You got a Verizon FiOS in your home so you can enjoy ultra-fast internet service and amazing TV viewing pleasure with hundreds of channels at your fingertips. But what if you see a yellow light on Verizon FiOS routers, instead of a white one?
The yellow light on Verizon FiOS routers and extenders indicates an internet connection issue, and this article will teach you how to troubleshoot it. We will also cover as much information as we can about Verizon FiOS.
What is Verizon FiOS?
Verizon FiOS is a bundled broadband internet and cable TV service offered by Verizon Communications. It utilizes fiber optic technology to deliver high-speed internet and television service to homes and businesses.
Verizon FiOS provides internet speeds ranging from 200 Mbps to 940 Mbps, making it one of the fastest internet services available. In 2021, Verizon FiOS was ranked as the #1 internet service provider in the U.S. by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for delivering the fastest advertised internet speeds.
Verizon FiOS also offers a variety of TV packages, with over 425 channels available in its highest tier. This includes popular channels such as ESPN, HBO, and AMC, as well as a variety of local and international channels.
Other additional features they provide include a DVR service that allows customers to record and store their favorite shows and movies and a streaming service called FiOS TV Stream, which allows customers to access their TV programming on multiple devices.
The Verizon FiOS router can also be connected to a secondary router using bridge mode. This kind of setup is ideal for businesses like cafes or transport terminals where you want a different router for public use, so the primary router is for private business use only.
As of 2021, Verizon FiOS is available in nine states in the U.S., namely, California, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
How Do Verizon FiOS Routers Normally Work?
The Verizon Router (image below) is included when you purchase Whole-Home Wi-FI from Verizon FiOS. You can also rent a FiOS Extender for $10 per month if you need extra coverage to reach all areas of your home. Both are high-quality pieces of hardware that generally work without major issues.
What do the Router and Extender LED Lights Indicate?
On the front of both the Verizon Router and FiOS Extender, is a button and LED light combination called the Unified button. During normal operation, these devices will display one of three colors:
- White – If the light is white and blinking quickly, it means the router is in the process of booting up. A solid white light means the router is on, has an internet connection, and is functioning properly.
- Blue – A slowly blinking blue light signifies that the router is in pairing mode, and a solid blue light indicates that pairing has been successful.
- Green – A solid green light indicates that Wi-Fi has been turned off.
| Condition Status | LED COLOR | FiOS Router |
| NORMAL | WHITE | Normal operation (solid) The router is booting (fast blink) |
| NORMAL | BLUE | Pairing mode (slow blink) Pairing successful (solid) |
| NORMAL | GREEN | Wi-Fi has been turned off (solid) |
| HAS ISSUE | YELLOW | No internet connection (solid) |
| HAS ISSUE(S) | RED | Hardware/System failure detected (solid) Overheating (fast blink) Pairing Failure (slow blink) |
If you see a yellow or red LED light, then something is not working correctly:
- Yellow – A solid yellow light indicates a lack of internet connection.
- Red – A solid red light indicates a system or hardware failure. If the red light is blinking slowly, it means the pairing was unsuccessful. If the red light is blinking quickly, it means the router is overheating.
In this article, we are addressing issues associated with the Yellow LED light for Verizon wireless routers and extenders. This issue is commonly reported by Verizon FiOS customers.
What Causes the Yellow Light, No Internet Connection issue?
We now know that a yellow LED means no internet connection, but what causes it in the first place? There are many reasons that a Verizon FiOS router might lose internet connection, but these are the nine most likely causes:
- Power outage or malfunction of the router
- Failure of the modem or internet service provider (ISP)
- Outdated firmware or software on the router
- Interference or congestion on the wireless network
- Physical damage to the router or cables
- Incorrect configuration of the router or network settings
- Network security breaches or malware infections
- Exceeding the maximum number of connected devices on the network
- Physical distance or obstruction between the router and devices attempting to connect to it.
7 Solutions to the Yellow Light on Verizon FiOS Routers and Extenders Issue to Restore Internet Connection
Troubleshooting router issues, especially due to a lack of internet connection, is often frustrating and time-consuming. It can be difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of the issue and often requires a thorough process of elimination to determine the root cause.
Routers can be complex pieces of technology, with many different settings and configurations that impact their performance. This can make it difficult to identify and fix problems, particularly for those who are not familiar with routers and networking.
We aim to simplify this process by outlining a few effective solutions with step-by-step instructions when possible. Continue reading to start troubleshooting your Verizon FiOS router/extender:
1. Reboot the Router
To reboot your Verizon FiOS router, follow these steps:
- Locate the power cord for your router and unplug it from the wall outlet or power strip.
- Wait at least 30 seconds before plugging the cord back into the wall outlet or power strip.
- Wait for the router to restart fully and for the lights to stabilize. This may take a few minutes.
- Once the router has restarted, you should be able to access the internet again.
2. Restart Optical Network Terminal (ONT) and Check the Connection
Because Verizon FiOS is a fiber-only broadband service, it requires the use of an optical network terminal or ONT for short.
An ONT is a piece of hardware that converts the optical signals received from the fiber cables, into signals that can be successfully transmitted and read by your router. If your optical network terminal is not working correctly, then your router won’t be receiving any converted signals.
To reboot your Verizon FiOS Optical Network Terminal (ONT), follow these steps:
- Locate the ONT. It is typically a small box that is either mounted on the outside of your home or in a basement or utility room.
- Locate the power cord for the ONT. It will typically be plugged into a wall outlet or surge protector.
- Unplug the power cord from the wall outlet or surge protector then wait for 30 seconds.
- Plug the power cord back into the wall outlet or surge protector.
- Wait for the ONT to restart and establish a connection to the network. This may take several minutes.
If you are still having problems with your FiOS service after performing a reboot of the ONT, you may need to contact Verizon FiOS customer support for further assistance. If the ONT hardware has failed, Verizon FiOS needs to replace the device to restore your internet connection.
3. Check for Overheating
While you might expect your router to rapidly blink a red LED light if it’s overheating, this is not always the case. Sometimes the overheating itself prevent your router from connecting to the internet properly. To check for overheating, try these steps:
- Place your hand on the router to feel if it is hot. If it is very hot to the touch, it may be overheating.
- Check the router’s internal temperature. Some routers have a built-in temperature sensor that can be accessed through the router’s web-based interface or through a special diagnostic tool provided by the manufacturer.
- Check the router’s ventilation. Ensure that the router has proper ventilation and is not blocked by any objects. If the router is enclosed in a cabinet or tucked away in a corner, it may not have enough airflow to keep it cool.
- Check for any signs of physical damage. If the router has any visible signs of damage, such as bent or broken components, it may be overheating due to a malfunction.
If you suspect that your router is overheating, you should unplug it and let it cool down before attempting to use it again. If the overheating persists, you may need to contact the manufacturer or a qualified technician for further assistance.
4. Unplug, Inspect, and Reconnect Ethernet Cable
Here are the steps for unplugging and reconnecting an Ethernet cable to solve connection problems:
- Locate the Ethernet port on your device and the corresponding port on the router or modem.
- Then, gently grasp the Ethernet cable near the port and carefully pull it out.
- Once the cable is unplugged, inspect the ends for any damage or debris that may be blocking the connection.
- If everything looks good, plug the cable back in by gently inserting it into the port until it clicks into place.
If the connection is still not working, try switching to a different cable to see if that resolves the issue. Alternatively, you can try restarting the router or modem to reset the connection.
5. Update Router Firmware
If your Verizon router is using outdated firmware, this might be the source of all your yellow LED woes. You can update the firmware for your Verizon FiOS device to apply all updates released by the manufacturer:
- Connect to the Verizon Fios router using a computer or mobile device that is connected to the same network.
- Open a web browser and enter the router’s IP address into the address bar. This is typically either 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1, but you can also find it by looking for the default gateway in your device’s network settings.
- Enter the router’s login credentials when prompted. These are typically admin for the username and password for the password but may vary depending on your router model and configuration.
- Navigate to the Firmware Update or Upgrade section of the router’s settings. This may be located under a Maintenance or System tab.
- Follow the prompts to download and install the latest firmware update for your router. This may take several minutes to complete.
- Once the update is complete, reboot the router to apply the changes. Check that the firmware version has been updated by going back to the Firmware Update or Upgrade section and looking for the updated version number.
6. Hard Reset/Factory Reset
In most cases, the soft reset outlined in the first solution is adequate to solve router connection issues. If the soft reset doesn’t work, you can instead try a hard reset.
A hard reset will erase any personal changes made to the router’s configuration and return it to its factory state. After the reset, you will need to sign into the portal and redo any steps you previously took to configure the router, such as setting up activity logs or prioritizing service.
If you think the yellow light may be caused by a service outage, it is best to wait before performing the hard reset.
Here are the steps to hard reset a router:
- Locate the reset button on the router. This is usually a small button located on the back or underside of the router.
- Use a paperclip or a similar object to press and hold the reset button for about 10-15 seconds. This will reset the router to its factory settings.
- Wait for the router to restart and re-establish its connection to the internet fully. This can take a few minutes.
- Once the router has restarted, you will need to configure it again. This usually involves connecting to the router’s wireless network and accessing the router’s web-based setup page. From here, you can change the router’s settings, such as the network name and password, and any other settings you want to customize.
7. Check for Verizon FiOS Outages
There’s no amount of troubleshooting you can do to fix an internet issue on Verizon’s end. Sometimes there are local outages, due to a severed cable or other local issues. Fiber Optic cables are incredibly expensive to lay and very sensitive. If a fiber is damaged, the entire line needs to be replaced.
You can check if Verizon is tracking any local outages, by following these steps:
- Go to the Verizon website and navigate to the Support section.
- In the Support section, click on the Troubleshoot & Resolve option.
- Select the device or service that you are experiencing issues with.
- Follow the prompts on the troubleshooter to check for outages or other issues with your Verizon services.
- If the troubleshooter suggests that there may be an outage in your area, you can check the Verizon Outage Map to see if there are any known outages in your area.
- If the troubleshooter does not find any issues with your services, it may suggest steps to troubleshoot and resolve the issue on your own. Follow these steps to try and resolve the issue.
If you are unable to resolve the issue through the troubleshooter, you can contact Verizon customer support for further assistance.
Yellow Light on Verizon FiOS Routers and Extenders, Fixed!
In conclusion, it is important to be aware of the different LED lights on your Verizon FiOS router and extender and what they mean.
A yellow light indicating a lack of internet connection can be caused by a variety of issues, including power outages, modem or ISP failure, and outdated firmware. It can also be caused by interference or congestion on the wireless network, physical damage to the router or cables, incorrect configuration, and much more.
To fix the yellow light on Verizon FiOS routers and extenders and restore the internet connection, it is recommended to start by checking the power and cables, then move on to other potential causes such as updating firmware or checking for interference.
If these steps do not resolve the issue, it may be necessary to seek assistance from Verizon FiOS customer support or a professional technician.