Checking the router's LEDs

The Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) on your Linksys router indicate the status of the connection between your router and the devices connected to it.  Click on a link below that corresponds to the router you’re using for you to determine the LEDs that should be lit and their light indications:

Wireless-AC router
Wireless-N routers
Wireless-G routers
Wireless-B routers
Wired VoIP Linksys Routers
Wireless VoIP Linksys Routers

Wireless-AC router
 

User-added image Power (White) - The power LED is solid white while the router is powered ON.  It will blink when the router goes through its self-diagnostic mode during boot-up.

User-added imageInternet (White / Amber) - The Internet LED is solid white when connected to the Internet.  It blinks white while the router works to establish a connection.  A solid amber LED indicates the connection is down due to configuration issues.  Amber blinking indicates that the connection is down due to hardware issues.

User-added image2.4 GHz (White) - The wireless LED is solid white when one (1) or more clients are connected to the 2.4 GHz network.  If the LED is blinking white, the router is sending or receiving data over the 2.4 GHz network.
 
User-added image 5 GHz (White) - The wireless LED is solid white when one (1) or more clients are connected to the 5 GHz network.  If the LED is blinking white, the router is sending or receiving data over the 5 GHz network.
 
User-added image eSATA (White) - The USB/eSATA LED is OFF if no eSATA device is connected or a USB device is connected instead.  The LED is solid white when an eSATA device is connected.  A blinking white LED indicates activity through the eSATA port.
 
User-added image USB 1 (White) - The USB 1 LED is OFF if no USB is connected or an eSATA device is connected instead.  The LED is solid white when a USB device is connected.  A blinking white LED indicates activity on the port.
 
User-added image USB 2 Primary (White) - The USB 2 Primary LED is OFF if no USB 3.0 is connected.  The LED is solid white when a USB device is connected.  A blinking white indicates activity on the port.
 
User-added image USB 2 Secondary (White) - The USB 2 Secondary LED is OFF when a USB 1.0 or USB 2.0 device is connected to it.  A solid white LED indicates a USB 3.0 device is connected.  These numbered LEDs correspond with the numbered ports on the router’s back panel.  If the white LED is solid, the router is connected to a device through that port.

User-added image ETHERNET 1 thru 4 Primary (White) - These numbered LEDs correspond with the numbered ports on the router’s back panel.  If the white LED is solid, the router is connected to a device through that port.  A flashing white LED indicates network activity over that port.
 
User-added image ETHERNET 1 thru 4 Secondary (White) - If the white LED is OFF, the router is successfully connected to a device through that port at 10/100 Mbps.  A solid white LED indicates that the router is successfully connected to a device at 1000 Mbps.
 
User-added image Wi-Fi Protected Setup™ (WPS) (White/Amber) - The Wi-Fi Protected Setup™ LED blinks slowly for two (2) minutes during Wi-Fi Protected Setup™ (WPS).  It will be solid white for five (5) seconds to indicate a successful connection.  The LED blinks amber if the WPS process fails.  Make sure the client device supports WPS. Wait until the LED is off, and then try again.  The router supports one (1) session at a time.

 

Wireless-N routers

E1000, E2000, E2100L, E3000
 

 
 

1, 2, 3, or 4 (Green/Blue) – These numbered LEDs, corresponding to the numbered ports on the router’s back panel, serve two (2) purposes.  The LED is solidly lit when the router is connected to a device through that port.  It flashes to indicate network activity.

NOTE:  On the Linksys E3000, since its Ethernet ports are Gigabit ports, the LED lights up green when the port is connected to a gigabit port and blue when the port is connected to a 10/100 port.

If the LEDs are not lit after connecting your computer to the router using an Ethernet cable, try using another Ethernet cable.  If it's still not lit, try using another computer.  If it's still not lit, try using another computer.  If the Ethernet LED lights up, that may mean that the first computer's Network Interface Card (NIC) is not functioning properly or the LAN connection is inactive.  To learn how to enable the LAN connection, refer to your computer's documentation.
 

Wi-Fi Protected Setup(WPS) – If you have other devices, such as wireless adapters, that support WPS, then you can use it to automatically configure wireless security for your wireless network.
 

Wireless (Blue) – The Wireless LED lights up when the wireless feature is enabled.  If the LED is flashing, the router is actively sending or receiving data over the network.
 

Internet (Blue) - The Internet LED lights up when there is a connection made through the Internet port.  A flashing LED indicates network activity over the Internet port.
 

Power (Blue) - The Power LED lights up and will remain steady while the router is powered ON. When the router goes through its self-diagnostic mode during every boot-up, this LED will flash. When the diagnostic process is completed, the LED will be solidly lit.

The following Linksys routers have only one LED indicator (which is the brand name of the router) and is located at the top panel:
 

E1200, E1500, E1550, E2500, E3200, E4200, E900, EA2700, EA3500 and EA4500
 

Refer to the following table for details on LED behavior.

Purpose
Activity
Light behavior
Power (White)
The router is powered ON, resets to factory defaults, or upgrades its firmware
Light flashes slowly (every 3 seconds)
The router is ready for use
The light is continuously lit
There is an error
The light flashes quickly (every second)
 Wi-Fi Protected Setup (White)
Wi-Fi Protected Setup process is active
Light flashes slowly (every 2 seconds) for 2 minutes
Wi-Fi Protected Setup is successful
The light is continuously lit
There is an error
The light flashes quickly (every second) for 2 minutes


NOTE:  The network activity indicators can be seen on the router’s back panel.
 

 Ethernet and Internet LEDs (Yellow and Green) – The LEDs on these ports indicate network activity as well as the network standard being used.  The yellow light flashes to indicate network activity over that port.  The green light turns on when the local network port is connected to a 10/100/1000 port.

NOTE:  On the Linksys E3200 and E4200, since its Ethernet ports are gigabit ports, the LED lights up green when a Gigabit cable is connected to it and blue when a 10/100 Ethernet cable is connected.

If the LEDs are not lit after connecting your computer to the router using an Ethernet cable, try using another Ethernet cable.  If it's still not lit, try using another computer.  If the Ethernet LED lights up, that may mean that the first computer's Network Interface Card (NIC) is not functioning properly or the LAN connection is inactive.  To learn how to enable the LAN connection, refer to your computer's documentation.
 

Wireless-G routers
 

 
 

Power (Green) - The Power LED steadily lights up while the router is powered ON.  When the router goes through its self-diagnostic mode during every boot-up, this LED will flash.  When the diagnostic process is complete, the LED will be solidly lit.

DMZ (Green) – The DMZ LED indicates when the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) feature is being used.  This LED will remain lit as long as DMZ is enabled.

WLAN (Green) - The WLAN LED lights up when the Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) feature is enabled.  If the LED is flashing, the router is actively sending or receiving data over the network.

1, 2, 3 or 4 (Green) - These numbered LEDs, corresponding with the numbered ports on the router’s back panel, serve two (2) purposes.  If the LED is continuously lit, the router is successfully connected to a device through that port.  A flashing LED indicates network activity over that port.

NOTE:  If the numbered LEDs are not lit after connecting your computer to the router using an Ethernet cable, try using another Ethernet cable.  If it's still not lit, try using another computer.  If the Ethernet LED lights up, that may mean that the first computer's Network Interface Card (NIC) is not functioning properly or the LAN connection is inactive.  To learn how to enable the LAN connection, refer to your computer's documentation.

Internet (Green) – The Internet LED lights up when there is a connection made through the Internet port.  A flashing LED indicates network activity over the Internet port.

Wireless-B routers
 


 

Power (Green) - The Power LED steadily lights up while the router is powered ON.  When the router goes through its self-diagnostic mode during every boot-up, this LED will flash.  When the diagnostic process is complete, the LED will be solidly lit.

Wireless-B (Green) - The Wireless-B LED lights up when there is a wireless connection.  If the LED is blinking, the broadband router is actively sending or receiving data over the network.

Ethernet 1, 2, 3, 4 (Green) - These numbered LEDs, corresponding to the numbered ports on the Broadband router’s back panel, serve two (2) purposes.  If the LED is solidly lit, the broadband router is connected to a device through that port.  A blinking LED indicates network activity over that port.

NOTE:  If the LEDs are not lit after connecting your computer to the router using an Ethernet cable, try using another Ethernet cable.  If it's still not lit, try using another computer.  If the Ethernet LED lights up, that may mean that the first computer's Network Interface Card (NIC) is not functioning properly or the LAN connection is inactive.  To learn how to enable the LAN connection, refer to your computer's documentation.

Internet (Green) - The Internet LED indicates when a connection is made through the Internet port.

Wired VoIP Linksys routers
 

 
 

Power (Green) - The Power LED steadily lights up while the router is powered ON.  If the LED is flashing, the router is booting up, running a system self-test, or upgrading its firmware.

Ethernet 1, 2, 3 (Green) - The Ethernet LED serves two (2) purposes.  If the LED is solidly lit, the router is connected to a device through the corresponding port (Ethernet 1, 2, or 3).  If the LED is flashing, the router is sending or receiving data over that port.

NOTE:  If the LEDs are not lit after connecting your computer to the router using an Ethernet cable, try using another Ethernet cable.  If it's still not lit, try using another computer.  If the Ethernet LED lights up, that may mean that the first computer's Network Interface Card (NIC) is not functioning properly or the LAN connection is inactive.  To learn how to enable the LAN connection, refer to your computer's documentation.

Phone 1-2 (Green) - The Phone LED is solidly lit when a telephone or fax machine has a registered connection to Vonage through the corresponding port (Phone 1 or Phone 2).  The connection is registered if your Vonage service account is active.  This LED is not lit when there is no registered connection.  It flashes when the phone is being used or an incoming call has been detected.

Internet (Green) - The Internet LED lights up when the router is connected to your cable or DSL modem.  If the LED is flashing, the router is sending or receiving data over the Internet port.

Wireless VoIP Linksys routers
 

 
 

POWER (Blue/Red) - The POWER LED lights up blue when the router is powered ON.  If the blue LED is flashing, the router is booting up or upgrading its firmware.  If the LED lights up red, disconnect the power, wait five (5) seconds then reconnect it.

ETHERNET 1, 2, 3, 4 (Blue) - The ETHERNET LED lights up when there is an active connection through the corresponding port.  If the LED is flashing, then there is traffic moving through that port.

NOTE:  If the LEDs are not lit after connecting your computer to the router using an Ethernet cable, try using another Ethernet cable.  If it's still not lit, try using another computer.  If the Ethernet LED lights up, that may mean that the first computer's Network Interface Card (NIC) is not functioning properly or the LAN connection is inactive.  To learn how to enable the LAN connection, refer to your computer's documentation.

WIRELESS (Blue) – The WIRELESS LED lights up when there is an active wireless connection.  If the LED is flashing, the router is sending or receiving data over the wireless network.

PHONE 1, 2 (Blue) - The PHONE LED is solidly lit when a telephone or fax machine has an active or registered connection to Vonage through the corresponding port (PHONE 1 or 2).  It flashes when the phone is being used or is off the hook.

INTERNET (Blue) - The INTERNET LED lights up when the router is connected to your cable or DSL modem.  If the LED is flashing, the router is sending or receiving data over the Internet port.

QUICK TIP:  In different room or area lighting, the green LEDs may appear in a color closer to yellow than green.  If you are having trouble with the LED not lighting up properly, try resetting the router by pressing and holding the Reset button at the back panel of the device.  To learn more about resetting your router, click here.

It is important that the LED lights of your Linksys router light up properly, especially the Power LED light.  

Was this support article useful?

Additional Support Questions?
Search Again