A TP-Link router is one of the well-known Wi-Fi routers on the market. But like most routers, it does encounter errors such as when your internet connection keeps disconnecting, etc. A reboot can solve this issue on your TP-link router and many others. But how do you reboot a TP-Link router?
The easiest way to reboot a TP-Link router is by using the power on/off switch at the back of the router. However, this depends on the model of your TP-Link router, as some use a button instead of a switch. Alternatively, you can reboot the TP-Link router remotely by using third-party software.
It is a good idea to reboot your TP-Link router periodically. However, how frequently you should reboot depends on usage and the number of users on the network. You should reboot less often if the router is getting only light usage.
This article elaborates on the different methods you can use to reboot a TP-Link router.
Different Methods To Reboot a TP-Link Router
Sometimes, bugs could affect how the firmware of your TP-Link router works, or medium to heavy usage could cause it to become unstable. When your internet stops working or keeps disconnecting, you should try rebooting the router.
While most routers don’t need to be rebooted often, you should reboot them periodically. Rebooting your router closes all trouble codes and helps to self-correct itself.
Below are three ways you can reboot a TP-Link router.
Method #1: Reboot It Manually
The design of most routers does not include many buttons, but one button you’d always find on most routers is the power on/off button. This button could be a switch or a tackle button that gives feedback when pressed. In some cases, the router might also come with a reset button which can come in handy in some scenarios, particularly when you encounter trouble codes in your router and it becomes unresponsive.
Knowing when to use the right button is crucial in getting rid of trouble codes when you come across one.
Here’s how to reboot a TP-Link router manually.
- Locate the power on/off button, which is often located at the back of the router.
- Toggle the switch off by pushing it to the right or if your TP switch has a tackle button, press it for about 5 seconds or until the router powers down.
- Disconnect the router from a power source and allow it to sit for 30 seconds.
- Connect the router back to a power source and power it on by pushing the power on/off switch to the right or pressing the power button for 5 seconds or until it powers up.
Method #2: Reboot It Remotely With a PC
It is worth noting that you can reboot a TP-Link router remotely with a PC. This method is more technical and requires the third-party software PuTTY tool. The puTTY tool is free to use SSH and telnet software developed by Simon Tatham. Unfortunately, this tool only works on Windows PCs, so if you use a Mac or Linux, you wouldn’t be able to use this method.
Here’s how to reboot a TP-Link router remotely with a PC.
- Download and install the PuTTY tool on your Windows PC.
- Launch the tool and begin an SSH session.
- Fill the hostname with the IP address of the TP-Link, set the port number, and ensure the connection type is set to SSH.
- Click on “Open”, and if any prompt pop-up, click “Yes” to proceed.
- In the command prompt, type “aptus” as the password; if asked, click on Enter, and it will display the details of your TP-Link router.
- Type in “reboot” in the following line, click “Reboot”, hit Enter, and the TP-Link router will reboot automatically.
Method #3: Reboot It Remotely With Your Mobile Device
Another way you can also root your TP-Link router remotely is with a mobile device. With the TP-Link Tether app, available for download on Android and iPhones, you can reboot your TP-Link router remotely. Note that for this app to work on your iPhone, you must run iOS 10.0 or later. And if you are using an Android device, it must run Android 4.4 or later.
Here’s how to reboot a TP-Link router remotely with a mobile device.
- Download the TP-Link Tether app for your smartphone from the App Store or Play Store.
- Connect your smartphone to the TP-Link router via Wi-Fi.
- Launch the app and sign in using your TP-Link ID.
- Find and select the name of the TP-Link router under “My Devices”.
- Click on “Tools” from the bottom right corner of your screen and then select “System”.
- Select the “Reboot” button and confirm your choice by clicking on “Reboot”.
If, after a reboot, the problem persists, you should try to update the firmware if available. Also, check for changes in the configuration settings. And as a last resort restarting your TP-Link router might fix the issue, although you would lose your saved data.
Conclusion
Whenever you have issues with your TP-Link router, always reboot it before trying anything else. Note that while rebooting your router might seem very basic, it helps to get rid of many trouble codes. Also, it is advisable to allow your router to power on completely before connecting or making any changes.
If the problem persists after trying everything highlighted in this article, don’t hesitate to contact customer support or take your router to a service center to have it inspected for faults.
