How To Fix Asus Router WAN Red Light

Router indicator lights play a crucial role in telling us what is going on inside. They are a quick way to check network access. However, with so many router designs, lights, and colors, telling these things apart can become a hassle. The WAN red light on an ASUS router can be such a confusing instance. It is not something you should worry about, though. This guide will help you fix the WAN red light.

Understanding ASUS Router Lights and Their Meanings

Before I can tell you what the WAN red light on an ASUS router means, you should understand the lights and their meanings in general.

Overview of ASUS Router Indicator Lights

As you probably know, most ASUS routers have more than one LED status light. You will find close to 8 lights on a router, and each indicates a unique aspect. The WAN status LED is one of them, and it may show various colors depending on the situation.

I will offer a quick overview of common status LEDs you can find on an ASUS router.

Some ASUS routers may have additional ports as well. For instance, I have found WPS lights on some ASUS routers, and they let you track whether you have enabled WPS pairing mode. I have also come across many routers that use a different legend to understand LED status lights, their color, and their behavior.

Now that you know these basics, we will shift our focus to the WAN port light indicators.

Specific Focus: WAN Port Light Indicators

For those who don’t know, the WAN port connects your ASUS Wi-Fi router to a modem, fiber ONT, or another device that is connected to the Internet. WAN, in this context, refers to Wider Area Network, and the Internet is the best example. As per the system that ASUS follows, the WAN port light can have four conditions:

1. Solid Blue or Green Light — Indicates successful connection
2. Flashing Blue or Green Light — Indicates data transfer
3. No Light — Indicates the lack of Internet connection
4. Red Light — The router faces trouble connecting to the Internet

So, when your Wi-Fi connection works fine, you can find the first two indicators for the WAN port. However, when you see a red light right next to the WAN icon, it means something is wrong. You won’t have access to the Internet—or any other WAN that your ASUS router may be connected to.

TLDR: The WAN red light means there is no internet connection.

Common Reasons Why ASUS Router Shows Red Light

Now we know that the WAN red light means the lack of an Internet connection. However, many factors may cause this situation where you cannot access the Internet. Here is an overview.

Internet Service Provider (ISP) Outages

If your ISP is facing downtime due to maintenance or natural disasters, you will see the WAN red light. So, it is good to check whether you received any email/SMS about ongoing maintenance.

Faulty or Loose Connections

The next most common issue deals with faulty or loose connections. One, you have mistakenly unplugged the cable connecting your router and the modem. Two, you are using a low-quality or faulty Ethernet cable.

Hardware Malfunctions

Hardware issues with your ASUS router may also cause the WAN red light even when the network works just fine. However, these are the least common, and the measures in this regard must be taken as the last resort.

Firmware or Software Glitches

Your ASUS router is equally about software as it is about hardware. Thus, firmware issues and glitches in the core software can also cause the WAN red light to appear.

These four common reasons should solve the ASUS router WAN red light issue for most people. And you can fix the issue in a bit.

How To Fix ASUS Router WAN Red Light

Though the ASUS router WAN red light may cause some panic, fixing the issue is pretty straightforward. You can follow these methods in the order I have arranged them.

Step 1: Verify ISP Status

You should first verify whether your Internet Service Provider is facing connectivity issues. The first method is to check your email/SMS inbox for a heads-up notification from the company. If you cannot find prior notifications, you can also check third-party websites to see if your ISP is causing downtime in your area. If you find that there is an ongoing issue, you must stay patient.

Step 2: Inspect Physical Connections

Since faulty/loose cables are another common reason for the WAN red light, you must check all the physical connections as well. First, ensure that your router receives enough power from the official adaptor. You also need to disconnect the Ethernet cable and plug it back in. It is also a good time to toss that cheap Ethernet cable for something more reliable. If the issue was with a physical connection, you should be good now.

Step 3: Restart Network Devices

Temporary issues with your ASUS Wi-Fi router may also be responsible for the WAN red light. So, before you try anything advanced, you must restart all the network devices. That is, in addition to restarting the ASUS Wi-Fi router, you must also restart the modem/ONT if you have the option to do so. I frequently recommend the router power cycle as well.

Step 4: Update Router Firmware

I have seen multiple instances when router firmware issues cause the WAN light to turn red on ASUS routers. In most cases, the problem was temporary. So, if the red light on the WAN port appears frequently, you’d want to try updating the ASUS router firmware as well. You may need to download the firmware files using another device and upload them to your ASUS router later.

Step 5: Reset Router to Factory Settings

If the steps mentioned so far haven’t helped you, I’d assume that your router has some hardware issues. In this case, you can solve the WAN red light issue by factory resetting it. This process will restore your ASUS router to factory-level settings. It will be like a brand-new ASUS router. Because you get a blank slate, you’d find it easy to set up the network and use the Internet without coming across the WAN red light.

Step 6: Contact ASUS Support

If the problem persists even after a factory reset, your best shot is to contact ASUS support. If your ASUS Wi-Fi router is still covered under warranty, you should be good enough to get a replacement. In the end, you’d get some resolution through repair as well.

These steps should be helpful in fixing the WAN red light issue on your ASUS router and restoring access to the Internet.

Preventive Measures to Avoid Future Issues

Now you know how to fix the ASUS WAN red light, right? But here are some tips that can help you prevent the problem in the future.

Regular Maintenance

Like many other electronic devices, your ASUS router also requires regular maintenance. The steps include updating the firmware, power cycling the device, and re-plugging the connections once in a while. You may also want to reset the router to factory reset once a year or so. Sure, the process may cause inconvenience, but you will get better security as well. Overall, digital hygiene can help your ASUS router avoid many issues like the WAN red light.

Proper Placement and Ventilation

You should also check whether you have placed the router in a well-ventilated area. Routers, especially the ones in the gaming/performance sector, generate a lot of heat while they process heat. ASUS routers are no exception in this regard. So, the device must receive decent airflow to work fine. Otherwise, it might cause issues with modules like the WAN port. I also recommend cleaning the router vents frequently so that you can avoid dust buildup.

In general, I’d ask you to stick to first-party accessories for the router. I have had issues where using a third-party power adaptor caused connectivity issues with the router.

Conclusion

Fixing the ASUS router WAN red light problem can be an easy task in most cases. You can always skip these steps and call ASUS support or your ISP customer care. However, the steps I have given here are quite easy to follow, for what it’s worth.