Wondering what the TP-Link Deco red light means? Well, stay with us throughout this guide!
Understanding what the red light on your TP-Link Deco means and recognizing the pattern is a crucial requirement for addressing the issue.
This guide will provide helpful insights on resolving the issue and explain the complete behavior of the red light on your problematic TP-Link Deco.
To address the red solid or blinking light on your TP-Link Deco, check the power supply of each connected unit and reconnect the main Deco from service.
Deciphering the Red Light On TP-Link Deco
Understanding the cause of the red light and seeing through the blinking pattern is essential for troubleshooting and providing sufficient solutions.
The first step is to analyze the behavior, which can be solid or blinking.
Both indications have different meanings, so take a quick look to justify.
What Does TP-Link Deco Red Solid Light Mean?
Here are the possible causes for the red solid light on your central Deco:
Note: The solid red light indicates an issue with the TP-Link central (parental) Deco unit.
What Does TP-Link Deco Red Flashing Light Mean?
Here’s what the flashing red light on your central Deco indicates:
- A failed connection of the Deco device.
- An issue with the mesh network setup.
- An issue with the Ethernet connection.
Note: A flashing or “pulsing” red light always indicates an issue!
How to Fix the TP-Link Deco Red Light in Easy Steps?
Tip: Follow our steps consecutively!
1. Power Cycle the Main Deco Unit
A proven resolution to the red light on your central Deco is to perform a power circulation of the hardware by unplugging the power cord.
This is an effective solution for relaunching all system services and addressing complications with the hardware, resulting in the red status of the lamp.
Here’s how to perform a power cycle on the central Deco unit efficiently:
- Disconnect the power cable of the Deco from the A/C.
- Unplug the other end of the cable from the Deco’s port.
- Wait for 30 seconds while the main Deco is discharging.
- Connect the power cable on both ends to restore power.
- Wait until the Deco turns on and check if the LED is red.
Tip: Inspect the physical condition of the power cable while it is disconnected!
2. Reconnect the Main Deco’s Service
Whether the red light is solid or blinking, the fault can be related to the service connection of the central Deco.
The main unit uses an Ethernet wire to connect to the network, which distributes the initial internet connection for all child nodes in the mesh system.
Here’s how to reconnect the service cable of the central Deco:
- Unplug the Ethernet cable from the back of the primary unit.
- Disconnect the other end of the wire from the modem/router.
- Wait 30 seconds while Deco is unplugged from the service.
- Reinstall the Ethernet cable on both ends to restore reception.
Note: Check whether the service Ethernet cable or its ports are visually damaged!
3. Configure the Deco DNS Settings
The DNS settings are the default connection type to external servers assigned to your mesh network.
When the DNS is incorrect or not set up, the central Deco unit cannot operate on the cloud and provide a connection for all mesh nodes participating in the network.
- To correct Deco’s DNS, go to the TP-Link app → Internet Connection → IPv4 Connection → DNS Address and verify that the feature is set to “Manual.”
For standard connection to DNS servers, you will be required to insert a Primary DNS value and a Secondary DNS value.
If you don’t know what to do, use one of the DNSs in the table!
| Best Free Public DNS Servers | ||
| Provider | Primary DNS | Secondary DNS |
| Google *best option* | 8.8.8.8 | 8.8.4.4 |
| CONTROL D | 76.76.2.0 | 76.76.10.0 |
| Cloudflare | 1.1.1.1 | 1.0.0.1 |
| AdGuard DNS *ad protected* | 94.140.14.14 | 94.140.15.15 |
Tip: Setting the DNS to “Automatic” will allow TP-Link to assign a server automatically!
4. Correct the TP-Link Deco Placement
Another proven TP-Link Deco red light fix is to correct the individual positioning of each Deco child node and the parental unit.
The essential requirement for maintaining proper coverage is to keep the Deco close to the router if you’re pairing wirelessly.
So, based on which broadband thread you’re using (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz), you must take into consideration the difference in the connection.
2.4 GHz Vs. 5 GHz Wi-Fi Frequency
- For Deco systems using 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, the essential requirement for the distance between each child node and the TP-Link router is between 110 and 120 feet.
- For Deco systems distributing 5 GHz Wi-Fi, the essential requirement in terms of distance should be twice as low as 2.4 GHz, ranging from 50 to 60 feet.
Bonus Tip: Inspect for Wireless Interference
Wireless interference is a significant factor for the signal health between wirelessly connected devices in your mesh setup.
Particular metallic objects or thick concrete walls can effectively block the wireless signal distributed by the central unit and all nodes participating in the mesh.
To clear out wireless interference in your TP-Link system, avoid the following:
- Positioning the nodes in tight, enclosed, or covered places.
- Positioning the nodes multiple rooms away from the router.
- Keeping metallic objects or RF transmitters close to the unit.
Think of wireless interference as a counter-effective signal that causes an aerial conflict with the signal transmitted by the Deco equipment.
The stronger the counter-effective signal is, the more likely it is for your Decos to lose reception.
Tip: Test the strength of your Wi-Fi at the spot of your TP-Link Deco!
5. Update the TP-Link Firmware
One of the necessities for maintaining proper coverage of the mesh system is to upload the latest firmware available for your TP-Link equipment.
Newer versions of the software utilized by the Deco units are released periodically, allowing the users to access new features and settings.
Alert: Verify that the TP-Link app is updated to the latest version before proceeding!
Method #1 Update via the TP-Link App (Easy)
- Open the TP-Link app on your mobile app.
- After that, go to “More” and tap “System.”
- Select “Update Deco” and start the update.
Method #2 Update via the Deco Website (Advanced)
- Go to TP-Link’s Download Center and select the model.
- Download the latest firmware released by Deco in the list.
- Unzip the firmware, and you will see an installed bin file.
- Go to the TP-Link management page within the website.
- Go to “Advanced” → “System” → “Firmware Upgrade.”
- Finally, tap on “Browse” and select the downloaded bin file.
Tip: You can check the current version of the Deco unit within the mobile TP-Link app!
6. Disable VPNs and Proxy Servers
An active VPN or proxy service can heavily impair the connection speeds of the mesh network, causing the Deco to lose connection and thereby result in a red light.
Deactivating all external services of the Deco equipment is recommended in case of a red LED light that won’t go away.
Here’s how to disable VPNs and Proxy servers within the TP-Link app:
- Open the TP-Link app and log in to your account.
- Tap on More on the bottom and then “Advanced.”
- Select VPN or Proxy, based on what’s activated.
- Toggle the Enable VPN/Proxy to the off position.
- Confirm the operation if prompted on the screen.
- Exit the “Settings” after deactivating the services.
Tip: Keep the VPN and Proxy options OFF until the rest of the article!
7. Restore Deco to Factory Defaults
The factory reset will restore the central Deco unit and all connected child nodes to defaults and erase any lasting functionality issues with the hardware and software.
However, remember that none of the lost settings and configurations can be restored after the factory reset is complete.
Follow these steps to perform a factory reset on the main Deco unit:
- First, locate the Reset button on the Deco primary unit.
- Next, press and hold the button for at least 10 seconds.
- Release the button once the LED lights start flashing.
- Wait until the Deco completes the factory reset process.
- Set up the Deco equipment through the app or website.
Do not interact with the Deco unit once the factory reset has started, as this could prevent the process from finalizing or cause further issues with the equipment.
Note: You must complete the network and DNS configuration of the Deco setup from scratch!
Quick Recap:
When faced with a TP-Link Deco red light, check the power supply of the Deco unit and verify the internet connection.
If the issue persists, correct the placement of the main Deco unit, update the firmware, and conduct a factory reset on your mesh equipment.
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Finn Wheatley holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from UCL, London. He helped small data science consultancy firms, helping large corporations to grow their data capabilities, deploy advanced machine learning-based analytics and troubleshoot tech-related issues. Check out more about him here.