How to Know if Router is Going Bad? (11 Signs You Need a New Router).
In today’s world, most people are dependent on the internet for their work, studies, or fun. In this situation, if the internet starts lagging, it becomes immensely frustrating and disturbing. So, how to tell if the router is failing or going bad?
In fact, under such a situation knowing the bad signs of a failing router helps you to save time to fix the issue.
Due to continuous use, the routers lose their efficiency and start performing slowly. Some sure symptoms and signs of a bad router can convey that the router is at fault for the slow internet connection.
So, let’s see ‘How can you know if the router is bad? & 11 most common signs of a failing Wi-Fi router‘ in this article.
How to tell if Router is Going Bad? (11 Signs of a Failing Router).
The 11 most common Signs of a Bad Router:
1. Login Problems
If you face login issues and start receiving notifications regarding the connection, you should change your router, or else you will keep facing the problem and have limited internet access. It indicates that the router is faulty.
However, sometimes, the router is not connected correctly, or issues with the USB or ethernet cable. In this case, you must disconnect the wires of the router and plug those in again. In most cases, the router starts functioning correctly. But in the case of a bad router, you have to get a new one.
2. Sudden Stoppage
It often happens that the router suddenly stops working and loses connectivity. The connection between the router and other devices sometimes disconnects suddenly.
If such fluctuation in signal occurs throughout the day, then it is another sign that the router is out of order. Restarting the router works occasionally, but it is ideal for getting the router checked to detect the real reason.
Also, in some cases, signal inconstancy or the sudden loss of connectivity occurs when there is an extra load of other gadgets on the WiFi network. But in most cases, it is the failing router that causes the problem.
3. Dropped Performance or Slow Connections
Slowing down the internet speed is the primary indication of the operational problem in the router. It affects work online, cause high ping during games, and the performance of your internet is jeopardized.
So you need to check if there is some issue with the connection to find the reason for the interruption. You can also plug in the router to a different device, check it, change the router, and buy a new one. If you observe that the router is not working for any of the devices, you will understand that it has become obsolete.
4. Non-Responsiveness
The router responds to the instructions that are given to it. But if the router becomes slow at responding to non-responsive, you can disconnect and reconnect it to fix the issue temporarily. You can do it by simply unplugging the router and, after a few minutes, plug it in again.
It means that the unresponsiveness was due to a queue that cogs up the router if it starts instantly. However, if it still does not work even after being correctly inserted and checked twice, you have to repair or replace the faulty router.
5. Faulty Indicator Lights
The LED indicator lights on the router give us a clear signal of the fact that the internet connection is steady or not. But if these lights show an indication of failure, it means that the router is not working correctly.
Conversely, when all the lights are blinking perfectly, it means the router performs well.
The below are the 5 Signs of LED Lights indicating a Failing Router:
6. Reconnecting Continuously
If you need to reconnect the router to your device continuously throughout the day, it indicates something went wrong with the router. It can be solved by resetting the device.
You have to go to the router’s configuration page and reset the device from the given option. If it fixes the issue, you need not immediately change the router, but you need to get a new router if it goes down repeatedly or fails to work even after resetting.
7. Bad Port or Wireless Failure
This scenario is less likely to occur. If the wireless features of the port do not function properly, the router can stop working. In this case, you may observe that other devices attached to the router are performing, but only one device’s connection is failing. You can try another WAN or LAN port if the device is not working and is connected through an Ethernet cable.
8. Router Age
A router generally lasts for three to five years if it is used properly. So you must upgrade the router every five years for a smooth and fast internet connection. After years of use, if it gets broken or becomes slow due to outdated technology, you have to change it.
Often it forms layers of dust over the years, and dust also closes the inner vents. Obsolete hardware can also make it slow. In this way, with age, the efficiency of the router deteriorates and necessitates up-gradation.
9. Overheating
It is one of the most common issues of electronic gadgets. With overuse or inappropriate placing of the router, it emits heat and damages the device.
In this way, if you’ve been utilizing your Wi-Fi router longer than the referenced average life expectancy, it begins to breaks down, and any of its internal components would no longer working due to the heating of the router.
Such symptoms of overheating of the router result in the fluctuation of internet connection, slow speed, an odor of burnt plastic, failure of hardware. If you observe that the router gets overheated fast, you must change it.
Tip: Always place your router to a place where the airflow is good or put a fan pointing at the gadget.
10. Physically Damaged
The routers are usually strongly built and can withstand wear and tear and the impact of falling from the shelf. Only in the case of some severe fall or dropping it from a great height can it cause a damaging effect on the internal circuit board. If you find that the router has a big crack in the casing, you must repair or change it.
11. Lack of Support to Newer Gadgets
If you encounter any newly added device to the router that fails to perform, this happens due to incompatibility. As technology advances, numerous ISPs and tech brands produce new gadgets that utilize new chips, elements, and networking components.
These latest gadgets and components are only compatible with routers that use the latest tech too. That’s why with time, some routers can not support any more new devices.
If the router shows this sign of incapacity to support multiple devices and you’re having a hard time connecting to your newest gadgets, then, at that point, the gadget should be obsolete. An ideal approach to solve this issue is to change it with a more recent version.
So, Do I Need a New Router?
Observing the above-stated symptoms and facts will indicate that your router is not working correctly, and either you need to get it fixed or change it. Without upgrading the router, it will become difficult for you to continue using the internet connection.
If you procrastinate, the connection fluctuation will continue, and the hardware issues will go undetected, and your work will suffer because of this delay. The earliest detection of the symptoms necessitates analysis of the condition of the router. If it is beyond repair, it should be changed.
How can you prevent Router failure?
You can avoid router failure by adhering to a few steps like:
FAQs
Do wireless routers wear out?
They last long and perform well throughout, but these may wear out with overheating and lack of maintenance. If it is exposed to sunlight and the cables are frequently taken in and out, causing wear and tear and are overused, it seems to be a failing router. Heat stress and lack of air circulation primarily lead to this situation. Additionally, keeping the router on the floor (exposed to dust), near a window (exposed to sunlight), in a bookcase (jammed) may lead to its wearing out.
How long does a wireless router last?
The advertisers promote saying that the routers can last for a decade. If you maintain it well, it can last long. However, with the evolving technology, people keep changing the router. Although the material is durable for a long time, you must change it within four to five years for better efficiency.
What is the average lifespan of a wireless router?
The average lifespan of a wireless router is four to five years if it is not damaged by overheating or replaced by newer technology. The lifespan also depends on the usage and maintenance of the router. With overuse, it may develop overheating and become faulty.
How often should you replace your wireless router?
Generally, the routers work for three to five years. After five years, it is less likely to perform at its best, so you must replace it after five years. If it no longer supports your device, you have to change it. You should replace the router with one that is built with high-quality material and supports all gadgets.
How many devices are too many for a router?
Theoretically, the routers can support up to 200 devices, and people do not even go near that number of devices at home. However, practically if there are more machines, the speed on each is lesser. So it is not practically possible to support 200 to 250 devices. At home, people generally plugin ten or less than ten devices.
Does resetting your router make it faster?
Rebooting or resetting removes the cache or excess information stored in router. In addition, resetting sets the sync of the hardware and the software and temporarily increases the speed.
Conclusion
A malfunctioning router’s different signs and symptoms indicate that it can no longer perform its task accurately. Since the Internet is Important, so you should identify these signs and replace your device so that you can enjoy the efficiency of a new and advanced router and access the advantages of the internet with ease.
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