Is your Orbi blinking white light with no network connectivity, and you can’t figure out why it’s happening? Worry not, as we’ve got you covered right here.
The blinking white light appears when your Orbi is updating its firmware or after you reset it, especially if you lose power during the update. It can also pop up after your satellite and router lose sync with each other, which can also cause the purple light on Orbi or the blue light on Orbi. If the blinking white light on Orbi does not go away on its own, you can try some manual fixes to solve the problem.
In this guide, we’ll let you know why your Orbi is blinking white and which fixes you can follow to troubleshoot the issue and get your connection back quickly.
Why is my Orbi blinking white?
These are the common reasons why the Orbi router is blinking white –
- There is an issue with the firmware
- OS bug
- Problem with syncing
- Broken or loose cables
How to fix the Orbi blinking white light issue
Here are a few methods that can help fix the blinking white Orbi light.
Step
Perform a power cycle
A power cycle is the quickest way to eliminate bugs or glitches that may be causing the Orbi blinking white issue. It restarts your router and satellites – clearing any problems a failed firmware upgrade or an OS bug may cause. All you have to do is unplug your Orbi router and satellites (even if you have a secondary router or modem), wait for around 5 minutes, and power it on again. The blinking white light may appear for the first few minutes to update the firmware, but it should disappear within 10 minutes.
Step
Do a factory reset
Doing a factory reset means you will be bringing your Orbi device to its default factory settings. So, you will have to set it up again and re-sync your Orbi satellite with the router as well.
To do a factory reset, you can follow these steps.
- Find the reset button (a small hole) at the back of the device.
- Push it with a pin or a pen until there is a blinking amber light.
- Take the pin or pen out after around 15 seconds and wait for at least 10 minutes for the factory reset process to finish.
Now, you will have to re-sync your Orbi satellite with the router. Just press the sync button on the router, wait for one minute, and press the sync button on your satellite. Give it a few more minutes to finish the sync process, and if there is a solid blue light on your satellite, it means the devices are successfully synced.
Step
Re-sync with a new backhaul password
Along with a glitch in the firmware, a common reason why you might be getting the blinking white light on your Orbi is due to an issue with the syncing. This can be fixed with a new backhaul password, which your Orbi router and satellites use to communicate with each other. You will have to follow the re-syncing steps we discussed in the factory reset method again after creating a new backhaul password.
- Head over to the Orbi portal and log in with your username and password. The default username is admin and the default password is password.
- Navigate to Advanced > Advanced Setup > Wireless Settings.
- Under the Backhaul Password section, click the Generate button.
That’s it; you will now have to re-sync the Orbi satellite with the main router to complete the process. Once done, the Orbi blinking white issue should be resolved.
Step
Check for broken or loose cables
If the cables connecting your Orbi to the modem are either loose or broken, the device will not function properly. So, disconnect all cables from the router, clean the inside of the ports, and reconnect them. On top of that, make sure to examine the cables for any cuts or bends and replace them if you spot anything out of the ordinary.
Manually
Manually upgrade your firmware
If none of the above fixes have worked, you should manually upgrade your firmware. Keep in mind that you need a stable power source throughout the firmware update process, as any interruptions to the process can end up making things worse. Another key point to note is that you should use a wired connection to upgrade your firmware.
Here’s how you can manually upgrade your Orbi’s firmware.
- Go to the NETGEAR Download Center and download the latest firmware.
- Log in to the Orbi portal using your username and password.
- Head over to Advanced > Administration > Firmware Update > Manual Update.
- Select your satellite model and click the Update button next to it.
- In the new window, click the Browse button and select the latest firmware (.img or .chk file) for the satellite you downloaded. You may be asked to log in with your username and password again in this window.
- Click the Upload button and sit tight.
After a few minutes, your device will finish its firmware upgrade, and the Orbi satellite blinking white issue will be hopefully resolved. You can also check the firmware status of your satellite to verify whether it has updated to the latest one or not. Once your Orbi satellite is good to go, you need to repeat the same process from the start for your router as well.
You should not close any tabs, minimize the browser, or open any new window during the update process
Step
Reach out to NETGEAR support
If you’re still stuck with the blinking white light on Orbi, your last resort is to contact NETGEAR support. It may be possible that your particular Orbi device has a hardware issue, and the only possible fix is to repair or replace it.
How do I fix a solid white light on my Orbi router?
A solid white light means that your router is returning to its factory default settings. To fix it, you need to restart your device or perform a factory reset.
What does it mean when Orbi flashes white?
When your Netgear Orbi starts flashing white, it usually means that the router’s firmware is corrupted. This can potentially happen if you have recently updated the firmware. You can solve this issue by factory resetting your Orbi router – refer to our guide above for more details.
Conclusion
The blinking white light issue in Orbi WiFi systems can be very frustrating, but you can easily fix it with a few troubleshooting techniques. The most straightforward fix is to perform a power cycle on your devices. However, if you’re still getting the blinking white light, a factory reset is the way to go. While you’ll have to re-sync your satellites with the router after a factory reset, you can also try generating a new backhaul password and then re-sync the devices. If everything fails, you’ll have to contact NETGEAR support.
In case your current device is beyond repair and you need to replace it, check out our top picks for the best mesh routers for alternate options.
