Should I unplug my router when it's blinking white?

Avoid it if possible. If your router is applying a firmware update, unplugging it mid-update can corrupt the firmware, which can require a recovery procedure or damage the device permanently. Only unplug if blinking has lasted more than 15 minutes with no change.

Why does my router blink white in the middle of the night?

ISPs and router manufacturers push firmware updates to devices during off-peak hours (often 1–5 AM). Your router applying a scheduled update is the most common cause. The blinking will resolve within 10 minutes and your internet will return automatically.

White blinking vs. slow white pulse — is there a difference?

Technically yes — a 'blink' is a hard on/off, while a 'pulse' fades in and out. In practice, the meaning is usually the same for a given router model. Check your router's manual for the distinction if it's important for your model.

Router Blinking White Light

Router blinking white light — what it means on Netgear, TP-Link, Eero, Google Nest, and more, with fixes for setup mode, firmware updates, and WPS.

Slow Blink

white

Visual description

A white LED on the router's front panel blinking at a slow, steady rhythm — typically once per second. On some models (Google Nest, Eero) this is a pulsing white glow rather than a hard on/off blink. The LED may be labeled 'WPS', 'Power', or be unlabeled. On ring-style indicators (Google Nest), the entire circle pulses.

What it means

White blinking is generally a 'working, please wait' signal rather than an error. The three most common causes are:

1. Startup/boot sequence — the router is powering on and loading its operating system. This should resolve within 2–3 minutes. 2. WPS mode — someone pressed the WPS button, and the router is waiting (up to 2 minutes) for a device to connect via WPS. If no device connects, it exits automatically. 3. Firmware update in progress — the router is downloading and applying an update. This is critical: do NOT unplug the router during a firmware update. It takes 3–8 minutes and the router will reboot automatically when done.

On Eero, continuous white blinking indicates the device has internet but is still initializing its mesh — this is normal during setup.

Brand & model variations

The same light pattern can mean different things across manufacturers.

Brand / Model	What white slow blink means	Recommended action
Netgear Nighthawk	White blinking power ring = router is starting up. White pulsing = firmware update in progress. Solid white = router is ready and internet is connected.	Wait 3 minutes for startup. Never interrupt a firmware update — wait for solid white.
TP-Link Archer series	TP-Link typically uses white for normal operation. Slow white blink = WPS mode active. Fast white blink on WAN LED = WAN connected and data transferring.	Slow white blink: if you didn't press WPS, ignore it — it times out in 2 minutes.
Eero All Eero models	Slow white pulse = Eero is connected to the internet but not fully set up yet. Solid white = fully operational. Fast white blink = Eero is in setup mode waiting to be added to app.	Follow Eero app setup flow to complete initialization.
Google Nest Wifi Nest Wifi, Wifi Pro	Pulsing white = device is starting up or processing. Solid white = ready. Google Home app setup causes pulsing white for up to 5 minutes.	Wait 5 minutes during initial setup. If it doesn't go solid, check your Google Home app.
Xfinity XB8 gateway	White blinking on XB8 = device is booting or receiving a software update from Xfinity's servers. This can happen any time, including overnight.	Wait up to 10 minutes. If unresolved, use Xfinity app to check gateway status.

Diagnose your issue

Answer a few questions to narrow down the cause.

Diagnose Your Issue

When did the white blinking start?

Safe next steps

Ordered from least to most involved. Check each step as you go.

Identify when the blinking started — startup, after WPS button press, or unexpectedly.
If startup: wait 3 minutes. Do not unplug.
If WPS mode: either connect a device via WPS within 2 minutes, or wait for it to exit automatically.
If unexpected and internet still works: assume firmware update. Wait up to 10 minutes and do not unplug.
If internet is down and blinking persists beyond 10 minutes: reboot modem first (30s), then reboot router (30s).
If it still doesn't resolve: log in to admin panel and check for stuck firmware update notification.

When it resolves on its own

Condition: During startup, WPS pairing mode, or firmware update

Expected time: Startup: 2–3 minutes. WPS mode: auto-exits after 120 seconds. Firmware update: 3–10 minutes depending on router and connection speed.

When to escalate

Stop troubleshooting and contact your ISP or manufacturer if:

Router has been blinking white for more than 15 minutes with no change.
Router blinks white and then goes to red or orange instead of solid white after boot.
Admin panel is inaccessible during blinking (could indicate boot loop).