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Virgin Media router lights: what each colour means

White is the colour you want: solid white on a Hub 3 or Hub 5, and dimmed white on a Hub 4. Red is the one that means trouble — solid red usually means the Hub has overheated or a cable is loose, and flashing red means it cannot register on Virgin Media’s network. Green catches people out: on a Hub 4 or Hub 5 a solid green light is not "healthy", it means the Hub is in modem mode with its WiFi switched off.

Last updated: · Written by The NetSorted team

Virgin Media Hub 5

The Hub 5 has a single status light. Unlike the Hub 4, solid white here is the healthy state and there is no dimmed-white state at all. Virgin Media publishes no light guide for the Hub 5x, so do not assume these meanings apply to that model.

Source: Virgin Media Help — Hub 5 lights index — checked 2026-08-02.

  • Light: solid white

    All good

    Everything is okay — this is what you see when the Hub 5 is working normally. Worth noting if you have owned both: on a Hub 4 solid white means something quite different.

  • Light: flashing white

    Normal

    The Hub is booting up. Give it at least 5 minutes to finish.

    What to do

    1. Wait at least 5 minutes. The Hub is booting up — wait at least 5 minutes for it to finish.
    2. Check the cables while you wait. In the meantime, check that all the cables coming into and out of the Hub are pushed in firmly.

  • Light: solid red

    Needs a look

    A solid red light might mean there is a problem with the cable connections, or that the Hub has got too hot.

    What to do

    1. Switch the Hub off at the wall. Switch the Hub’s power supply off at the wall.
    2. Give the Hub some air. Make sure the Hub is out in the open with its vents uncovered, standing upright and away from anything that gives off heat.
    3. Check the cables. Make sure every cable going into and out of the Hub is undamaged and pushed in firmly.
    4. Leave it to cool for 15 minutes. Leave the Hub for 15 minutes to cool down.
    5. Switch it back on. Switch the Hub back on and let it start up for 5 to 10 minutes. When it has finished starting up, the light turns from flashing white to solid white.
    6. Still red and not warm? Factory reset it. If the Hub is still showing a red light after that, and it is not warm to the touch, reset it to its factory settings: press the Hub’s pinhole reset button for 10 seconds with the tip of a pen, then leave it 5 to 10 minutes to start up. You should see a solid white light once it is up and running.
    7. Still having problems?. Test your broadband service with Virgin Media.

  • Light: flashing red

    Needs a look

    A flashing red light may mean the Hub has finished starting up but has not been able to register on the Virgin Media network. The best thing to do is reboot the Hub.

    What to do

    1. Switch the Hub off at the wall. Switch the Hub’s power supply off at the wall.
    2. Check the cables. Make sure every cable going into and out of the Hub is undamaged and pushed in firmly.
    3. Switch the power back on. Switch the power back on and let the Hub start up for 5 to 10 minutes. When it has finished starting up, the light turns from flashing white to solid white.
    4. Still flashing red? Factory reset it. If the Hub is still flashing red after that, reset it to its factory settings: press the pinhole reset button for 10 seconds with the tip of a pen, then leave it 5 to 10 minutes to start up. You should see a solid white light once it is up and running.
    5. Still having problems?. Test your broadband service with Virgin Media.

    This light means the hub can’t reach Virgin Media’s network. If those steps don’t fix it, the next thing worth knowing is whether it is them or you.

    Check whether Virgin Media has an outage

  • Light: solid green

    Normal

    Solid green does not mean healthy on a Hub 5 — it means the Hub is in modem mode and will not be sharing WiFi. If you put the Hub into modem mode yourself, you are probably using your own router alongside it.

    What to do

    1. Take the Hub out of modem mode. You can switch modem mode off manually, or you can do it by resetting the Hub.
    2. Or factory reset the Hub. Press the pinhole factory reset button for 10 seconds with the tip of a pen and leave it 5 to 10 minutes to start up. When it has finished, the light turns white.

  • Light: flashing green

    Normal

    A slow green flash means the Hub is downloading a software update. It will take a few minutes to reboot once the download has finished.

  • Light: solid blue

    Normal

    A WPS connection has worked. Press the WPS button on the back of the Hub and the light flashes blue slowly for 2 minutes; once a device connects successfully the light turns solid blue for 20 seconds.

  • Light: flashing blue

    Normal

    The speed of the flash matters. A slow blue flash for 2 minutes is the WPS pairing window after you press the WPS button on the back of the Hub. A rapid blue flash means the WPS connection was unsuccessful, and Virgin Media say to try again.

  • Light: off

    Needs a look

    No light at all means the Hub is off.

    What to do

    1. Check the power. Make sure the Hub’s power supply is firmly connected to the wall and to the back of the Hub, that the socket at the wall is switched on, and that the Hub’s own power button is in the "on" position.
    2. Give it time to start up. Once the power is on it can take 5 to 10 minutes for the Hub to start up. When it has finished, the light turns white.

Virgin Media Hub 4

The Hub 4 has a single status light, so the colour and how it behaves is all you have to go on. The important thing to know: a healthy Hub 4 shows a DIMMED white light. A bright solid white light only means it has just been switched on.

Source: Virgin Media Help — Hub 4 lights index — checked 2026-08-02.

  • Light: dimmed white

    All good

    Everything is okay — this is the Hub 4 working normally. Dimmed white, not bright white, is the Hub 4’s healthy resting state, so a faint light here is exactly what you want to see.

  • Light: solid white

    Normal

    A bright solid white light is normal for the first minute or so after you first switch the Hub on — and that is all Virgin Media say it means. It is not the Hub 4’s settled healthy state: that is the dimmed white light.

  • Light: flashing white

    Normal

    The Hub is booting up. Give it at least 5 minutes to finish.

    What to do

    1. Wait at least 5 minutes. The Hub is booting up — wait at least 5 minutes for it to finish.
    2. Check the cables while you wait. In the meantime, check that all the cables coming into and out of the Hub are pushed in firmly.

  • Light: solid red

    Needs a look

    A solid red light might mean there is a problem with the cable connections, or that the Hub has got too hot.

    What to do

    1. Switch the Hub off at the wall. Switch the Hub’s power supply off at the wall.
    2. Give the Hub some air. Make sure the Hub is out in the open with its vents uncovered, standing upright and away from anything that gives off heat.
    3. Check the cables. Make sure every cable going into and out of the Hub is undamaged and pushed in firmly.
    4. Leave it to cool for 15 minutes. Leave the Hub for 15 minutes to cool down.
    5. Switch it back on. Switch the Hub back on and let it start up for 5 to 10 minutes. When it has finished starting up, the light turns from flashing white to solid white.
    6. Still red and not warm? Factory reset it. If the Hub is still showing a red light after that, and it is not warm to the touch, reset it to its factory settings: press the Hub’s pinhole reset button for 10 seconds with the tip of a pen, then leave it 5 to 10 minutes to start up. You should see a solid white light once it is up and running.
    7. Still having problems?. Test your broadband service with Virgin Media.

  • Light: flashing red

    Needs a look

    A flashing red light may mean the Hub has finished starting up but has not been able to register on the Virgin Media network. The best thing to do is reboot the Hub.

    What to do

    1. Switch the Hub off at the wall. Switch the Hub’s power supply off at the wall.
    2. Check the cables. Make sure every cable going into and out of the Hub is undamaged and pushed in firmly.
    3. Switch the power back on. Switch the power back on and let the Hub start up for 5 to 10 minutes. When it has finished starting up, the light turns from flashing white to solid white.
    4. Still flashing red? Factory reset it. If the Hub is still flashing red after that, reset it to its factory settings: press the pinhole reset button for 10 seconds with the tip of a pen, then leave it 5 to 10 minutes to start up. You should see a solid white light once it is up and running.
    5. Still having problems?. Test your broadband service with Virgin Media.

    This light means the hub can’t reach Virgin Media’s network. If those steps don’t fix it, the next thing worth knowing is whether it is them or you.

    Check whether Virgin Media has an outage

  • Light: solid green

    Normal

    Solid green does not mean healthy on a Hub 4 — it means the Hub is in modem mode and will not be sharing WiFi. If you put the Hub into modem mode yourself, you are probably using your own router alongside it.

    What to do

    1. Take the Hub out of modem mode. You can switch modem mode off manually, or you can do it by resetting the Hub.
    2. Or factory reset the Hub. Press the pinhole factory reset button for 10 seconds with the tip of a pen and leave it 5 to 10 minutes to start up. When it has finished, the light turns white.

  • Light: flashing green

    Normal

    A slow green flash means the Hub is downloading a software update. It will take a few minutes to reboot once the download has finished.

  • Light: solid blue

    Normal

    A WPS connection has worked. Press the WPS button on the back of the Hub and the light flashes blue slowly for 2 minutes; once a device connects successfully the light turns solid blue for 20 seconds.

  • Light: flashing blue

    Normal

    The speed of the flash matters. A slow blue flash for 2 minutes is the WPS pairing window after you press the WPS button on the back of the Hub. A rapid blue flash means the WPS connection was unsuccessful, and Virgin Media say to try again.

  • Light: off

    Needs a look

    No light at all means the Hub is off.

    What to do

    1. Check the power. Make sure the Hub’s power supply is firmly connected to the wall and to the back of the Hub, that the socket at the wall is switched on, and that the Hub’s own power button is in the "on" position.
    2. Give it time to start up. Once the power is on it can take 5 to 10 minutes for the Hub to start up. When it has finished, the light turns white.

Virgin Media Hub 3

The Hub 3 has four lights: WiFi, internet, phone, and the power light at the base of the Hub, which shows when the Hub is powered on. Because several colours mean different things on different lights, always check which light is lit before acting. If you do not take a Virgin Media home phone service, the phone light simply stays off.

Source: Virgin Media Help — Hub 3 lights index — checked 2026-08-02.

  • Power light: solid white

    All good

    Everything is okay. This is what you see when the Hub 3 is working normally. The power light also flashes white while the Hub is first starting up, then settles to solid white once it has finished powering up.

  • Power light: flashing white

    Normal

    The Hub is starting up, which is what happens when you first switch it on. Once it has finished, the power light turns solid white.

  • Internet light: solid green

    Normal

    This one is a combination: the power light is solid white and the WiFi, internet and phone lights are all solid green. You see it for about two minutes, just as the Hub has finished starting up and has successfully registered on Virgin Media’s network. If you do not have a phone service, the phone light stays off.

  • Internet light: flashing red

    Needs a look

    The power light is solid white and the WiFi light solid green, but the internet light is flashing red. The Hub has finished starting up but has not been able to register on Virgin Media’s network. Virgin Media say the best thing to do is reboot the Hub.

    What to do

    1. Reboot the Hub. Switch the Hub’s power supply off at the wall, then switch it back on again.
    2. Give it time to start up. Once the power is back on it can take 5 to 10 minutes for the Hub to start up. When it has finished you will see a solid white power light.

    This light means the hub can’t reach Virgin Media’s network. If those steps don’t fix it, the next thing worth knowing is whether it is them or you.

    Check whether Virgin Media has an outage

  • Power light: flashing green

    Normal

    Another combination: the power and internet lights are flashing green while the WiFi and phone lights are solid green. The Hub is still starting up, so give it 5 to 10 minutes to finish. Once it is done the other lights switch off and the power light turns solid white. If you do not have a phone service, the phone light stays off.

  • Power light: solid red

    Needs a look

    A solid red power light usually means the Hub has got too hot.

    What to do

    1. Switch the Hub off at the wall. Switch the Hub’s power supply off at the wall.
    2. Give the Hub some air. Make sure the Hub is out in the open with its vents uncovered, standing upright and away from anything that gives off heat.
    3. Check the cables. Make sure every cable going into and out of the Hub is undamaged and pushed in firmly.
    4. Leave it to cool for 15 minutes. Leave the Hub for 15 minutes to cool down.
    5. Switch it back on. Switch the Hub back on and let it start up for 5 to 10 minutes. When it has finished starting up, the power light turns from flashing white to solid white.
    6. Still red and not warm? Factory reset it. If the Hub is still showing a red light after that, and it is not warm to the touch, reset it to its factory settings: press the Hub’s pinhole reset button for 10 seconds with the tip of a pen, then leave it 5 to 10 minutes to start up. You should see a solid white power light once it is up and running.
    7. Still having problems?. Test your broadband service with Virgin Media.

  • Power light: solid purple

    Normal

    The power light is solid purple and the internet and phone lights are solid green: the Hub is in modem mode, so it will not be sharing WiFi. If you put the Hub into modem mode yourself, you are probably using your own router alongside it. If you do not have a phone service, the phone light stays off.

    What to do

    1. Take the Hub out of modem mode. You can switch modem mode off manually, or you can do it by resetting the Hub.
    2. Or factory reset the Hub. Press the pinhole factory reset button for 10 seconds with the tip of a pen and leave it 5 to 10 minutes to start up. When it has finished you will see the solid white power light.

  • WiFi light: flashing green

    Normal

    The WPS pairing window is open. Pressing the WPS button (just above the Virgin Media logo on the Hub) for 2 seconds gets the Hub 3 ready to connect to compatible WPS devices, and the WiFi light then flashes green for around 2 minutes. WPS, or WiFi Protected Setup, is another way of adding a device or computer to your WiFi network — connect it while this WiFi light is flashing green.

  • WiFi light: solid green

    Normal

    A device has successfully connected — paired — to the Hub through WPS. The WiFi light stays solid green for 5 minutes afterwards.

  • WiFi light: flashing red

    Needs a look

    How long it flashes matters. If the WiFi light flashes red constantly, the Hub is on but your WiFi is not, and it is likely to be a loose connection in your home. If it only flashes red for about 2 minutes, that means something different: a device you were trying to connect using WPS failed to pair.

    What to do

    1. Check the cables. Make sure all the cables coming into and out of the Hub are pushed in firmly.
    2. Reboot the Hub. If that does not work, switch the Hub’s power supply off at the wall, then switch it back on. It can take 5 to 10 minutes to start up. When it has finished you will see a solid white power light.
    3. If it only flashed red for 2 minutes, try WPS again. That means the device you were connecting through WPS was unsuccessful. Try again by pressing the WPS button for 2 seconds to restart the connection process.

  • Internet light: flashing green

    Normal

    A slow green flash means the Hub is downloading a software update. It will take a few minutes to reboot once the download has finished.

  • Phone light: flashing red

    Needs a look

    There may be a home phone problem in your area, or on Virgin Media’s wider network.

    What to do

    1. Check the cables. Check that all the cables coming into and out of the Hub and the home phone are pushed in firmly.
    2. Reboot the Hub. It is also worth rebooting the Hub. Switch its power supply off at the wall, then switch it back on. It can take 5 to 10 minutes to start up. When it has finished you will see a solid white power light.
    3. Still flashing red? Tell Virgin Media. If the phone light is still flashing red, report it to Virgin Media.

  • Power light: off

    Needs a look

    No lights are on at all, which means the Hub is off.

    What to do

    1. Check the power. Make sure the Hub’s power supply is firmly connected to the wall and to the back of the Hub, that the socket at the wall is switched on, and that the Hub’s own power button is in the "on" position.
    2. Give it time to start up. Once the power is on it can take 5 to 10 minutes for the Hub to start up. When it has finished, the white power light will be solidly lit.

Still not fixed? What you’re owed

If the light points at a fault on Virgin Media’s side, report it today. Under Ofcom’s automatic compensation scheme a total loss of service that still isn’t fixed 2 full working days after you report it earns £10.34 for every calendar day it stays broken — and the clock starts when you report it, not when it broke.

Frequently asked questions

What do the lights on a Virgin Media router mean?

This page lists every light state Virgin Media documents for 3 hub models — 32 states in total — with what each one means and the fix Virgin Media gives, where they give one. Identify your model first: colour schemes differ between generations, so the same colour can mean different things on two hubs from the same provider.

How do I know which hub model I have?

It is usually printed on a label on the underside or back of the hub, next to the serial number and Wi-Fi details. If you cannot find it, match the shape and the number of lights against the models below — they are listed with the official page for each, so you can check against Virgin Media's own pictures.

My hub light says there is a fault — what do I do?

Work through the steps for your light state below, then restart the hub once, properly: power it off for a full minute and give it up to ten minutes to resync. If it is still wrong after that, check whether Virgin Media has an outage before reporting a fault, and report it today either way — the compensation clock starts when you report, not when it broke.

Do I get compensation if my router shows a fault?

Not for the light itself, but for the loss of service behind it. Virgin Media is signed up to Ofcom's automatic compensation scheme, so a total loss of service that still isn't fixed 2 full working days after you report it earns £10.34 for each calendar day it stays broken. Report the fault promptly and keep the reference.

Sources

Other providers’ hub lights