The router in your home has several small lights on the front. Most of the time they glow quietly and you ignore them. But when your internet stops working, those lights are the first place to look — each one tells you something specific about what is happening with your connection.
The Main Lights and What They Mean
Different routers use slightly different labels and colours, but the pattern is broadly the same across most home routers.
- Power light: Should be solid green (or white on newer routers). If it is off, the router is not switched on. Check the power cable at the back of the router and at the wall socket.
- Internet or WAN light: This light tells you whether your router is successfully connected to your broadband provider’s network. Solid green means all is well. Flashing usually means it is trying to connect. No light or a red light means your router cannot reach your internet provider — this is often a line fault rather than anything you can fix yourself.
- Wi-Fi light: Shows that the wireless network is broadcasting. Solid means Wi-Fi is on. Flashing usually means devices are actively using it. If this light is off, your Wi-Fi has been switched off — there is sometimes a physical button on the router that toggles it.
- Ethernet or LAN lights: These correspond to the numbered ports on the back. A light next to a port means a device is plugged in there. Flashing means data is moving.
- DSL or Broadband light: Found on routers connected to a phone line (ADSL or FTTC broadband). Should be solid when the line is stable. Flashing or off usually means a problem with the phone line rather than the router itself.
What to Do When a Light Is Red or Off
If the internet or WAN light is red or off and your broadband was working before:
- Turn the router off, wait one full minute, then switch it back on. Wait up to five minutes for it to fully reconnect before checking again.
- Check whether your neighbours have internet — if they are also affected, there is likely a local fault with your provider.
- Call your internet provider. A red internet light that does not fix itself after a restart usually needs them to investigate.
What to Do When the Wi-Fi Light Is Off
Check whether someone has pressed a button on the router. Many routers have a Wi-Fi on/off button that is easy to press by accident. Look for a button labelled WLAN, Wireless, or with a Wi-Fi symbol. Pressing it once usually brings the Wi-Fi back.
Flashing vs Solid — Is Flashing Bad?
Flashing lights are not usually a problem. They often just mean data is passing through. A steady, fast flash on the internet light when you are actively using the internet is perfectly normal. It is only when a light that should be solid is off, red, or flashing in an unusual pattern that something is wrong.
You do not need to memorise all of this — just remember that the internet light is the most important one to check when things stop working. Green and solid means your connection is fine; anything else on that light is worth investigating.