Wondering why is my Fios router blinking white? Well, the white light on your Fios router could be a temporary issue that will go away on its own, but can also be an issue that requires necessary troubleshooting.
Stay with us to learn the cause and solution to the white Fios light!
The white light on your Fios router device is probably caused by a service outage either from the coaxial cable or Verizon.
It is also possible that the router is preparing after a startup or is undergoing necessary software processes, indicated by a white light!
Let’s unwrap more!
Why Is My Verizon Fios Router Blinking White?
There are quite a few different reasons why the white light would appear on a Fios router.
To acquire a better understanding, here are all possibilities listed at your disposal:
- The service cable of the Verizon router is faulty
- There’s a power problem with the Fios router
- The Verizon Fios router is having software issues
- The service is temporarily stopped by Verizon
- The router is running on an outdated firmware
- Your router is unable to initialize after a startup
Will the White Light Go Away?
Some users whose Fios router had been blinking white at some point reported that the issue can go away on its own.
You should know that 1 up to 2 minutes after starting up the router, the white LED indicates that the device is stabilizing, which is explained in detail further in the guide.
White Light Did Not Go Away?
If the white lamp doesn’t stop on its own after a couple of minutes it is likely that the router is indicating a startup/functionality issue.
In those cases, it’s best to follow a specifically designed troubleshooting guide below.
Verizon Router Blinking White – 7 Proven Solutions!
Tip: We strongly recommend following the solutions in the listed order!
1. Allow the Router to Boot Up!
If the white light occurs only when starting up your Fios router, it means that the device is stabilizing.
The normal behavior of the white LED light is that it should last 1 up to 2 minutes after startup and then it should go away by itself, once the router has fully loaded.
- Wait for at least 3 minutes while your Fios router is blinking white!
An Ongoing Software Process?
Sometimes your router may be receiving a firmware update through the coaxial connection from Verizon.
The white light could be notifying you of the ongoing software process so it’s best to leave the router as it is and read the entire guide in the meantime.
2. Power Cycle the Fios Router
A quick and greatly effective solution is to perform a power cycle on your Fios router.
The process consists of stopping the power supply of the Fios router until all of the electricity within the hardware has discharged, which refreshes all services allowing the router a fresh start.
Follow these instructions to perform a power cycle on your Fios router:
- Unplug the power supply cable of your Fios router.
- Hold the WPS button on the front for 15 seconds.
- Reconnect the power cable of the router to power.
- Wait for the network device to startup and check the light.
Note: The LED of the router may still blink in white for 1-2 minutes as a sign for processing essential software tasks but it should shortly go away.
3. Check for a Verizon Outage
Now that we’ve rebooted the Fios equipment, it’s time to check for any planned or unplanned outages from Verizon.
This is important before proceeding further since the white light on the Fios router will remain as long as the service is not restored.
To check for outages go to Verizon Service Status and click on the “sign in” button below the big “Did You Know?” heading.
From there you will be able to sign in and receive information about whether there is an ongoing outage in your area as well as estimated renewal time.
Note: Service outages are unpredictable and can affect entire towns, residences or cities so remain patient until the services are back online.
4. Reconnect the Service Cable!
The white light may also be an indication of failed service connectivity.
This is when the router cannot establish a connection with the plugged coaxial cable so the white light goes off to indicate that your router is not currently paired with Verizon.
How to Reconnect Verizon Router’s Coax?
- Locate the service input port on the back of your Fios router.
- Disconnect the Coaxial cable going into the service port.
- Wait for 30 seconds and then reconnect the coaxial cable.
- Ensure that the connection is tightly secured on both sides.
Inspecting the Cable for Damages:
While the coax cable is unplugged, thoroughly examine the hardware of the wire and try to spot visible damages that could mean a fault.
If the cable itself has gone faulty, your Verizon router will not detect it and the white LED light will go off as an indication of the problem!
Note: In case of any service cable faults, it’s best to reach out to Verizon for assistance!
5. Undergo the Firmware Updates
The reason why is my Fios router blinking white could be due to a recently released firmware update for your Fios router.
The router’s white LED is programmed to notify you of important software processes of your router, such as a pending update.
- When the update fails to pass through, the white light will blink indefinitely!
You can update your Fios router manually in the following way:
- Sign in to the Admin Web GUI on a device connected to the router.
- From the home screen of the GUI, enter the System Settings tab.
- Search for the “General Information” pane and scroll down.
- Press on “Check for Software Update” or “Check for FTP OTA”.
- Wait for the program checker to display the newest software available.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to apply software updates to the router.
Note: If the Fios router is connected to the home network properly, it should automatically start updating the latest firmware after the steps.
6. Inspect the Router for Overheating!
If your router’s internal temperature surpasses the thermal margin, a hardware event will take place also known as “overheating”.
This is when your router’s system begins to shut down to preserve the hardware and drop down the heat to prevent damaging the internal components.
Steps to Identify/Prevent Fios Router Overheating:
- Place the router device in a cooler/well-ventilated place or area
- Remove all debris around and on the router’s ventilation openings
- Avoid covering your router with anything that increases the heat
- Necessarily remove all head conductors nearby to the router
Note: The best way to test whether the white light appears because of overheating is to unplug the router for about 5 minutes and test while it is cool.
7. Perform a Fios Factory Reset
If the white light is software-related, the factory reset should resolve the problem immediately.
It’s an evasive software action for your router, that erases all configurations, settings, and files from the device, to resolve any problems related to atypical router behavior – the white light.
Here are the steps to trigger and undergo a Fios router factory reset:
- Search for the Reset button, situated on the back of the router.
- While the router is on, insert a paper clip into the reset pinhole.
- Press and hold the reset button inside for about 15 seconds.
- Wait for the router to shut down by itself and then release it.
Info: Once the factory reset has been started and your Fios router shuts down, in the following 3 to 5 minutes your router will be reset so be patient.
Still Need Help?
Verizon is always there for its users and potentially the problems they could run into while utilizing Verizon equipment. If the white light on your router persists it’s best to seek help!
- Contact Verizon at – 00 1 800-526-3178 during working hours!
Reminder: Don’t forget to share what you’ve attempted in this guide!
Quick Recap:
We now learned why is my Fios router blinking white so in order to solve the problem we first need to perform a power circulation on the equipment.
In case that doesn’t work the next step is to check for Verizon outages and eventually perform a factory restoration.
If you have more questions on Verizon routers, check out our blog!
Read Next: Why Is My Fios Router Blinking Blue? – Quick Solutions
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.