Many Verizon Wi-Fi routers are equipped with multiple lights that convey the status of the device and the Wi-Fi network. While these lights may seem overwhelming at first, you can understand what each light and its status mean. The best example is the blinking red light on the router, which takes place when there is no internet access. But what does it mean? More importantly, how do you fix the Verizon router blinking red?
What Is the Meaning of Blinking Red Light on Verizon Router?
For context, the blinking red light on a Verizon router appears on the Internet icon, which has the shape of a globe. When your internet and Wi-Fi network are working properly, you will see green lights across the LED board of the Verizon router.

However, things become different when something is not right with either the Wi-Fi network or the Internet.
For starters, here’s a quick table on what the different states of red light on a Verizon router mean.
Type | Reason |
---|---|
Solid Red Light | No Internet Access |
Red Light Slowly Blinking | Router Overheating |
Quick Flashing Red Light | Software/Hardware Error |
So, depending on how frequently the globe light is flashing, the Verizon router may have different issues. In most cases, whenever you see one of these blinking lights on the router, you will not have Internet access. Or, your devices may have trouble connecting to the Wi-Fi network.
In summary, a blinking red light on a Verizon router means a connectivity issue.
Potential Causes for the Verizon Router Blinking Red
I have already mentioned the core reasons you see a solid, slowly blinking, or quickly flashing red light on a Verizon Wi-Fi router. However, the root cause of the problem may differ depending on your device, type of connection, and factors you cannot control.
For instance, if your region is facing a natural disaster and fiber lines are down, you will definitely see a red globe light on the Verizon router. But, if everything outside seems okay, you should check for other reasons. Some of them are:
- Loose or faulty cables can prevent the Verizon router from connecting to the Internet
- Verizon or your local connection provider may have scheduled maintenance going on
- An improperly configured Verizon Wi-Fi router can also prevent a Wi-Fi/internet connection
- Overheating or overloading with the Wi-Fi router can also cause the red light
- Sometimes, problematic firmware or a newly found vulnerability may break the router
- It may also happen due to a faulty router, ONT, or a nearby connection point
So, you should consider all these possibilities while trying to fix the Verizon router blinking red issue.
How To Fix Verizon Router Blinking Red
You can try these steps one by one until the blinking red globe light goes away and you see something green.
#1 Restart the Verizon Router
The first solution is to unplug the router from the adaptor and plug it back. A quick restart can solve potential temporary issues with the router and the connection.
In a second or so, you can see a green light on the Verizon router globe icon. I would also suggest checking the overall temperature of the router while you do it. If it is really hot, you may have an issue with the Wi-Fi router overheating.
To confirm the case of overheating, wait for a few seconds after turning on the router. If it gets hot in a few seconds, your router has an issue.
#2 Check the Cables
These days, Verizon routers work fine as long as you connect the power, Ethernet, and coaxial/fiber cables. However, you should check whether they are properly connected. Loose connections can prevent the device from establishing Wi-Fi or connecting to the Internet.
While you are at it, you should also check if the cables are in mint condition. I always stick to the Ethernet or power cables that came with the router so that I don’t come across compatibility issues.
#3 Update Firmware
Firmware updates are great for security. Moreover, they can solve multiple issues with a Wi-Fi router, such as the blinking red light. The good thing here is that you can perform a firmware update even when you do not have Internet access through the Wi-Fi network. However, you will need a secondary device to boot the new firmware files from.

If hardware-based checks do not solve the blinking red light problem, you should try a firmware update. But a firmware update can also cause the problem in the first place. So, before you install an update, you should check with the Verizon community.
#4 Re-configure the Router
As I said, an ill-configured router will come across a blinking red light. It may happen if you change the Wi-Fi router settings on your own as well. In these instances, you should re-configure the Wi-Fi router to bring it back to its original state. There are two ways you can go about this:
- You can perform a factory reset, which would trigger a fresh configuration. You can then follow the steps Verizon suggested. You can factory reset the Verizon router using the Verizon app, the router control dashboard, or the Reset button on the back panel. Regardless of the choice, you will have to configure the device from the very start.
- If you don’t want the hassle, you can contact Verizon directly. A technician will help you configure it alongside the necessary services.
With a fresh configuration, you should stop seeing the blinking red globe light on the Verizon router.
#5 Replace the Router
I already mentioned that hardware-based issues can also cause the blinking red light. If the red light appears quite frequently, you should suspect one of those issues.
The solution? Requesting a replacement from the company. You can always try repair, but you may end up with no Internet access for a day or two. Instead, I recommend calling Verizon and reporting the issue. You’d have the replacement in a day—or a few hours, depending on where you live.
A router replacement checks all the boxes when it comes to fixing the blinking red light issue.
Tips to Prevent Verizon Router Blinking Red Globe in the Future
- Make sure you are using the company-provided cables and adaptors for your Verizon router
- Keep the router at a spacious location that receives enough air but lacks moisture
- Install firmware updates from the company as early as possible
- Do not overload the router. Check if you have connected too many devices to the network.
Conclusion
Having said all this, you should also check with Verizon to see if something else is going on. You can do only a few things when a natural disaster is wreaking havoc. So, have some patience as the network is restored. You should not forget that the Internet is a huge place and that even a single node can cause issues.