Virgin router flashing white? If you experience the same weird behaviour, this guide is for you!
The white light on a Virgin router is the “power LED”, which can be solid or flashing.
The solid white light shows that the router is working, but the flashing white LED shows that the router is unable to load fully, stuck in a boot loop, or something else, such as overheating restarts.
To resolve the flashing white light on your Virgin router, first, unplug the router and verify that the power cord and electrical outlet are functional. Also, test the Virgin router with a different power outlet.
Let’s continue to unwrap!
Why is Virgin Media Router Flashing White?
In contrast to the solid white power light on a Virgin router, the flashing white light indicates that the router is currently turning on.
If the flashing is continuous and the light is not turning to solid after a few minutes, then something is preventing your Virgin router from loading successfully.
Here’s everything that might cause a flashing white light on the Virgin router:
Those are the primary causes for the constant blinking white light on your Virgin router.
So, the guide below addresses each of these possibilities, and without further ado, let’s jump straight in!
How to Fix When Virgin Router Flashing White?
Tip: Follow the solutions chronologically!
1. Unplug Your Virgin WiFi Router!
When the white flashing light on your Virgin router doesn’t turn solid, perhaps something with the startup of your device went wrong.
So, to re-attempt the boot process, unplug your router from the power supply to completely refresh the current session and perform a power cycle.
- Unplug your router from the power outlet for 60 seconds!
This is enough time for the internal hardware to cool down, the session to refresh and the Virgin router to start normally.
When you connect and turn on your router, the flashing white light is normal if it doesn’t continue for more than 3 minutes, after which the router should be loaded.
Reminder: Verify that you’re looking at the “power” light!
2. Connect Directly Into the Outlet
The white light flashing on Virgin router is because the router is currently turning on, and when the device can’t boot up successfully, the light will be flashing indefinitely.
One of the reasons why a Virgin router wouldn’t be able to turn on is the electrical outlet and the power equipment.
So one of the most important things to do is plug your Virgin router directly into the socket and verify that there are no power dividers, strips or smart plugs.
This way, your Virgin router should be able to load, and the white light will turn to solid white after about 2 or 3 minutes.
Inspect the Virgin Router Power Cord!
It’s essential to verify that there are no defects with your Virgin router’s power cable and adapter because power outages are a reason for the constant blinking white.
So, take a closer look at the power cable’s connector and the Virgin power adapter that plugs into the electrical socket.
Info: Test the electrical outlet currently powered on your Virgin router!
3. Switch to Another Power Source
If you haven’t tried, now is the time to test whether your Virgin router can load when connected to a different (proven-to-work) power outlet.
Again, the connection with the socket must be direct and without any power extenders.
We recommend bridging your Virgin router to another room where the A/C line is on a different fuse from your primary circuit.
This will eliminate the possibility of a faulty power source and will help you understand whether the issue with the Virgin router is power-related.
White Light After Power Outage?
If the white light on your Virgin router appeared after a recent power outage, perhaps the A/C line in your home is still insufficient.
This is a common phenomenon after power outages, so the recommendation is to avoid plugging in your appliances until the electrical supply is fully back!
Reminder: Wait 3 minutes to ensure the flashing white light will not turn solid!
4. Update Your Virgin WiFi Router!
Sometimes, the Virgin router blinks in white to no avail due to firmware issues, which typically translate into outdated versions.
You can update your Virgin router through the admin panel, which you can only access from a device connected to the Virgin router via WiFi or Ethernet.
If you’re unfamiliar with the admin tool portal, follow the steps below:
- First, connect a phone/computer to the Virgin router.
- Info: You can use a WiFi or an Ethernet connection.
- Open a web browser and go to https://192.168.1.1/.
- Sign in via Name: admin and Password: changeme.
- From the dashboard, go to the “Advanced Settings.”
- Locate the “Update” or “Firmware Update” feature.
- Then, wait until the Virgin router updates and restarts.
When your Virgin router is up to date, the flashing white light should have disappeared and will be solid, which means the router is working correctly.
If the blinking white light won’t go away, then there is a severe problem with your router’s system, so keep reading…
5. Prevent Router From Overheating
One of the main reasons for a persistent flashing white light Virgin media router is overheating!
The reason why overheating can cause the never-ending Virgin router flashing white light is due to the constant restarts.
All routers have a protective mechanism that turns off the unit when the internal temperatures surpass the thermal margin to protect the router’s hardware from damage.
There are a couple of good ways to prevent Virgin routers from overheating:
- Open a window to ventilate the environment.
- Lift the Virgin WiFi router from stiff surfaces.
- Relocate your Virgin router to a different spot.
- Clean the Virgin router’s vents from the dust.
- Turn on a fan to blow against the Virgin router.
When you undertake a couple of these methods, your Virgin router will stop overheating and will not continuously flash the white light.
When you’re ready, reboot the Virgin router and wait for 3 minutes to check whether the flashing white light will turn solid.
Tip: Another way to lower the Virgin router’s temperature is to disconnect devices paired to the wireless network.
6. Factory Reset Your Virgin Router
In some situations, the white blinking light on the Virgin Media router appears due to a system bug, which might be persistent.
One of the guaranteed ways to solve a system bug would be to perform a factory reset, which, on the other hand, will permanently erase the data configuration.
Warning: The factory reset will delete WiFi SSIDs, passwords, VPN/Proxy settings and other customisation made to the router’s settings.
Here’s how to factory reset Virgin Media router in easy steps:
- First, make sure that the Virgin router is working.
- Then, locate the small reset pinhole on the back.
- Use a sharp object such as a needle to reach in.
- Press and hold the reset button for 10 seconds.
- Release the button when the LEDs start to flash.
- The Virgin router will now start to reset and reboot.
When your Virgin Media router is reset to factory settings, you must enter the admin panel and configure your WiFi SSIDs and passwords.
By the time you’re doing so, the flashing white light should have turned into a solid white, indicating that the router is currently operating normally.
Info: The factory reset process might take up to 5 minutes, so remain patient.
Need More Help?
If you’ve attempted everything from this guide, but the Virgin router is still blinking in white, then your device might be defective and unable to load.
We recommend going to the Virgin Help Centre and seeking further assistance resolving your router problem. Best of luck!
Quick Recap:
Hence, whenever the Virgin router flashing white, the device is currently turning on, and this takes 3 minutes for the light to become solid.
If the flashing won’t stop, connect the WiFi router to a different power socket, prevent overheating, and perform a factory reset.
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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.