What a router crash looks like
A router that is struggling usually shows one or more of these signs:
- Wi-Fi disappears and returns on its own
- The router restarts by itself
- The admin page will not load, or the router freezes until you power it off and on
- Everything works until several devices are busy at once
- Lights change pattern, or stay lit without any traffic
Router lights differ between models, so check the manual before reading too much into one, or see what the lights on your router mean.
Why too many connections cause trouble
Routers have limited memory and processing power. Each device, and each connection a device makes, takes some of both. A phone or laptop may open many connections at once, and apps such as peer-to-peer downloads, cloud backups, security cameras and some games can open very many. Low-end or older routers can run out of capacity and lock up. Our guide to how many devices a router can handle explains the practical limits.
Overload is not the only cause. Other possibilities are:
- Overheating, especially if the router is in a cabinet or covered
- A firmware bug
- A weak or failing power adapter
- A failing router or modem
- Line problems from the provider, which look like crashes but are really lost internet
Step-by-step troubleshooting
- Note the pattern. Does it happen at the same time each day, when a certain device is on, or after a certain number of devices connect? Writing this down helps.
- Check the temperature. If the router is hot to the touch, move it to an open, ventilated spot and keep it clear of other electronics (see can a hot router slow your internet).
- Restart the modem and router. Turn both off, wait about 30 seconds, then power on the modem first and the router after.
- Update firmware. Look for updates in the router’s settings or on the maker’s site. Do not interrupt an update.
- Find the heavy device. Check the router’s device list or app for any device using unusual traffic, and review the router logs for repeated reconnects. Pause or disconnect suspects, such as a computer running a torrent client or a camera that keeps reconnecting.
- Remove unneeded devices. Disconnect old gadgets and forget networks you no longer use.
- Move devices to Ethernet where you can, to ease Wi-Fi load.
- Check the power adapter. Use the adapter that came with the router. A replacement with the wrong rating can cause random restarts.
- Turn off extra features such as heavy logging, content filtering or VPN functions to see if stability improves.
- Factory reset as a later step. This clears bad configuration but also removes your Wi-Fi name and password and other settings, so write them down first. See how to factory reset a Netgear Nighthawk and why a Nighthawk router keeps resetting itself.
Router, modem or provider?
Test whether the modem is the problem rather than the router. If the internet drops but the router’s Wi-Fi stays up, the issue is probably the modem or the line. If the Wi-Fi itself vanishes or the router reboots, look at the router. Signs of a failing modem include repeated disconnects, lights that keep cycling and no connection after a restart. Your provider can check the line and the modem’s signal levels. For how the two devices differ, see does your router or modem affect internet speed.
Signs a router is going bad
- Frequent random reboots even with few devices
- Overheating or a burning smell, in which case unplug it and stop using it
- Ports or Wi-Fi bands that stop working
- Settings that will not save
- Age, since many routers are used for five years or more and older ones may no longer get updates
When to replace it
If a router crashes with a normal number of devices, and firmware, heat and power are ruled out, replacing it is reasonable. Choose a model with a newer Wi-Fi standard, more memory and, if your home is large, mesh support. Our Wi-Fi router speeds chart explains the standards. If you are using a Netgear and also see slowness, see why a Netgear router slows down your internet.