Seeing that ominous red glow on your eero device is never a good sign. The “eero red light of death”, as it’s commonly known, indicates your eero is disconnected from the internet.
But don’t panic! Many issues can cause the red light, from loose cables to wifi interference. In this guide, we’ll walk through the top troubleshooting tips to get your eero back online.
What causes the eero red light?
Before diving into solutions, let’s look at why an eero goes red in the first place. Potential causes include:
- Faulty cables: Damaged Ethernet cables or loose connections can interrupt the internet signal.
- Power problems: If the eero loses power, it will show a red light when it reboots.
- Software glitches: Bugs or app issues can sometimes knock an eero offline.
- WiFi interference: Nearby appliances like microwaves can interfere with wifi signals.
- Router misconfiguration: Incorrect network settings can break the eero’s internet connection.
Now let’s go through the best ways to troubleshoot and fix these issues.
Inspect and secure cables
Make sure all cables are plugged in completely to their ports on the eero, modem, and router. Wiggle cables to check for loose connections. Examine cables closely for damage – look for bent or broken pins inside the connectors. Damaged Ethernet cables are a common eero red light culprit.
If you find any loose or faulty cables, secure the connections or replace the damaged cables. Use brand new Ethernet cables if possible.
Power cycle the eero
If cables look fine, try power cycling the eero:
- Unplug the eero from power.
- Wait 30 seconds.
- Plug it back in.
Give the eero 3-5 minutes after powering on to reconnect to the network. This resets the connection and can resolve many software glitches causing the red light.
Try different locations
Wifi dead zones or interference can also disrupt the eero’s connection. Experiment by moving the eero to different locations and see if the red light persists.
Place it away from appliances like microwaves, baby monitors, or wireless speakers. Elevate the eero if possible – high locations often get better signal.
Reboot network and reset eero
For trickier issues, you may need to restart your network:
- Unplug the modem and eero router from power.
- After 1 minute, plug them back in and let fully reboot.
- If still seeing a red light, reset the eero to factory settings in the eero app.
Resetting the eero erases any problematic misconfigurations that could be causing the red light.
Contact eero Support
If you still can’t resolve the red light after trying these steps for 1-2 hours, contact eero Support. Their experts can help diagnose the issue and suggest advanced fixes.
Be ready to provide details like:
- When did the issue start?
- Does the red light affect only one eero or all of them?
- Have you made any network changes recently?
Taking Troubleshooting Further
If power cycling and basic steps don’t resolve the red light, some more advanced troubleshooting is needed.
First, check WiFi and internet connectivity in the eero app. Confirm your phone and other devices are connecting to the eero’s WiFi network. Also verify the eero is connected to the primary eero router.
Log into your ISP modem/router and validate it is passing an internet connection to the eero. Check that the eero firmware is up-to-date, as outdated firmware can cause red light issues.
If you still see no connections, try Ethernet backhaul – use an Ethernet cable to connect the eero with the red light directly to the primary eero router. This bypasses mesh WiFi issues.
Inspect your main router settings closely. Verify DHCP, firewalls, and port forwarding are correctly configured to give the eero access.
For an advanced test, set up the eero with the red light as the only device on the network. If the light resolves, a connected device could be causing problems.
If you still can’t determine the cause, contact eero support. Their technical team can run remote diagnostics to precisely identify any hardware, software or network issues leading to the stubborn red glow.
With some focused troubleshooting, you should be able to squash that pesky eero red light. But don’t hesitate to leverage eero’s great support if you hit roadblocks. Here’s hoping you never see red again!
Basic Eero Red Light Troubleshooting that you have probably already tried
1. Inspect Cables for Damage or Loose Connections
The first step in troubleshooting the eero red light issue is to check for loose or damaged cables. Loose connections or faulty cables can often be the culprit behind many router-related problems, including the eero red light.
Ensure that all cables are securely plugged into their respective ports and check for any visible damage. Pay particular attention to the main power plug and replace it if necessary. Regularly cleaning the ports with compressed air can help remove dust and debris, preventing potential connectivity issues.
2. Power Cycle Your Eero Device
Another effective troubleshooting method is to power cycle your eero device. This simple process involves turning off the device, unplugging it from the power socket, waiting for a few minutes, and then plugging it back in.
After plugging the device back in, wait for it to boot up. If the issue has been resolved, the eero device should display a white light instead of the troublesome red one.
3. Reposition the Eero Device
The position of your eero device can significantly impact signal quality. If your device is placed too close to the ground or surrounded by other appliances, it can lead to signal interference.
To address this issue, place your eero device on a hard surface at least 3-4 feet off the ground. Also, make sure there are no appliances such as microwaves nearby that could interfere with the device’s signals.
4. Reboot the Entire Network
Sometimes, rebooting your entire network can help resolve the eero red light issue. Here’s how you can do it:
- Power cycle your eero device as explained in step 2.
- Unplug your modem and router from the main socket and wait for a minute before plugging them back in.
- Once plugged in, wait for both devices to start up and stabilize.
5. Remove and Re-add the Device
If the red light persists, you can try removing and re-adding the troubled device using the eero app. Here’s how:
- Open the eero app and select the device you want to remove.
- Tap on ‘Advanced’ > ‘Remove [name of the device] eero’.
- Then, tap on ‘Remove from Network’ at the bottom of the screen.
To add the device back to the network:
- Open the eero app and tap on the blue plus icon at the top right of the screen.
- Go to ‘Add or Replace Eero devices’ > ‘Add eero device’.
- Follow the in-app instructions to add the device.
6. Check for Internet Outages or Contact Eero Support
Lastly, check with your Internet Service Provider (ISP) for any Internet outages. If there’s no outage and the eero red light issue persists despite following all the above steps, it’s time to contact eero support for further assistance.
In conclusion, the eero red light issue can be resolved by following these systematic troubleshooting steps. With a bit of patience and the right approach, you can restore your Internet connection and get your eero device back to optimal functionality.
