If you find yourself on this webpage then you have encountered the frustrating blinking red light on your Spectrum Router.
This annoying flashing issue signals to the owner of the router that it is experiencing issues connecting to the internet – which you have likely already discovered.
Thankfully, as long as the red light is blinking you are more than likely able to fix the issue with a few simple solutions.
It should be said that if the red light is static and unblinking, you need to get your router serviced by a professional. Thankfully, the blinking light isn’t quite as dramatic of an issue and can typically be resolved with some common fixes that can be applied for a number of inconsistencies with your router.
Let’s go over how to efficiently fix the headache of a blinking red Spectrum router and what the different lights indicate!
What The Different Spectrum Lights Mean
Most routers use the different lights they display to inform the consumer of any possible issues or inconsistencies. While this is helpful, it can be hard to differentiate each hue or tempo and tell the differences apart from one light to another.
Because of the all-too-common problems folks experience with their routers (not just Spectrum), let’s discuss what each light means and how to resolve it.
Static Blue Light – This is the default state of the router if it is working correctly. When you try to resolve your router with the solutions listed below, this is the goal you should have in mind. When your router has a steady blue light, it is typically working as intended and without issue.
Blinking Blue Light – One of the more confusing statuses of a Spectrum router is the blinking blue light. It is there to let the owner know that the router is trying to connect to the internet and typically isn’t an issue. Sometimes this light can persist for much longer than it should due to issues with your connection, which can prove difficult to work with. Should you encounter this, we have a comprehensive guide on how to fix the problem!
Blue/Red Light – If you have interchanging blue and red hues then your router is currently receiving an upgrade for its firmware. This process shouldn’t take more than five minutes on average and should be left uninterrupted until it is finished. Tampering with a router during a firmware update could cause issues with the product and should be avoided.
Red Light – A shiny new red light decorating the exterior of any electronic is usually the start of a mild panic attack for most consumers and the Spectrum router is not the exception to the rule. If you see a solid red light on your router it has an issue big enough to warrant getting it looked at or possibly replaced.
Blinking Red Light – Despite how dismal the diagnosis is for the static red light, if your router is blinking red there is still light at the end of the tunnel. This simply means that your router has encountered some difficulties connecting to the internet. Be sure to check that other lights aren’t lit up alerting you to an ISP outage. To remedy the aches and pains of a non-responsive blinking red router, keep reading!
How To Fix Blinking Red Spectrum Router
It feels like nothing wants to work correctly when we encounter issues with our internet.
You want to diagnose the issue with your router, but unfortunately, you can’t access google from your computer. Being an alternative thinker, you use the precious mobile data on your snazzy smart device only to be given solutions that require internet access to complete.
Router issues should be a problem of the past but since we encounter them so regularly, it is important that we can resolve these minor hiccups as quickly as possible. In the interest of saving you time and stress wrinkles, we will be going over these solutions from the most popular fixes to more unique approaches.
If these solutions don’t solve your issue, it may be time to face the music and call Spectrum or look for your warranty in the “business booth” of your kitchen (also known as the junk drawer).
Check For Internet Blackouts
While this might feel like a long shot, it takes little more than five seconds and can save you a lot of elbow grease. There are few things more stressful than putting your router through the troubleshooting trials of an internet article just to find that your ISP is experiencing a temporary outage.
There is no shortage of websites to inform you whether or not your internet is incapacitated and Spectrum offers a pretty simple tool as well. The advantage of using Spectrum is that you are offered more information and possibly even an estimate on when your internet will return.
The good news about this is that you don’t have to worry about your router having any serious issues – the downside is you can do little more than wait for your Wifi to return. While it may feel a bit foolish to list this as a “solution” to the problem, the sad fact is we often overlook the possibility that the issue is entirely outside of our control.
Even if the “outage tool” isn’t showing an outage, it is quite possible that there is an outage in your neighborhood. If you have neighbors or nearby friends with Spectrum, or connection to a Nextdoor or local Facebook group, it may be worthwhile to see if neighbors are also experiencing an outage. It may feel silly, but it is less silly than spending an entire afternoon resetting your router when the problem is actually system-wide.
Power Cycle Your Spectrum Device
Have you ever felt like your life is falling apart around you only to feel immeasurably better after a quick nap? Well, that is an admittedly poor way of describing how a power cycle works. Simply put, sometimes the best way to get rid of a problem is to turn off your device and flip it back on again.
To make sure the process is done properly, turn the router completely off and disconnect any wires or cables that are plugged into it. It’s important to allow a minute or two to pass before turning the device back on. After you have taken some personal time, you can plug the cables back in and flip the router back to life!
If the light has changed to cooler colors – ideally a steady blue – then you have fixed your issue! If not, buckle in as we take a look at how to factory reset your Spectrum router.
Factory Reset Spectrum Router
A bit more serious than turning off the router or checking for outages, a factory reset is a common solution to a myriad of problems across several different tech products. The problem with a factory reset is it removes any stored or saved data one might have. This means that things like the router name and password will have to be set up again after the process is finished.
This process has been made relatively simple by Spectrum, though there are some variables that should be accounted for prior to committing to a factory reset. One of them is that if the ring or button is illuminated, you will need to power cycle the device before a full factory reset. Thankfully, we did this in the previous step so we can move on to a full reset.
The reset button will either be on the front or back of your Spectrum device depending on the product. Once you locate the reset button, you will need to push it down for ten seconds to initiate a factory reset. Depending on the router, you may need a pin or toothpick to toggle the reset function.
You may be asked for a username and password after the factory reset, both can be found on a label on the back of your Spectrum router.
Once completed, you can set up your personalized settings and then check to see if you have a blinking red light or if it has shifted to a more reliable blue.
Check Cables and Wires
Most folks who rely on their internet tend to prefer a wired connection as it almost guarantees reliable internet.
Despite this reputation, even wired connections can prove problematic at times with questionable ethernet cables and coaxial cables that struggle to form strong connections. Because of this – even though it is a rare problem – it is always worth checking your wires and cables.
If you have a wired connection, the most likely culprit is going to be your ethernet cable. Ethernet cables come in a varying range of lengths and are fairly cheap across the board. While this is nice, it also speaks to how inexpensively they are manufactured which can be observed in the plastic snap pins on the ends of the ethernet cable.
The snap pins are what produce that rewarding clicking noise you hear when you connect the ethernet cable. These can deteriorate over time until they stop working entirely, making the connection poor and unstable. It’s important to check both sides to make sure they are snug in their respective ports.
Secondly, you should look over the length of the wire to make sure it isn’t frayed or damaged.
Another culprit could be your coaxial cable, which is a thick cord (Spectrum typically uses a black one) with two ends that look like hollow cylinders with a pin sticking out of the middle. The pin inside can vary easily shift or warp until it is no longer straight, which can ruin your connection.
Once you check the pins, examine the wire as well to check for any physical deformities.
While the ethernet and coaxial cables are usually the guilty parties, you should look over all plugs and wires to make sure they are connected properly and not damaged.
Another common issue that I see listed exclusively for Spectrum is that several repair professionals have noted that a lot of consumers plug their ethernet cable into the four ethernet ports.
While the logic here seems sound, this will actually prevent you from forming a working internet connection. There will be a yellow internet port on both your Spectrum router and modem — the ethernet cable should be connected on either side to both ports.
Check for Overheating
If your router feels hot to the touch, overheating may be the source of your internet failure. Sometimes overheating can lead to a bricked device. But more often, returning the router to room temperature will also restore function.
First, power off and/or unplug the router. Then, while waiting for it to cool, remove the dust, dirt, debris, and dog hair from the vents of your router. Be sure that the exhaust vents have room to exchange air — after all, that is the entire purpose of the vents.
Once the device has returned to room temperature, plug it back in and test your internet. Of course, you will need to be patient, since routers are notoriously slow to power on and receive a connection.
Contact Spectrum
Despite your best efforts to get your router working, it may be time to face the music.
Sometimes technology comes to us damaged and sometimes through no fault of our own, it deteriorates until it is unusable. If this is the case for you, it may be time to package the product back up and get a replacement through Spectrum.
Even if they don’t immediately give you a working product, they may offer more in-depth solutions unique to Spectrum that could fix the issue. Even better, they may send someone out to service it.
Regardless, you shouldn’t have to pay for a deficient product and you also shouldn’t have to suffer days devoid of internet access.
While this may feel like a bit of a letdown, you did not purchase the product so you could practice your skills at technological tinkering. If the router still does not work, you should get it serviced or get a different product altogether.
Powering Down
Spectrum is tied for second as an internet service provider in rural neighborhoods and communities. Because of this, many consumers who are using Spectrum do not have the luxury of several different options at their disposal.
Internet access for some is a way of relaxing at the end of a long day, but for many people, it is essential to their livelihood. You shouldn’t have to go without the necessities of modern society.
If you find yourself struggling with technical problems or internet issues – check Swift Moves!
