Netgear router lights meaning

Have you purchased a new Netgear router? It can give you a strong internet connection on multiple devices. One of the features that you cannot fail to notice on your device is the lights.

These appear on the top and front part of your router. The lights are not there or aesthetic purposes, every light that you see on the router has a particular meaning. They are used to show the status of the internet connection between Netgear router and other devices connected to it. Checking these lights can help you understand the status of your Ethernet, wifi, and WPs connections. Once you understand the meaning of each light on your router, you can tell when there is a problem. Here is more!

How to interpret the lights on Netgear router

Netgear router has different parts that are labeled power, internet, Ethernet ports, USB ports, WPS button, and 2.4 GHz/ 5 GHz wireless.  In all of these sections, you should expect different colored lights that have various meanings.

Power LED

If, for instance, the LED is off on the power button, it means that the router may not be receiving any power. This happens when you have not switched the router on. Once you see the power button showing a solid white or green color, you should know that it is ready for use. The solid amber light on this button indicates that the Netgear router is powering on.

During a firmware upgrade, you should notice the router blinking amber. If you press the reset button, your router will also start blinking amber. Watch out for the blinking white color on your router since this indicates that the firmware may be corrupted.

Internet LED

When there is no Ethernet cable connected between the modem and your router, you should not notice any light on the button. Once you connect an Ethernet cable between two devices, you should see a solid white or green color. These lights show a ready internet connection.

When the internet section shows a solid amber color, it indicates that the Netgear router has detected the Ethernet cable connection. When the port starts blinking white, it indicates that it is receiving or sending traffic.

5 GHz and 2.4 GHz LEDs

 LED lights netgear

The router also contains sections that show the frequency band being used. Since Netgear is a dual-band router, it contains both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands. When there is no light on these sections, it means that the radio bands are off. Solid white color, on the other hand, shows the radios are working accordingly. You may also notice a blinking light on either of these sections. This indicates that the Netgear router is receiving or sending traffic.

USB LEDs

One of the useful features that Netgear router comes with is a USB port. When you have not connected any USB device on the router, the LEDs on this button will remain off. Pressing the remove hardware button can also switch off the USB LEDs. When you do this, you should proceed with removing the USB device you had attached to the router.

When you use a USB device on the router, you will notice a blinking light. This shows that the device is attempting to connect. You should not see this blinking light for long. A solid white or green light shows that the USB device has been successfully connected and is ready to be used.

Ethernet LEDs

Ethernet ports

The Ethernet ports also show you different lights from time to time. The LED color on these ports is used to indicate the speed. Green or white color shows the Gigabit Ethernet connections. If you don’t notice any LEDs on the Ethernet port, it means that you have not connected any device to this port. Solid color, on the other hand, shows that a device has been connected to the port. Like in the other parts, a blinking light on the Ethernet port shows that it is receiving or sending traffic.

WPS LED

When the WPS button on the router is off, it shows the lack of WPS connection. A blinking light on the WPS button, on the other hand, indicates that the connection is in progress while a solid light on this button shows a successful WPS connection.

A table that summarizes some of the lights on Netgear router and their meanings

Section
Lights and their meanings
Power LED
  • Solid green-This indicates that the router is ready
  • Blinking white-The firmware is corrupted
  • Blinking amber-You may have pressed the reset button, or the router’s software is upgrading
  • Solid amber-The router is still powering on
Internet LED
  • Off- You have not connected any Ethernet cable
  • Solid amber-The Netgear router has detected the Ethernet cable connection
  • Solid white-You have a ready internet connection
  • Blinking white-The internet port is receiving or sending traffic
USB LEDs

 

  • Blinking light-It shows that you have plugged in a USB device, and it is attempting to connect.
  • Solid green- This indicates you have connected the USB device successfully and can now use it
  • Off- When there is no light, it indicates that you have not connected any USB device.

Conclusion

The demand for Netgear routers is high since this is one of the reliable devices that you can use at home. You can only enjoy using this router if you learn everything about it. One of the things you should get familiar with is the lights the router comes with. The LEDs on this device can show the status of your connection. Be keen on the lights we have discussed above so that you can know when your Netgear needs your attention.

FAQs

What if there is an orange light on the Netgear router, how can I fix it?

This light indicates connectivity problems. You can try to fix it by turning the router off for some time and then turning it back on. Check if the power LED now shows white or green.

How long can I use the Netgear router?

You should be able to use it for around 3-4 years.

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