Router Blinking Red Light
Router blinking red — more urgent than solid red. What it means on Netgear, TP-Link, Asus, and Xfinity, and the steps to resolve it.
Fast Blink
red
Quick info
Visual description
A red LED blinking rapidly on the router's front panel — typically the power/status LED or the Internet LED. Blinking red is more serious than solid red. Solid red usually means 'no internet'; blinking red typically indicates a deeper problem such as firmware corruption, overheating, or a hardware fault that the router itself is flagging as critical.
What it means
Blinking red is a router's distress signal and should be taken seriously:
Blinking red on power/status LED: The router's firmware has become corrupted (often from a power outage during a firmware update), or the hardware has detected a fault (overheating, bad RAM). The router may be in a boot loop.
Blinking red on Internet LED: The router has completely lost the WAN connection and exhausted all reconnection attempts. More urgent than solid red — the WAN interface is not even detecting a physical link.
Blinking red after lightning/surge: Power surge damage is common after storms and can cause the status LED to blink red while the router partially boots but can't complete startup.
Brand & model variations
The same light pattern can mean different things across manufacturers.
| Brand / Model | What red fast blink means | Recommended action |
|---|---|---|
Netgear Nighthawk, Orbi | Blinking amber/red on Netgear = firmware corruption or hardware fault. Netgear's recovery mode (called 'Router Recovery') can flash an image via TFTP if the firmware is corrupted. If the Internet LED blinks red: no physical WAN connection detected. | Try Netgear Recovery Mode: hold reset 7 seconds during boot to enter recovery mode, then reflash firmware via netgear.com/recovery. |
TP-Link Archer series | Blinking orange-red on TP-Link Internet LED = cannot get IP from ISP and is in error state. TP-Link's power LED doesn't usually blink red — if it does, it's a hardware fault (fan failure on high-end models, or overheating). | For Internet LED blinking: try factory reset. For power LED blinking red: check ventilation, ensure the router isn't enclosed. |
Asus RT-AX series, GT series | Asus routers blink the power LED red when the router detects a hardware fault or has entered firmware recovery mode. Asus Firmware Restoration utility (available on asus.com) can push new firmware over Ethernet if the router boots to recovery. | Download Asus Firmware Restoration tool. Connect via Ethernet, launch tool, load the latest firmware file for your exact model. |
Xfinity / Comcast XB7, XB8 gateway | Xfinity gateways blink red when there is a critical downstream connectivity issue — usually no signal on the coax cable, or the account has been suspended. | Check coax cable is tight at both modem and wall jack. Call Xfinity to check for outages or account status. |
Diagnose your issue
Answer a few questions to narrow down the cause.
Which LED is blinking red?
Safe next steps
Ordered from least to most involved. Check each step as you go.
Identify which LED is blinking red — power/status or Internet/WAN — as the fix is very different.
For Internet LED blinking red: power cycle modem first (unplug 60s, reconnect), then power cycle router.
If after power cycle Internet LED is still blinking red: check for ISP outages in your area.
For power/status LED blinking red: attempt a factory reset (30-second hold of reset button).
Ensure the router has adequate ventilation — remove it from any enclosed space and let it cool.
If factory reset doesn't stop the status LED from blinking red: look up firmware recovery mode for your specific model.
When to escalate
Stop troubleshooting and contact your ISP or manufacturer if:
- Factory reset does not stop status LED blinking red — firmware corruption requiring reflash.
- Firmware recovery tool fails to connect to the router — the router's processor or flash memory has failed.
- Internet LED blinks red and ISP confirms signal is fine at the line — router WAN port may be damaged.