How many times have you come across internet downtime and rebooted your Netgear router to get rid of it? It has now become a second nature to us to turn off the router, wait for some time, and then turn it on again! And surprisingly, the internet starts working again.
Despite the fact that routers can seem mysterious, you can use them to fix internet connectivity issues.
How do WiFi Routers Work?
Think of a WiFi router as a PC. There is a CPU, memory, and local storage present inside a modem. At times, similar to your PC, your router may experience a bug. This can be because of a memory leak, CPU overheating, or anything else. Nonetheless, just like a computer, the router can be rebooted to make it work smoothly. Though it doesn’t exactly fix the issue causing the downtime, it resolves it temporarily.
There are several reasons why you need to reboot your Netgear router. It can fix some minor technical glitches. Also, if you are unable to access routerlogin.net web GUI, rebooting your Netgear router can help you fix this issue as well.
How to Reboot Netgear Router: The Right Way
Walk through the step-by-step instructions to reboot your Netgear WiFi router properly:
Step 1 – Unplug Your Router First and Then the Modem
- In the event that you own a Netgear WiFi router with an inbuilt modem, you will obviously have only one device to unplug. However, in case your Netgear router connects to an internet modem provided by your ISP, there is a need to unplug the modem and then your router.
- By unplugging the Netgear WiFi router first, make sure that it won’t register the internet loss before being shut down. This can put it into an emergency mode that might continue even after unplugging from power.
Step 2 – Wait For Some Time
- By keeping your Netgear WiFi router off for some time, you give your ISP time to notice that your WiFi-enabled devices are offline.
Step 3 – Plug Your Modem Back In and Then Your Router
- Now, reconnect your modem to the power outlet first and let it fully boot up.
- After that, plug your Netgear router back in again and power it on.
Step 4 – Test Your Internet
- Your Netgear WiFi router has been rebooted. You can now check the internet connection.
- Try accessing the Netgear router login web page. In case it loads in the first place, it indicates that you are connected to the internet.
How to Avoid Netgear Router Reboots?
Most issues with Netgear wireless routers are caused either by outdated firmware or by overheating. The latest models of Netgear routers can update themselves automatically. However, older models often need to be updated manually from their default web GUI. In order to access it, connect to the Netgear_ext and use the router’s default IP or web address.
Routers can overheat in the same way as your desktop or laptop. Don’t ever place your Netgear wireless router closer to a source of heat or hide it behind anything where fresh air can’t reach it. If truth be told, hiding your Netgear router behind almirah, inside a corner, beneath a table, or placing it near large metal objects is also guaranteed to reduce your router’s performance.
The Final Words
As you can see, there is much more to learn how to reboot your Netgear WiFi router than you ever thought. Woefully, it is not possible to fix all network issues with the router reboot alone. Most complex issues need more complicated troubleshooting methods.