Why and how to properly reboot the router

What does a router reboot do?

A router is a device equipped with a processor, RAM and operating system. Memory and processor overload leads to a slowdown of the device and even to its complete freezing, as well as to the occurrence of data transmission errors at the software level. Wi-Fi router cannot cope with these problems on its own. In such cases, you should try to restart the device.

A correct reboot of the router allows you to:

• Carry out a new Internet connection to the wireless network.
• Update the Wi-Fi channel (if it is set automatically).
• Reset cache memory and inactive sessions.
• Update network protocols.

How to restart the router

To quickly restore stable Wi-Fi operation, you can use the following methods:

1. Rebooting the router.

How to restart the router manually

The easiest way to restart the router, which will suit beginners, is to manually reboot it. To do this, you need to perform the following steps:

1. Unplug the power cord from the outlet and wait at least 30 seconds for the device to completely shut down and cool down.
2. Reconnect the cord to the power outlet. Also, depending on your model, you may need to press the power button (not to be confused with the “Reset” button, which allows you to reset your router to factory defaults, which we cover below) to turn the device on.
3. After switching on the router, wait at least 30 seconds or a few minutes for it to boot up and reconnect to the Wi-Fi network fully.

Note: If you are rebooting the modem and the router, connect the modem first and wait at least 1 minute before turning on the router.

How to reboot the router remotely

The router can be rebooted remotely if it is located in a hard-to-reach place. The algorithm of actions let's consider the example of how to reboot the TP-Link router by software. To do this, you need to: 

1. Enter through a browser into the web interface of the device. 
2. Enter 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 in the address bar and press “Enter”.
3. Enter your TP-Link account login/password (by default login is admin, password is the same, or you can find them on the router case).
4. On the router's control panel, press the “Reboot” button and wait a few minutes until all the parameters are loaded. After that you can continue to use the Wi-Fi network. 

How to reboot your WiFi router on a schedule

You may also have a question about how often you should reboot your router. Even if there are currently no errors in the router's operation, it is recommended to reboot the device at least once a month to minimize their occurrence in the future. And you can do this at a convenient time for you. To do this:

1. On the main screen of the control panel at 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1, go to the “Advanced” tab — “System Tools” — “Reboot Schedule” section. 
2. In the “Reload Schedule” line, click the “Enable” checkbox. Make sure that the current time and the time in the control panel settings match.
3. In the corresponding line specify the reloading time (it is convenient to schedule it at night when you sleep), repeat “Every Day/Every Week/Every Month” and select a convenient day, then click “Save”. 

If your Wi-Fi works fine after rebooting the router, the problem is solved. Otherwise, you should try the following methods.

2. Reset the router to factory settings.

Resetting the router via the “Reset” button returns the device to factory settings. This means that all changed parameters such as network settings, Wi-Fi passwords, and access settings will be deleted. Such a procedure is useful for fixing software failures of the router, restoring access in case of a forgotten password, or preparing it for transfer to another person. However, please note that after the reset, you need to reconfigure the device according to the settings provided by your ISP.

To reset the router to factory settings, you need to:

1. When the router is switched on, find the router's “Reset” button (usually located on the back of the device).
2. Using a thin object (for example, a paper clip), press and hold the “Reset” button for 30 seconds.
3. After resetting, log in to the router's administration panel using the standard login and password, which are usually indicated on the router's case. 
4. Change the Wi-Fi password to the desired one.

If rebooting and resetting the router doesn’t fix the problem, it may be caused by a faulty Ethernet cable or interference in the Wi-Fi signal path. Fixing it may require replacing the cable or moving the router to a more open and central location in the house. If none of the above methods results in faster Internet performance, replacing your router with a new one may be time.