You might find different LED icons and symbols on the Netgear router each of them indicates the state of the router, such as internet connection, rebooting device, factory resetting, etc. The Netgear Nighthawk comes with more than 10 to 12 such indicating lights so that if you face any error, you can spot them and fix them instantly.
You will find lights that are meant for power, internet, Wi-Fi, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, USB, Ethernet or LAN, and WSP on the router. Each of the LED lights varies in color, such as red, orange, green, white, etc. By understanding the different statuses of the light, you would be able to detect the state of the router.
So, let’s dive in and understand what all the light icons symbolize and how you can differentiate from one state to another.
Different Netgear Nighthawk Light Meaning & Indications
We are about to explain the different colored lights that can be found on the Netgear Nighthawk router and what they indicate.
Power light
If the LED color is green or white for the power light, then it indicates the power is on, and this is the normal state.
Different colored lights indicate a difference in the state of the router:
- Solid orange – The router is booting up and will take a few minutes more to be ready. When the process is complete, you will find the lights have turned solid white or green.
- Flashing orange – If the power light is flashing orange, then the router is getting updated, and the latest firmware is being installed. Otherwise, you might have pressed the reset button present at the back of the device.
- Flashing white – This indicates that either the firmware is corrupted or the router is in AP or Access Point mode.
- No light – This indicates that the router is turned off or unable to detect the power.
Internet light
If the light is solid green or white, it indicates that the internet connection status is stable.
Different colored lights indicate a difference in the state of the router:
- Solid orange – The router has detected Ethernet connectivity for the modem/router.
- Flashing white – It indicates a communication state where the internet port is sending and receiving data
- Red light – It indicates that the router has a proper power supply, but still, it is unable to connect to the internet.
- No light indicates there is no internet connection for the modern/router.
Wi-Fi light
Wi-Fi light indicates the status of the Wi-Fi connection, and if you see a solid white, then the connection is stable.
Different colored lights indicate a difference in the state of the router:
- Flashing white light – It indicates that a router is sending and receiving data through the Wi-Fi connectivity.
- No light indicates that the Wi-Fi is not active or not connected to the internet.
Wi-Fi band LED for 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz
The most ideal situation is the solid white light, which indicates the status of different Wi-Fi brands as they are stable.
Different colored lights indicate a difference in the state of the router:
- Flashing white light – This indicates 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz Wi-Fi bands are trying to connect through the Wi-Fi network by sending and receiving data.
- No light – This indicates that the WiFi bands are not connected to the internet.
USB 1 or USB 2
The USB light indicates the status of the USB port, and a solid green light indicates the USB port is in use.
Different colored lights indicate a difference in the state of the router:
- Flashing white light – This indicates that the router is trying to connect to the USB device.
- Solid white or green light – This indicates the router has successfully connected to the USB device
- No lights indicate that the USB device is unable to detect or connect to the router, or the router is unable to read the USB device.
Ethernet or LAN light
If the Ethernet or LAN light shows a solid white color, then it indicates the internet connection of the router is stable.
Different colored lights indicate a difference in the state of the router:
- Flashing light – This indicates the router is trying to receive and send data to or from any other device that is using an ethernet cable.
- Solid light – This indicates the router has an active Ethernet connection and it is connected with any other device which is using an ethernet cable.
- No light indicates the ethernet is not being used, no devices are connected to the ethernet, or the ethernet port is faulty or unable to detect any ethernet connection.
WPS light
A solid green or white light indicates a stable WPS status, meaning the WPS-enabled device is successfully connected to the router.
Different colored lights indicate a difference in the state of the router:
- Flashing green or white light – This indicates that the router is trying to connect or establish a connection with a WPS-enabled device.
- No light indicates that there is no active WPS connection.
What does the blue power light on the Netgear router indicate?
A blue power light on the Netgear router indicates the ongoing booting process. It takes just a few seconds, and the blue flashing light will stop after the reboot. However, if the blinking continues for an extended period, there might be physical or hardware damage to the router. Also, if the blue light does not change to an orange light, you have to adjust or reconfigure the DHCP settings of the router.
Why does the red light indicate the Netgear router?
A red light on Netgear indicates either overlapping conditions where the network session is overloaded, or there is a presence of damaged cables in the connection. Otherwise, it also indicates a loose connection, which can also result in red light blinking where the outer is partially reset as it keeps on disconnecting from the network. To fix this, you can try to set the IP address, Subnet Mask, and default gateway to Static. Or, you can also press the Reset button to restore all default settings of the router.
What to do if the router cannot connect to a USB device?
If the router cannot connect or detect the USB device, you have to check whether the problem lies within the USB device. In this case, try to use a different USB device and connect to the router. If this fails, too, then it is a clear indication that the router’s USB port might be defective, and you need to fix it immediately.
What lights are active when you power on the router?
3 prominent lights would glow when you power on the router – Power light, Internet light, and Wi-Fi lights.
What to do if the router is not turning on?
If the router is not turning on, then you have to turn off the router, pull out the cables from the power source, and allow it to rest for at least 10 minutes. Then, plug in the cables to the power outlet or try using a different power adapter. Now, turn on the device and the router, and wait till the lights turn solid white or green.
What to do if the router is unable to detect any connection?
If the router fails to detect any connection, then it indicates either physical damage on the Ethernet cable or the Ethernet port is corrupted. Thus, you have to go for a replacement. You can try to reset the connection by unplugging the ethernet cable, turning off the router, and waiting for at least 30 to 60 seconds. Then, plug in the cables back to the power source, reboot the route, and check whether the connection has been restored.
