What happens when you unplug router

A router like other electronic devices needs to be connected to a power outlet to work.

A router is a vital device since it not only connects your wireless devices to the internet, but it does so by connecting to a modem. What you ever asked yourself what will happen you unplug your router besides it going off?

When you unplug a router, it turns off the internet connection and resets the connection settings when you plug it back in and it then establishes a connection. This solves a wide range of internet connection issues that you may be facing.

 When you unplug your router, it disconnects the internet connection until you plug it back in. This is a common internet troubleshooting solution for several issues such as your internet connection speeds slow down, no internet connection, or to take off unwanted devices from the network.

When to restart your router

Restarting or rebooting a router is one of the easiest troubleshooting steps to solve any issues with your internet connection. It solves a wide variety of issues including slow or no internet access on your wireless device. If your Smart TV or Fire Stick isn’t working, then consider restarting your router and the modem will fix it if it’s a network connection issue. However, there’s a proper way to reboot your router and modem if you have one so as to get the best results.

How to properly restart your router

Unplug your router from the power outlet followed by the modem. This makes sure that the router won’t register an internet loss before shutting down. This is important because it can go into an emergency mode that might persist even after you unplug it. Some routers have inbuilt modems which means that you only have a single device to unplug. After unplugging the router, wait for at least 10 seconds. This is important because some router models have a small battery that allows them to store vital data in the event of sudden power loss. Others have memory chips that can take a couple of seconds to get rid of any information stored on them. Additionally, by keeping your router turned off, your ISP might notice that you’re offline and then perform an automated action on their end.

 Plug back in your modem first and wait for about a minute before plugging in your router. This is to give your modem enough time to be fully powered back on so that your router doesn’t get confused when plugged back in. This is enough time for your modem to be assigned a public IP address. Monitor the modem’s LED lights and then plug the router.

After plugging in the router, wait for around 2 to 3 minutes before attempting to go online. This gives your router enough time to fully power back on. However, some routers might take more time. Now it’s time to test your internet connection to see if the issue was solved. If it’s an issue with speed, run a speed test and check it against the speeds from your ISP.

How to avoid router restarts

Restarting your router is a result of various issues caused by overheating or the firmware being out-of-the-date. Like any other electronic device such as a PC, a router too can overheat. To avoid this, make sure to place the router away from a source of heat and within sight in a well-ventilated room. When it comes to updating, new router versions can automatically update themselves while older versions need to be manually updated.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does a router get damaged when unplugged?

Most of the time, unplugging your router from the power source doesn’t damage the router. However, sometimes the router’s configuration settings change and go back to default settings.

Will the IP address change when I unplug my router?

Most residential connection routers use dynamic IP addresses that change from time to time. When you unplug and then plug back the router, its external IP address changes.