Knowing how to power cycle your internet router is essential since it is an effective fix for several errors. Power cycling speeds up the internet connection and strengthens its security, among other benefits.
Key Takeaways
- Power cycling the internet router refers to shutting off the router, removing the wires, and restarting it after a few minutes.
- You should perform a power cycle when the internet speed becomes slower, you encounter errors, or the online services take too long to load.
- A power cycle clears the glitches and bugs in your internet connection, enhances its security, and improves the network’s performance.
Power cycling, also known as Hard Restart, means turning off your internet router and disconnecting the cables and the power cord for about 5 minutes before turning it back on. The process restarts the router by re-establishing its connection with the Internet Service Provider (ISP) and its connected devices.
How To Power Cycle Your Internet Router?
It takes about 8 to 10 minutes to power cycle your internet router with the steps below.
- On your internet router > Press the power button > Turn off the router.
Lights Stable (Image By Jay Joshi on LinkedIn) - Turn off the power supply > Unplug power and ethernet cables from the router.
- Let it sit for 5 minutes > Reconnect cables.
- Turn on the electric board > Press the router’s power button to turn it on.
- Wait for the lights to be stable.
Lights Stable (Image By Tech4Gamers) - Restore the internet connection on your devices.
When Should You Power Cycle Your Internet Router?
A power cycle intensifies the internet strength on your devices, as well as keeps long-term technical faults at bay. I recommend performing a hard restart on your router once every week to maintain its proper functioning. However, you may need to power cycle the internet device in certain situations, such as when;
- There is a lag or slowness in the internet connection.
- You encounter connectivity errors on your smartphones, gaming consoles, and PC apps.
- You have updated the router’s firmware. It can help enable the smooth installation and operation of the newly installed firmware.
- The installation of new software takes unusually long to complete.
- You are unable to connect your devices to the Wi-Fi.
- You face frequent connection dropouts on your smart devices.
- There is miscommunication in the connection between your modem and the internet router, consequently resulting in the malfunctioning of the router.
- The router is facing technical faults, such as overheating or producing loud noises.
- You cannot stream online videos or games on your PC or gaming consoles.
- You suspect your network’s security has been compromised due to hacking or malware attacks.
Advantages Of Power Cycling Your Internet Router
Power cycling the internet router is the foremost and among the most effective troubleshooting steps for resolving various errors. It can help fix internet connectivity issues on PCs, gaming consoles, mobile phones, home appliances, and more. In addition, it can also solve hardware faults, like the overheating of the router.
Moreover, the procedure refreshes the internet connection, thereby cleaning any glitches or temporary bugs. Besides, it also frees up memory by removing the unnecessary buildup of data or resources produced by different applications in the router’s cache. Consequently, you will see an increase in your internet’s overall speed and performance.
Plus, power cycling the router renews its connection with the Internet Service Provider and your connected devices. Hence, it boosts the stability and efficiency of your internet network, especially if it is connected to multiple devices simultaneously. Before leaving, make sure to read about how to power cycle a PC.
Frequently Asked Questions
Power cycle your internet router once every week to keep up its smooth operation and ensure your internet’s reliable functioning.
In this case, you may need to contact your ISP and ask if there is something wrong on their end. If all’s well, there may be technical faults within the router, and you might need to take it to a technician or get it replaced.
Power cycling is the simple act of restarting your internet router while disconnecting its cables. Meanwhile, resetting the router means wiping its data and resetting its configurations to the factory default mode.
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[How To’s & Guides Editor]
Haddi has been in the Gaming and tech Space for over 10 Years Now; he has worked on notable websites like eXputer, Gamepur, Gear Siege, Gearnuke, and plenty more. He is an expert at Games & PC Hardware; you can expect him to solve any problem. People often joke, that if there is any problem anyone can solve, Haddi can solve it faster. Currently, Haddi writes and manages a Team of Experts at Tech4Gamers.
Contact: Haddi@tech4gamers.com
