Why Is My Linksys Router Blinking

If you’ve noticed that the Diag LED (Light Emitting Diode) on your Linksys router keeps blinking, then it’s a sign that your firmware is corrupted or malfunctioning. When you notice this, you also observe that you’re unable to assign IP addresses to computers connected to your router, and you’re unable to access the web-based setup page for the router. More and more people have complained that their Linksys routers will not stop blinking, and even when the router’s LED is dimly illuminated, it’s still an indicator of a malfunction.

Don’t stress; this article will help address all issues you face concerning your blinking Linksys router.

Overview of Linksys Router

Linksys is a company in America that manufactures and sells exceptional data networking products for homes or organizations. Some of the hardware products are wireless and WiFi routers, wireless internet video cameras, network storage systems, Ethernet switches, wired routers, etc. These products allow people to enjoy great wireless speed while browsing their phones, tablets, or PCs.

Solving Your Blinking Linksys Router

If your Linksys router keeps blinking, try the following solutions. It’s important to note that the solutions are arranged in a particular order for a reason. Don’t skip to the final solution without trying the first one. You should only move on to the second solution if the first solution doesn’t solve the problem. This will further help you prevent unnecessary complications and malfunctions with your router. 

Step #1: Try a Quick Reboot

This step doesn’t come with complications. To reboot, follow the quick process below:

1. Shut down all your networking devices.
2. Unplug your router’s power cord from the power outlet.
3. Leave it for 30 seconds, unplugged.
4. Plug the cord in and turn the router on.
5. Wait for it to boot up completely.

Here, you can also unplug your power cord, internet, and Ethernet cables from their ports and later plug them back. The point is to first try rebooting your router as this helps you re-establish a connection to your ISP (Internet Service Provider), thus ending the blinking. 

Step #2: Power Cycle the Router

This is the next thing you can do before the other troubleshooting steps. It’s the easiest and quickest solution for any router issue, and it just might solve the problem you’re facing. Power cycling your router is what we refer to as unplugging the power cords of the router for 30 seconds and plugging back in. It’s also what we refer to as unplugging the internet and Ethernet cables from their ports and plugging them back.

Step #3: Assign a Static IP Address to Your Computer

This is important if your router has lost its ability to assign IP addresses to connected computers. If you’re using Windows 10, follow this procedure to assign a static IP Address to your computer.

1. Right-click the “Network-User Added” icon at the bottom right of your screen.
2. Click “Open Network” and “Sharing Center.”
3. Click “Change Adapter Settings.”
4. Right-click the “Local Area Connection” icon and choose “Properties.”
5. Select “Internet Protocol version 4 (TCP/IPv4)” on the Local Area Connection properties window.
6. Click “Properties.”
7. Click the “Radio” button beside “Use the Following IP Address.”
8. Enter the IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway in the provided fields.
9. The default values for the IP address and subnet mask are 192.168.1.1 and 255.255.255.0, respectively.
10. Select “Use the Following DNS Server Addresses.”
11. Enter a preferred DNS server. This is gotten from your internet service provider.
12. Click “Ok.”
13. Click “Close.”

If you’re unable to get a public IP address, your computer might be directly connected to your internet service provider’s modem. Ensure your computer is connected directly only to the router, so you can change it to 192.168.1.1.

Step #4: Ping the Router

After assigning a static IP address, confirm your computer’s connectivity to the router through a ping test. Conducting a ping test enables you to trace the communication between your computer and router. The computer sends packets to the router, and the router replies to confirm the connection. 

Step #5: Reset the Router

Resetting your router is one of the final troubleshooting solutions you can apply, but only if the other steps mentioned above didn’t resolve the problem. By resetting your router, you’re erasing all of its current settings, and you’re setting the router back to its factory default settings. Follow the steps below to achieve this.

1. Press the reset button either at the back of your router or the bottom of your router and hold it down for 30 seconds. You can use something small and pointed to press the reset button like a paperclip.
2. Unplug the router’s power cord for 10 seconds and plug it back in.
3. Wait 30 seconds for your router to fully reset.

Rebooting your router cycles the power back to the router, and power cycles don’t delete your saved passwords, security keys, and other major settings. But after resetting, you’ll have to reconfigure your router since all the settings have now been reverted back to the default settings. 

Step #6: Re-flash the Firmware With the TFTP Utility

If you have tried resetting your router and you’re still getting the blinking lights, then this is another thing you can try. Try to re-flash your router’s firmware with the TFTP utility.

Step #7: Update the Linksys Router Firmware

If all else has failed, you can also try updating your router firmware. First, ensure that you have downloaded the correct firmware for your particular router, as a mismatch might lead to more technical problems. 

Summary

This article addresses the reasons why your Linksys router is blinking. It also addresses 7 different steps for solving your blinking Linksys router problem. We hope this article has helped you successfully stop your Linksys router from blinking.

Frequently Asked Questions