One cannot imagine a life without the internet these days. We’ve become so dependent on it that all our socializing has gone online. However, those things get a hit when the internet router in our house goes on a restarting rampage. Many problems can cause your router to keep restarting in circles, but it’s very difficult to pinpoint the exact cause. So, you need to manually check all the common causes.
Too many devices connected to your router can put some load on it, causing it to restart. Overheating and outdated firmware could also cause your router to reboot itself. The router can also restart continuously if the power connectors are faulty or you’re not using the original power adaptor that came with your router.
However, you don’t need to worry if your router doesn’t stop restarting because we’ll be enlisting all the possible causes for the problem below. You can easily fix them by following our guide to enjoying a smooth-sailing internet connection.
Too Many Connected Devices
Smart devices are taking over a normal household at a rapid pace. Almost all the gadgets in our houses require an internet connection to work, like smartphones, PCs, printers, etc.
When too many devices are connected to the same router, it’s common for the router to slow down or even freeze. It’s because the memory or processor inside the router cannot handle that much load and will be forced to restart.
Consider disconnecting some idle devices. Moreover, using an ethernet connection for your computer or other stationary devices is better.
Router Overheating
As we all know, overheating does no good to any tech gadgets and devices. Although it doesn’t seem like it, your router is like a mini PC. It comes with its own CPU and memory linked through an operating system.
All the continuous work generates a lot of heat that needs to escape from the router’s vents. If you’ve crammed the router in a closed space, the inside temperatures will crank up, forcing the router to take a break by restarting.
You should also look out for any dust buildups around the router vents and always keep at least a 6-inch gap between the router and the walls near it. Moving your router to an open space might also improve the signals.
Some routers come with cooling fans, but you can always connect a mini USB fan to the router and direct it toward the router to keep the temperatures cool.
Faulty Adaptor or Power Cables
Before checking software issues, it’s always a good method to look for hardware problems. Start by checking the power supply cables to see any loose ends.
Move the wires a little and see if the power cuts off. If the power supply cable is loosely connected to the router, small jitters can make the router blackout and then start again occasionally.
Also, always use the original adaptor that came with your router. A cheap after-market purchase might not be well compatible with your router and can cause power issues leading to the restarting frenzy.
Congested Channels
Congestion occurs when a large number of devices try to connect to the same network frequency. A router’s job is to pick up a network frequency and transfer the wave to the devices connected. When the devices on the same network exceed the limit, your router might freeze and restart frequently.
Older routers work with 2.4 GHz frequency, while the latest models work with 5 GHz ones, which is the faster frequency with less congestion. However, just like a radio, you can tune in to the right frequency having less congestion to avoid a restarting router.
On your PC, you can use a tool like NirSoft to identify less congested channels and connect your router to them for a stable internet connection.
Outdated Router Firmware
Wi-Fi routers have to perform a plethora of tasks, and they need a well-optimized operating system to keep things steady. Like any other smart device, that firmware must frequently be updated to the latest version.
If you’re running outdated firmware, the router might run into some connectivity or IP address issues causing it to restart. A router update will also increase its security and remove all the little bugs and issues.
Changed Network Environment
Your Internet Service Provider might change the IP address through which all your devices are connected. When your router is overworking, the software inside might slow down and become unable to process the change in static IP.
Resultantly, you will not receive any internet even if everything seems fine because the static IP your devices are requesting has been changed. It might also cause your router to restart for some fixing.
If trying all these things doesn’t seem to work, you can try manually restarting your router. Otherwise, you must consider replacing your router with the latest model with better connections and features.
The Bottom Line
We all must have faced the issue of a Wi-Fi router restarting itself at least once. A router isn’t a simple device, it contains a processor, memory, and operating system, and some even come with cooling fans. If you connect a lot of devices to the same router, the overworking could cause the router to restart itself.
The culprits might be keeping the router in a closed space or outdated firmware. Sometimes loose connections and a faulty power adaptor can also make your router restart itself. If you avoid all these causes mentioned in our guide, you can fix the restarting frenzy of your router.
Frequently Asked Questions
Before restarting your router, keep it unplugged for at least 30 seconds. It will allow the router to cool down and work properly once plugged in.
To ensure a smooth internet connection, you must restart your router at least once a month. Some routers come with an auto-restart feature which will automatically restart the router when necessary.
