The mesh WiFi system brought in by Netgear is Orbi which consists of a router and satellites. There is a Ring LED light present on both devices which flashes various colors. The first color that shows up on the Orbi router light is white which confuses myriad users. Thus, if you see your Orbi flashing white light, then it certainly has two meanings. What are they? You will understand better with the help of the following table.
| S. No. | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1 | Your Orbi router is being powered up |
| 2 | The router is attempting to connect because you’ve pressed the WPS button |
The flashing white light on the Orbi router is supposed to get settled and then turned off after a few moments of the completion of the aforementioned process. Just in case the WiFi router keeps pulsing white, then it is surely a matter of concern. What you can do in this case? We will try to find out the same.
Orbi Flashing White Light (What to Do)
1. Let the Router Boot Up
The first thing we recommend you do when the router flashes white just after pressing the Power button is to wait. Wait for 3-5 minutes and see if the white light stabilizes. Has the Ring LED turned off now? If not, then you are suggested to ensure that the router is getting a stable power supply or not. It will only be possible if you:
- Connect the router to a well-working power socket
- There is no damage to the power cord of the router
Note: Just in case your area is a regular victim of power outages, you should not hesitate to use a UPS to power up the Orbi router. It will compensate in case of random power outages. It will also help when there is a power surge.
2. Power Cycle the Router
Sometimes, minor network errors are the reasons that stop the Ring LED on the router from getting settled. In that scenario, it is advised that the router is power cycled. FYI, power cycling helps in addressing technical glitches and allows your router to work efficiently. You don’t need to work hard for power cycling the router. Just remove its power cord from the wall outlet and plug it back after waiting for a good time of 15 minutes. Is your Orbi flashing white light even after that? If yes, then give a shot at the next hack.
3. Wait for the WPS Connection
As mentioned earlier, the flashing white light on the Orbi router is also a sign that the WPS connection is in progress, you should wait till the connection gets established. For this, it is recommended that you press the WPS button on the router and the WPS-supported client once again. In some cases, you might be asked to enter a PIN. Do the needful and see if the white light on the Orbi bids adieu.
You should know that the WPS connection takes time to get established. Therefore, it is common to see the Orbi flashing white light after you push the router’s WPS button. But, if the light keeps flashing, you need to push the client’s WPS button within a certain period. And yes, do not forget the fact that both devices are supposed to be present within each other’s range.
A Pro Tip: If the Orbi router is not flashing white but the Ring LED is solid white, then you have to understand that the router is demanding setup. It represents an incomplete configuration and you need to use the Orbi mobile application for the mesh WiFi system setup. This situation generally shows up when the router is brand new and you are attempting to set it up.
The Bottom Line
The Orbi flashing white light situation is a sign that the router is in the process of getting powered up or establishing a WPS connection. All you can do in both situations is wait. But, know that a little bit of troubleshooting is required if the white light does not go away after waiting. Now, let’s wrap up the post with the hope that you’ve easily addressed the problem.
While bidding farewell, we want to let you know that if the Orbi satellite is noticed flashing the white color, then it only indicates the boot up situation. So, let your satellite boot in that case.