin page and check for an update. Memory leaks that force frequent restarts are often fixed in firmware.
- Consider a factory reset. If the router has been misconfigured or the settings are corrupted, a reset clears it. Follow our factory reset guide and note your settings first.
- Consider the router's age. A router that is five or more years old, or still on WiFi 5 (802.11ac), is the most common reason a household needs constant restarts. Newer WiFi 6 routers handle dozens of devices without the memory pressure that older hardware suffers from.
If the modem is the one restarting itself without your input, that is a separate problem with its own causes. See why your modem keeps restarting.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long should I unplug my router for?
Thirty seconds is the minimum; 60 seconds is safer. Anything longer than that adds nothing. The goal is to let the internal memory fully clear, which takes a few seconds after the last light goes out.
Does restarting my router change the WiFi password?
No. A restart keeps your network name, password, and every other setting. Only a factory reset changes them.
Should I restart the modem or the router first?
Unplug both, then plug in the modem first and wait for its online light. Plug in the router only after the modem is fully connected. The router depends on the modem, so bringing it up first just makes it wait.
Why do I have to restart my router so often?
Frequent restarts usually point to one of three things: the router is running out of memory because it is old or overloaded with devices, it is overheating, or its firmware has a bug. Updating firmware and improving ventilation are the cheap fixes. If the router is more than five years old, replacing it is usually the lasting one.
Will restarting my router make my internet faster?
It can restore the speed you are paying for if the router had bogged down, but it cannot make your connection faster than your plan. If a wired speed test right after a restart still comes in low, the limit is somewhere other than the router.
Is it bad to restart the router every day?
It will not damage it, but it is a sign of a problem. A healthy router should go weeks or months between restarts. If daily restarts are the only thing keeping your WiFi usable, work through the troubleshooting list above.
What is the difference between reboot, restart, and power cycle?
Nothing. All three mean turning the router off and back on without changing settings. "Power cycle" specifically means doing it by pulling the power rather than clicking a software button, but the result is the same.
