Verizon Router Blinking White (Is something wrong?)
Verizon Fios routers have LED lights on the front to indicate the status of the router. These will tell you if you have an issue, if everything is working fine, or if the router is doing something else like pairing or booting.
A blinking white light on your Verizon router means that the router is booting. It is trying to connect to the Fios Network and should connect within 10 minutes.
Once it boots, the light will turn solid white to confirm you are connected to the internet and online.
Unfortunately, routers will occasionally get stuck and won’t complete the booting process. This is typically due to a local outage or a firmware bug.
Verizon Fios Router Blinking White Light
A blinking white light is likely nothing to be concerned with until it has been more than 10 minutes. That indicates there is an issue that you will need to troubleshoot.
To fix a Verizon Fios router blinking white, you’ll need to perform a soft reboot to get the router unstuck and update the router firmware, if necessary. Press and hold the reset button on the back of the router for 3 seconds, then allow 3-5 minutes for the router to reboot before the LED indicator light turns solid white.
Fix #1 – Soft Reboot your Verizon Fios Router
A soft reboot is a quick and easy first step for a router that appears to be stuck. Sometimes they get stuck in a loop and just need a restart. You’re router might also update the firmware automatically once it is rebooted.
1. Find the reset button on the back of your router.
2. Press and hold the reset button until the LED status light turns off in about 3 seconds. Do not hold for any longer! If you hold for 10 seconds, it will do a full factory reset and delete all your data.
3. Your Fios router will begin to reboot, which will take 3-5 minutes.
4. Once it reboots, the LED status light will display a solid white light. Check your internet connection to see if the fix worked.
It is good practice to soft reset your router occasionally. It will refresh your connection and maintain a healthy internet speed.
This is often all you’ll need to get your Fios router to stop flashing white and turn solid white. If it did not work, let’s move on to power cycling the router.
Fix #2 – Check for a Service Outage
It’s possible that Verizon, your Internet Service Provider, is having an outage, causing your Internet interruption.
If you’ve recently had a storm pass through, there’s always a chance of a downed power line that cut off the power or the fiber optics cable.
If there wasn’t a storm, there’s a chance that a car accident or another accident downed a power line or Verizon could be simply upgrading the system. Hopefully, they would have let you know in advance, though!
In any case, you can visit Verizon’s service outage support page to find out more info. Hopefully, this will clarify what is going on.
Fix #3 – Check all Connections
Make sure your Fios router is properly connected to your ONT (Optical Network Terminal).
An important thing to check is that all your ethernet cables are fully connected and that they are in the right locations. Otherwise, it might appear that the router is booting but won’t complete and continue blinking white.
The ONT is the terminal box that was installed by Fios on either the outside or inside of your home. It is the point where your fiber optic cables connect to your home. You can’t have Fios internet without it, so take some time to locate where it is.
Your Fios router must be connected to your ONT via a CAT6 ethernet cable.
All your hardware must be connected properly. Otherwise, it is impossible to connect to the internet properly.
Depending on how far your router is from your ONT, you may actually need to call Verizon to make the connection for you. They will drill holes and run the cable throughout your home.
In rare cases, your router is close enough to your ONT that you can save some money and do it yourself!
Check for Damaged Cables
All types of networking and broadband cables are more delicate than most people think. It is worth inspecting the cables to be sure they weren’t pinched or damaged in any way.
If you have a spare ethernet cable, try swapping it out. ISPs typically send more cables than you need. Maybe check the original router box.
Remove Cable Splitters, Network Switches, or Wi-Fi Extenders
When troubleshooting, it’s always smart to simplify your setup to get to the bottom of the issue.
So, if you have any cable splitters, network switches, or Wi-Fi extenders, go ahead and remove them for now.
Once removed, allow the router at least 5 minutes to see if it fully reboots. If it doesn’t, do a soft reboot again to see if that fixes the issue.
If your Verizon router is still blinking white, it’s time to power cycle the router.
Fix #4 – Power Cycle your Verizon Fios Router
If the soft reboot didn’t work, there isn’t a local outage, and all your cables are properly connected, then let’s move on to power cycling the device.
Unplug your Verizon Fios router from its power source and wait a FULL 2 minutes.
If the router feels hot, then it could be overheating. If it is, give it additional time to cool down. An overheating router will not function properly and will likely drop the Wi-Fi signal.
Move the router to a well-ventilated area so the router can stay cool enough to function properly.
While you’re waiting the 2 minutes, you should also go ahead and power cycle the device that you’re trying to connect to.
After the 2 minutes is up, you can plug your router back in and wait a few more minutes for it to reconnect.
You’ll again see the Fios router’s blinking white light while it reboots. Once the router connects and is working properly, you should see a solid white light.
Fix # 5 – Unplug both your Fios Router AND your ONT
Sometimes, you have to take it a step further and unplug the power supply to your ONT (Optical Network Terminal) as well.
Without getting too technical here, your ONT will occasionally lose power or may be unplugged. When it comes back online, your router may not have enough time to refresh with a new IP address.
Without a new IP address, your router isn’t able to connect to the internet.
1. To fix this, unplug the power to the ONT. It should be plugged into a nearby wall outlet.
2. Next you’ll have to disconnect the backup battery from the ONT. There are a few different models of ONTs that Verizon has installed, but you’ll likely find the battery behind a front panel, likely at the top of the device.
3. Now unplug the router and then wait two full minutes.
4. Then, plug the power in for the ONT first and wait for the green lights to come back on.
5. Once you see green lights on your ONT, you’ll know it’s time to plug your router back in.
After a few minutes, everything should come back online.
Fix # 6 – Factory Reset your Fios Router
If all of that doesn’t work, you may want to try a full factory reset of your router. Keep in mind that a hard reset will return your router to its factory default settings.
You’ll need your admin username and password for this. Your router might also need a firmware update, which takes a bit more time, but it is always important to have the latest software.
Follow the same steps as mentioned above when we did the soft reboot, but this time, we’ll hold the reset button for 10 seconds.
1. Find the reset button on the back of your router.
2. Press and hold the reset button for at least 10 seconds.
3. Your Fios router will begin to reboot, which will take 3-5 minutes.
4. Once it reboots, the LED status light will display a solid white light. Check your internet connection to see if the fix worked.
Note: If this does not work, repeat the steps, but unplug the router’s power cable as well for 2 minutes right after you hold the reset button for more than 10 seconds.
You’ll need to set your Wi-Fi network up again. But this should hopefully do the trick.
Fix #7 – Check your Verizon Fios Wi-Fi Extender
For anyone with a larger home or spot in their home that has spotty Wi-Fi for whatever reason, the Verizon Fios extender can be really helpful.
If you thought you were looking at your router, but you are, in fact, looking at your extender, a blinking white light means the same thing that the Fios Extender is booting.
In that case, go to your router to see if it is also blinking white. If so, follow the steps above.
The below chart will help guide you as to what all the LED colors mean, including a blinking blue light, meaning that the extender is in pairing mode.
Soft Reboot your Fios Wi-Fi Extender
1. To reset the extender, find the red reset button on the back of the extender.
2. Press and hold it for 2-4 seconds until the LED light goes off.
3. The extender will now reboot for the next 3-5 minutes. The LED status light should be solid white once it completes the reboot.
If that does not do the trick, try power cycling the extender.
Power Cycle your Fios Wi-Fi Extender
1. Unplug the WiFi extender from the wall for 2 minutes.
2. After you wait a FULL 2 MINUTES, plug it back in.
3. Allow the extender to reboot for the next 3-5 minutes. The LED status light should be solid white if the fix worked correctly.
If it did not work, do it again, but this time also power cycle your router.
Fix #8 – Contact Verizon Fios Support
If nothing seems to stop your Verizon router from blinking white, you can contact Verizon Customer Support. You’ll have to sign in to use this link.
Hint: Your router might be defective and malfunctioning. When you call Verizon, ask them to replace your router with the latest model. They often will do this, especially if you’re already paying a monthly fee for it.
The direct number is listed below with the hours to try calling.
1-888-294-6804
Hours: 8 AM-7 PM EST (Mon-Sat) and 8 AM-5 PM EST (Sun)
You can also use the Verizon Support page to try additional troubleshooting options.
Conclusion
A blinking white light just might mean your router is booting. If it has been blinking for more than 10 minutes, you might have an issue that should be an easy fix.
To fix this issue, there are several options that are available to you that should only take a few minutes to do.
- Soft Reboot your Verizon Fios Router
- Check for a Service Outage
- Check all Connections
- Power Cycle your Verizon Fios Router
- Unplug both your Fios Router and your ONT
- Factory Reset your Fios Router
- Check your Verizon Fios Wi-Fi Extender
- Contact Verizon Fios Support
I’m sure by now you’ve already gotten your router booted and functioning properly. If not, Verizon’s customer service can typically identify the issue remotely and troubleshoot any issues on their end.
Thanks for reading and good luck!
