When Virgin Media WiFi booster red light appears and starts blinking, it generally means that the device has disconnected from the network.
The red flashing or solid light on your Virgin Media WiFi means that the device is ready for pairing and it often happens with our secondary booster.
In this guide, we’ll learn how to recognise our Virgin Media booster lights indication and how to solve the red light permanently!
To fix the red light on Virgin Media WiFi Booster, re-trying the setup is the first step. In case the device fails to connect, perform a power cycle and change the power source. When the problem is persistent, we need to undertake a Factory Reset and start fresh!
Let’s next learn more about the flashing red light and the other light indications!
About Virgin Media WiFi Booster Red Flashing Light?
When you’re installing Virgin Media WiFi Booster Kit or you’re adding a new booster to your setup, there are a couple of things you should know.
During the installation process, you’ll notice all of the light indications and you should be aware of what they mean.
Here’s what the Virgin Media light indications mean:
- Blinking RED – The WiFi booster is ready for pairing
- Solid RED – The Virgin Media WiFi Booster is disconnected
- Solid WHITE – The device is working normally.
On the main Virgin Media WiFi Booster, you’ll also see a WiFi light that is blinking in GREEN when the device is copying information from the router.
Therefore, it matters, which of your WiFi Boosters are you looking at and which one is flashing in red.
Note: When your device is working normally, only the solid white light should appear!
How To Fix Virgin Media WiFi Booster Red Light?
To solve the blinking red light, we need to identify where the problem is coming from.
In order to do so we’re going to attempt setting up both devices correctly.
In case the process fails, we’ve got many different solutions that we can use, so let’s jump right in!
Solution #1 Setup Virgin Media Booster (Correctly)
The very first step is to make sure that we’re performing the installation process the right way!
Here we’ll describe how to set up a Virgin Media Booster kit, that contains a main and secondary unit to boost the WiFi signal in your home.
You’re going to need an Ethernet cable for the process so make sure to acquire one before starting.
- Connect the Main WiFi Booster close to your router/modem.
- You should see the White Solid light come ON.
- The arrows will be flashing in RED/Amber.
- Connect your WiFi Booster and Router with the Ethernet cable.
- The WiFi light should start blinking in green.
- Plug the Secondary WiFi Booster into the power.
- Press the Sync button on the Main Unit for 3 seconds.
- Shortly after press the Sync button on the Second Unit for 3 seconds.
- The connection light should stop blinking after 2 minutes.
- You can now move the second unit wherever you need.
When the Virgin Media WiFi Boosters are working correctly, the connection light (arrows) should be OFF and the Power Light should be in Solid White.
In case the red light appears to be solid or still blinking, proceed with the next solution!
Note: Relocate both the Main and Secondary units in the same room throughout the guide!
Solution #2 Hard-Reset The WiFi Booster
In case the red light on your Virgin Media WiFi Booster appeared out of nowhere, then probably all you need to do is reset the device.
This solution won’t erase any memory of your device and won’t reset the connection. Here we only target to restart all services!
- Simply unplug both the Main & Secondary WiFi Boosters from the power!
Wait for a few minutes for the devices to discharge, which will also allow them to cool down. When connected back into the source, the devices should automatically restore functionality.
In case the red light is solid or blinking, re-attempt to pair the Virgin Media WiFi Boosters using the steps from Solution #1. In case nothing helped, jump to the next solution!
Alert: The main booster has to remain connected to the router via an Ethernet cable!
Solution #3 Use a Different Power Source
If you haven’t tried changing the power source already, now is the time to do so!
Simply unplug the Main & Secondary Virgin Media WiFi Boosters and connect them to a different power source in the router’s room.
Use a standalone power outlet for the main booster, making sure that the source is working.
Then, if the red light is still flashing, use Solution #1 to set up the devices.
When only the white solid light remains, you know that the WiFi boosters are now working. Hence, you can relocate the position of your secondary unit.
Note: Avoid plugging the Virgin Media WiFi Booster into a power strip or dividers!
Solution #4 Reset Internet Connection!
In case the red light on your Virgin Media booster continues to be there, it means that the device is not working properly.
One of the reasons remains your internet connection and whether everything with the network is OK.
In that regard, you need to restart your router/modem to refresh the network!
You can even take this solution one step further, by disconnecting the router/modem from the source which will provide power circulation.
After the reset, double-check if your main Virgin Media WiFi Booster is connected to the router via Ethernet cable and re-try the pairing.
Faulty Ethernet Cable?
Did you know that the Ethernet cable should blink when connected and working?
Take a peek at both ends of the Ethernet cable connecting your main WiFi Booster and router. In case the Ethernet port is not blinking, you might have a faulty cable that you might have to replace.
To find an Ethernet cable which will get the job done, scroll to the bottom of the guide!
Alert: The Ethernet cable should be connected to one of the (yellow) ports of your router!
Solution #5 Turn WiFi OFF/ON
On the right side of your Virgin Media WiFi Booster, you’ll notice the WiFi Button.
It’s extremely important that the WiFi of your booster is turned ON always. This is why it’s important to justify by pressing the button once.
The WiFi light blinking in GREEN means that it’s copying information from the router!
In case that’s the first time you’re seeing this light, that’s good news. The process might take up to 10 minutes, based on your internet speed, but surely the device is getting connected.
Note: The WiFi LED indication will go OFF when the copying is completed.
Solution #6 Factory Reset Booster!
If you’ve reached so far and the red light on your Virgin Media WiFi Booster is still there, we’re going to use our most powerful solution.
The Factory Reset is a method which will reset the device to its default state, hence as we’re taking it out of the box.
This will provide us with a clean start and allow us to set up both devices freshly!
Here’s how to Factory Reset a Virgin Media WiFi Booster:
- Connect the WiFi Booster to the power.
- Locate the Reset button pinhole.
- Use the tip of a pencil or pen to reach in.
- Press and hold the Reset button for 3 seconds.
- The Arrows LED will start flashing in red.
The reset takes about 60 seconds and when you’re ready, jump back to Solution #1 and test establishing the setup.
It’s recommended to wait for about 10 minutes after the reset is over for the device to download and install any firmware updates.
Quick Recap:
Thus, the red light on Virgin Media WiFi Booster means that the device has disconnected or it’s ready for pairing. We’ve learned that we need to reset the WiFi Boosters and check our internet connection as well as carry out the initial setup the correct way.
Final Thoughts:
Now that we’ve learned when the Virgin Media WiFi booster red light appears and how to solve the problem, we’re ready to boost our home network signal.
When you see only the white solid light, you’ll know that the setup is completed and you can relocate the secondary unit.
In case you’ve identified that the Ethernet cable is the culprit, we recommend getting the UNGREEN Cat 7 Ethernet Cable up to 10Gbps.
Using this cable, your main WiFi Booster will copy the information from your router/modem in no time and connect without an issue!
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Kevin has over five years of experience working in various Tech startups and providing Technical solutions. He has contributed to many Tech publications and websites. Check out more about him here.