How to Restart Your Modem and Router the Right Way (And When It Matters)

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How to Restart Your Modem and Router the Right Way (And When It Matters)

What This Guide Is About

Restarting your modem and router is one of the most common troubleshooting steps—but doing it incorrectly can cause confusion or make it seem like nothing changed.

This guide explains:

  • The correct way to restart your modem and router

  • Why the order matters

  • When restarting helps

  • When restarting won’t fix the issue

No technical knowledge is required.

Modem vs Router: Quick Clarification

Before restarting, it helps to know the difference:

  • Modem: Connects your home to your internet service provider

  • Router: Shares the internet connection with your devices

Some homes use two separate devices.
Others use one combined modem/router unit.

Both setups are common.

When Restarting Actually Helps

Restarting is useful when:

  • Internet suddenly stops working

  • Connection becomes slow or unstable

  • Devices won’t connect to Wi-Fi

  • Internet drops intermittently

  • Settings recently changed

A restart clears temporary errors and refreshes connections.

If restarting doesn’t restore your connection, this fix explains what to do when Wi-Fi is connected but there’s no internet.

When Restarting Will NOT Help

Restarting will not fix:

  • ISP outages

  • Billing or account issues

  • Damaged cables or hardware

  • Weak Wi-Fi coverage caused by placement

If multiple homes are affected, restarting won’t resolve the issue.

How to Restart the Right Way (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Power Off Both Devices

  • Unplug the router

  • Unplug the modem

  • Do not press reset buttons

Step 2: Wait 30–60 Seconds

This pause is important.
It allows memory and connections to fully clear.

Step 3: Plug in the Modem First

  • Plug the modem back in

  • Wait until all lights stabilize

  • This may take 1–2 minutes

The modem must fully reconnect before the router starts.

Step 4: Plug in the Router

  • Plug the router back in

  • Wait for Wi-Fi lights to stabilize

  • Devices should reconnect automatically

This completes a proper restart.

If You Have a Combined Modem/Router

If you use a single all-in-one unit:

  • Unplug the device

  • Wait 30–60 seconds

  • Plug it back in

  • Wait for all lights to stabilize

The same principles apply.

How Often Should You Restart?

Restarting occasionally is fine, but frequent restarts may indicate:

  • Network congestion

  • Overheating

  • Interference

  • ISP-side instability

If you need to restart daily, further troubleshooting is needed.

If you find yourself restarting often, this fix walks through what to do when the internet keeps disconnecting every few minutes.

What to Do After Restarting

After the restart:

  • Test one website first

  • Check one device

  • Avoid changing settings immediately

If internet works, no further action is needed.

Final Tip

Restarting works best when done correctly and intentionally, not repeatedly.
Following the proper order helps prevent unnecessary troubleshooting.

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