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As a tech enthusiast, I always like to stay on top of things related to the gadgets I have invested in overtime.
In addition to this, the nature of my work requires a good and reliable internet connection.
Since I know the router plays a vital role in improving an internet connection’s reliability, I did a lot of research and decided to invest in the Netgear Orbi.
It is one of the best routers on the market and provides the highest speeds. My router has been working seamlessly over the past year.
However, last week, it started acting up. Out of nowhere, the router stopped connecting to the internet. I thought the router had stopped working and I would have to invest in a new one.
However, before looking for a new router, I decided to do some research on my own to see whether this issue could be fixed or not.
This issue is relatively common among Orbi Routers, and a few troubleshooting methods can be used to fix them.
If your Orbi router is not connecting to the internet, you should first check the network settings. Check the cable connections, run the Windows troubleshooter, or power cycle your router.
If that doesn’t work for you, we have also mentioned other methods, including factory resetting your router, enabling a network adaptor, and getting a new IP address.
Check your Network Settings
If your router is not working, in most cases, the issue is with the internet connection.
Hence, the first thing you should do is check the network settings.
Make sure your modem is connected to the internet device through an Ethernet cable.
If the system is still offline, this indicates an issue with the internet connection and not with the router. Another check that you can perform is connecting a new device to the router, to check if you’re not getting full internet speed through your router.
It can be a laptop or a smartphone. If you don’t have a device that has not been connected to the router at hand, you might have to forget the network and reconnect it.
For Android phones, follow these steps:
- Go to Settings.
- Tap on Wi-Fi.
- Select your network connection.
- Click on Forget Network.
- Wait for a few seconds.
- Reconnect to the Network.
For laptops with Windows, follow these steps:
- Click on the Wi-Fi icon in the taskbar at the bottom left corner.
- Click on the internet connection from the list of available connections.
- Forget the network.
- Wait for a few seconds.
- Reconnect to the network.
If you cannot connect to the internet, then there is a chance that the router is faulty, and you might have to look into other troubleshooting methods.
Run the Windows Network Troubleshooter
If the internet service is available, but you cannot establish a connection with the network, then there is a chance that the issue is with the settings of your Orbi router.
For this, perform a Windows Network Troubleshooter.
The troubleshooter will refresh the settings and deal with bugs if any.
Here is how you can run the Network troubleshooter.
- Press the Windows and S key on your keyboard.
- This will open the search utility.
- Type ‘Internet connections’ in the search box.
- From the opened window, click Find and fix network problems.
- This will open a small window on the screen.
- Click on Advanced to view more options.
- Click on the Run as administrator button.
- Then select the Apply repairs automatically option.
- Now press the next button.
The troubleshooter will start running and will perform the necessary checks and fixes.
Check Your Cables
In many cases, broken internet cables can cause an issue with the internet.
Although some issues can arise due to a problem at the service provider’s end, having a broken internet cable is fairly common, especially if you have pets chewing up on wires now and then.
The main question that arises here is how you can determine whether there is an issue with the wiring or not?
The easiest way is to check the DSL and the internet light on the router.
If the DSL light is on, there is a high chance that one of the wires connected to the router is broken. If the light is flickering, the Ethernet cable might be damaged.
However, before calling for professional help, remove all the wires connected to the router and reconnect them. Make sure all the cables are snugly fit in their ports.
Power Cycle your Orbi
If you have still not diagnosed the issue with your router and the internet connection is unstable, you might have to power cycle your router.
Power cycling drains all the power from the different components of the router, refreshing their functions.
Hence, in most cases, power cycling an electronic device gets rid of the temporary bugs, if there are any.
Here is how you can perform a power cycle on your Orbi route:
- Shut down all the devices connected to the internet.
- Unplug the router and its modem.
- Wait for a few minutes.
- Plug the modem back in.
- Wait for the modem to restart.
- Once the modem has restarted, plug the router back in.
- Wait for a few minutes and then connect the devices one by one.
Make sure you let the router turn on entirely and restore its functions before connecting the devices.
Check for Firmware Updates
Another reason your router might not be connecting to the internet is due to obsolete firmware.
This can be easily fixed by updating the firmware of the router. Make sure the firmware on the router is not outdated.
Outdated firmware is vulnerable to bugs and can cause several network issues.
Although Orbi routers are designed to automatically update to the new firmware, these updates can fail.
Hence, it is recommended that you frequently check for new updates and manually install them if required. You can check for new firmware updates from the Orbi official website.
Factory Reset your Orbi
If none of these methods work for you, it is time for you to factory reset your Orbi router.
This will eliminate all the saved data and the settings and bring the system back to its default state. Factory resetting an Orbi router is fairly simple.
Here is what you need to do:
- Find a paperclip or a safety pin.
- Unwind the paper clip to make it pointy.
- Find the tiny push button on the router.
- With the router turned on, insert the paper clip in the hole.
- Keep pressing the button with the paper clip until the light starts blinking.
- After this, give your router a few minutes to start up.
You might have to reinstall the Orbi software as well.
Enable your Network Adapter
The network adaptor for the Orbi router should be enabled.
If it is disabled, the router cannot communicate with the local area network connecting the internet and other devices.
To enable your Network Adaptor, follow these steps:
- Right-click on the start button.
- From the pop-up menu, select Run.
- Type ncpa.cpl in Run and click OK.
- This will open the Network Connections applet.
- If the network adapter for Orbi is disabled, open the context menu.
- In the menu, select the enabled option.
Get a new IP Address
Your last resort is renewing your IP address.
This will allow the router to request a new IP Address from a DHCP server.
For this, you need to let go of your current IP address and generate a new one.
Follow these steps to get a new IP address:
- Right-click on the start button.
- From the pop-up menu, select Run.
- Type cmd in the text box and click ok.
- The command prompt window will open.
- Type “ipconfig/ release” and press the enter key.
- After this, another command prompt will open.
- Type “ipconfig/renew” and press the enter key.
This will enable the device to start obtaining the IP address.
Once this is done, power cycle your computer as well as the router.
Allow your Orbi to Cool Down
Lastly, if your Orbi router is acting up, see if it is overheating.
Some of the functions of the system can start malfunctioning if the device overheats.
It is better to unplug the device and let it cool before you plug it in again in a situation like this.
Final Thoughts on your Orbi Not Connecting to Internet
There can be several issues with your Orbi router if it is not connecting to the internet.
Hence, make sure you check all the switches and adapters.
All the access points must be switched on. In addition to this, you can use a coaxial cable as well.
Plug the coaxial cable into your router and then your PC. This will help you determine whether there is an issue with the router or the internet connection.
Moreover, there is a high chance that the issue is with the modem connected to the router. In case you cannot diagnose the issue, you might have to call for professional help.
You May Also Enjoy Reading:
- Orbi Blue Light On Satellite Stays On: How To Fix In Minutes
- Does Netgear Orbi Work With HomeKit? How To Connect
- Netgear Router Not Getting Full Speed: How to Fix
- Ethernet Slower than Wi-Fi: How to Fix in seconds
- How Often Should You Replace Your Modem?
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Orbi app not working?
There might be an issue with the internet connection or your smartphone. Try cleaning the cache for the app.
What does the sync button do on Orbi?
This button is used to sync the Orbi Voice to your Orbi router.
How do I reconnect my Orbi after a power outage?
All you have to do is replug the LAN cable. The router will automatically reconfigure.
What does a purple light on Orbi mean?
This means Orbi has lost contact with the internet.
