Router Blinking Blue Light
Router blinking blue — what it means on Netgear, Eero, Google Nest Wifi, Asus, and other routers, including WPS pairing and startup sequences.
Slow Blink
blue
Quick info
Visual description
A blue LED blinking on the front or top of a router at a slow to moderate rhythm. Blue is less common than white, orange, or green on most routers and is used for specific functions rather than general status. On some routers the top LED slowly pulses blue; on others the 'WPS' LED blinks blue during pairing.
What it means
Blue LED behavior varies significantly by brand:
WPS pairing mode (most common): Blinking blue on a WPS LED means you pressed the WPS button and the router is waiting for a device to connect via Wi-Fi Protected Setup. This mode lasts about 2 minutes then auto-cancels.
Mesh node syncing (Eero, Netgear Orbi): Some mesh systems blink blue on satellite nodes while they're establishing a backhaul connection to the main router. This is a normal startup state.
Startup/boot sequence: Several Asus and Netgear routers blink blue as part of their power-on sequence before the status changes to white or green once fully operational.
Firmware update in progress: Some models use blue blinking during OTA firmware downloads. Do not unplug during this state.
Brand & model variations
The same light pattern can mean different things across manufacturers.
| Brand / Model | What blue slow blink means | Recommended action |
|---|---|---|
Netgear Nighthawk AX, RAX, Orbi | Pulsing blue on Orbi satellites = syncing to base router. Slow blue on Nighthawk = startup or WPS active. Blinking blue + white = firmware updating. Do not reboot during firmware update. | For Orbi sync: wait 3 minutes. For WPS: open Bluetooth or Wi-Fi and complete pairing within 2 minutes. |
Eero Eero 6, Eero Pro, Eero Max | Eero uses white for normal operation and shows a pulsing blue during initial setup before the Eero app has completed configuration. Eero rarely blinks blue in normal operation — if it does post-setup, the node has lost connection to the main eero. | Eero app → Network → check if this node shows as offline. Restart that node from the app. |
Asus RT-AX86U, GT-AX11000 | Asus routers blink blue on the power/status LED during startup. Once booted, it changes to solid blue (normal operation) or white. Blinking blue in normal operation indicates the router is busy processing (firmware update or high CPU load). | Wait for boot to complete (~90 seconds). Solid blue after boot = normal. |
TP-Link Archer series | TP-Link does not commonly use blue LEDs — most Archer models use orange and green. If you see blue on a TP-Link, it's a WPS indicator. Blue blink = WPS active. Blue off = WPS inactive or timed out. | For WPS: quickly connect your device within 2 minutes of the WPS button press. |
Diagnose your issue
Answer a few questions to narrow down the cause.
When did the blue blinking start?
Safe next steps
Ordered from least to most involved. Check each step as you go.
Identify whether the blue LED is on the WPS button, the status/power LED, or a separate mesh LED.
If you just pressed WPS: complete device pairing within 2 minutes.
If the router just started up: wait 90 seconds for boot to complete.
If blinking blue during normal operation: check if internet is still working before taking action.
If no internet and blue is stuck: power cycle (unplug 30 seconds, reconnect).
If blue persists after power cycle with no internet: check for a firmware update in the router app, or perform a factory reset as a last resort.
When it resolves on its own
Condition: WPS mode or startup sequence
Expected time: WPS: auto-cancels after 120 seconds. Startup blue: resolves after ~90 seconds during boot.
When to escalate
Stop troubleshooting and contact your ISP or manufacturer if:
- Blue blinking persists more than 10 minutes without resolving to normal color and internet is down.
- Router won't complete boot regardless of power cycling — hardware or firmware corruption.