(Solved) Netgear router internet light blinking white – How to fix

When using the Netgear router, you have to pay attention to the lights on it. If it starts blinking white, it indicates that the firmware is probably corrupted.

When this happens, you cannot access the set-up page of your router. A corrupted firmware also prevents you from assigning IP addresses to any computers that may be connected to the Netgear router. You, therefore, have to fix the problem immediately. Find out how.

What should you do?

As you use this router, you should expect the firmware to be corrupted at some point. If your router came up with a CD, then solving this problem is easy since the CD features a firmware recovery tool. You can use this tool to correct the malfunction. If your router does not come with a CD, you should follow the steps below to fix the problem.

Do a power cycle

Performing a power cycle on the Netgear router is the simplest way to solve such common problems that this device experiences. Start by unplugging the Netgear router’s power cord from the source of power. Give it at least 30 seconds before plugging it back in. You should also try unplugging the internet, the power cord, and Ethernet cables from the ports, then plug them back. Connect back your power cord to your power outlet and check if the router is no longer blinking white.

Reset the Netgear router

If the blinking white light is still there, you can try resetting your router. Beware that this option erases all the settings on the router and takes it back to the factory default settings. To perform a reset on your router, you should look for a reset button at the back or bottom of the device. Press this button using a paper clip for about 30 seconds. Once this period is over, disconnect power from the router for another 10 seconds then reconnect. Once you reset the router, you should reconfigure it since all the custom settings will no longer be there.

Try these steps

Are you still experiencing this issue? If yes, you should try connecting your computer to the modem directly via an Ethernet cable. Ensure that your modem is working well before you do this. You can also try downloading a recent firmware file. Go to the company’s website and look for the latest firmware. Download and install it on your router. If your modem does not have a stable internet connection, you can use a different network to download the software.

Assign your PC a static IP address

We earlier mentioned that when the firmware is corrupted, the router cannot assign IP addresses to any computers that are connected to it. You could try solving this issue by assigning your computer an IP address. Doing this on your PC enables it to have the same address every time you start it up. Look at the back of your router to identify the default IP address. The IP address you come up with should consist of the first three numbers of the Netgear routers IP address. This can make the router identify your PC as part of the network. If, for instance, the local IP address of your router is something like 192. 168.1.1, you should assign a static IP address such as 192.168.1.2.

On your computer, click on start then select control panel. You will see a section that reads network and internet. Click on it then proceed to Network and sharing. On the left side, you should focus on the section labeled “change adapter settings.” Click on it, then right-click the section that reads “Local Area connection.” Once you do this, you should choose properties. Highlight IPv4/ TCP then choose properties. When a new window pops up, you can now enter the new static IP address you came up with, then click okay to finish the process.

Ping the router

Once you have assigned your computer a static IP address, you can now perform a ping test. This can help you assess the communication between the Netgear router and your computer. Your computer should send different packets to the Netgear router. The router, on the other hand, should send replies to confirm the connection.

Use the TFTP utility to re-flash the firmware

If you are still noticing the blinking lights on your router, you can try re-flashing the firmware through the use of TFTP utility. You can go with this option is you are having trouble accessing the set-up page. To do this, start by downloading the TFTP utility. You can then click on the utility icon then enter the password and IP address of the Netgear router in the password fields and server. Use admin as the default password of your router.

Click the browse button then open the software file you had earlier downloaded. You can then proceed with clicking the upgrade button. Once you have upgraded the Netgear router’s firmware, the blinking white light should disappear.

Conclusion

The Netgear router should not have blinking lights but rather solid ones. If you notice a blinking white light on your router, you should be alarmed since this shows that the firmware is corrupted. When this happens, you cannot use the device as usual. Following the steps above can, however, help you solve the problem on your own.

FAQs

What is the importance of a ping test?

This test confirms that you have established a connection between the router and your computer.

What if the blinking white light does not disappear even after trying the steps above?

You should get in touch with Netgear for further assistance.