How to Restart Your Router

Restarting your router is one of the simplest and most effective fixes for internet problems. It's the first thing most technicians will ask you to try — so it's worth knowing how to do it properly. This article explains the right way to restart your router and when you should do it.

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Why Does Restarting Help?

Your router is essentially a small computer that runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Over time it can develop minor software glitches, its memory can fill up, or its connection to your internet provider can become unstable. A restart clears all of this and gives it a fresh start.

Think of it like restarting your computer when it starts behaving strangely — it doesn't fix everything, but it fixes a surprising amount.

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What's the Difference Between a Router and a Modem?

Some homes have a single device that acts as both a modem and router — this is the most common setup for NZ broadband connections. Others have two separate devices.

• Modem — connects your home to your internet provider's network
• Router — shares that internet connection to all the devices in your home via WiFi and ethernet

If you have two separate devices, you'll need to restart both. If you have a single combined device, restarting it once covers both functions.

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How to Restart Your Router — Step by Step

The Right Way

1. Locate your router — it's usually a box with several lights on it, near where your internet cable enters your home
2. Unplug the power cable from the back of the router — or from the wall socket if that's easier to reach
3. Wait 30 seconds — this is important. A full 30 seconds allows the router to completely clear its memory. Don't rush this step
4. Plug the power cable back in
5. Wait 2 minutes — the router needs time to fully restart and reconnect to your internet provider before devices can connect
6. Test your internet — try loading a website on your device

If You Have a Separate Modem and Router

Restart them in this order:

1. Unplug both the modem and the router
2. Wait 30 seconds
3. Plug the modem back in first and wait 1 minute
4. Plug the router back in and wait another minute
5. Test your internet

The order matters — the modem needs to establish a connection with your internet provider before the router can share it.

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The Wrong Way to Restart

Using the reset button — most routers have a small recessed reset button, often labelled Reset or RST. This is not the same as restarting. Pressing the reset button will factory reset your router, wiping all your settings including your WiFi name and password. Avoid this button unless specifically instructed by LanClub or your internet provider.

Turning it off and on too quickly — if you unplug and immediately replug your router, it may not fully clear its memory. Always wait the full 30 seconds.

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When Should I Restart My Router?

Restart your router when:

• Your internet is slow and affecting all devices
• Devices can't connect to WiFi
• Web pages won't load on any device
• Your internet connection drops out regularly
• You've just had a power outage — routers sometimes need a manual restart after power is restored

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How Often Should I Restart My Router?

There's no need to restart your router on a fixed schedule — only restart it when you're experiencing issues. Some people restart theirs monthly as a precaution, which is perfectly fine.

If you find you need to restart your router very frequently — for example every few days — that's a sign something may be wrong with your router or your internet connection. Email help@lanclub.nz and we can look into it.

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What the Lights Mean

Router lights can be confusing but here's a general guide — your router may differ slightly:

If your internet light is red or off after restarting, wait another 2 minutes and check again. If it remains red, contact your internet provider as there may be an outage in your area.

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Still Having Issues After Restarting?

If restarting your router hasn't resolved the issue, see our My Internet is Slow or I Can't Connect to WiFi articles for further troubleshooting steps.

If you're still stuck, submit a ticket at https://help.lanclub.nz, email help@lanclub.nz, or call us on +64 22 573 3469 and we'll help you get sorted.

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