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How to restart your router properly

Turn the router off at the socket, wait at least 30 seconds, switch it back on, and leave it 2–5 minutes to resync until the broadband light is solid. A proper power-cycle keeps all your settings and fixes a surprising number of connection problems — it’s different from a factory reset, which wipes them.

Last updated: · Written by The NetSorted team

Restart your router in 5 steps

  1. Turn the router off at the wall

    Press the power button, then switch it off at the socket. Don’t just pull the broadband cable — the router needs to power down fully.

  2. Wait at least 30 seconds

    This lets the router clear its memory and your line drop cleanly, so it reconnects fresh. A full minute does no harm.

  3. Turn it back on and don’t touch it

    Switch the socket and router back on. Leave it completely alone while it resyncs.

  4. Give it 2–5 minutes to resync

    Watch the lights. Wait until the broadband/internet light is solid (usually green or blue) before testing. Reconnecting too early can look like it has failed when it hasn’t.

  5. Test your connection

    Once the lights are steady, try a website or run a speed test. If it’s still down or slow, check for a wider outage before assuming a fault.

Frequently asked questions

Is restarting the router the same as resetting it?

No — and the difference matters. A restart (power-cycle) just turns it off and on and keeps all your settings. A factory reset (usually a pin-hole button held for ~10–30 seconds) wipes it back to default, so you’ll lose any custom Wi-Fi name, password and settings. Restart first; only factory-reset as a last resort.

How long should I leave my router off?

At least 30 seconds. This ensures it powers down fully and your line connection drops cleanly so it can reconnect fresh.

How often should I restart my router?

There’s no need to do it routinely. A modern router is happiest left running. Restart it when you have a problem, or occasionally if you notice it slowing down over days of heavy use.

Will restarting change my Wi-Fi password?

No. A normal restart keeps your Wi-Fi name and password and all your settings. Only a factory reset changes those.

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