TP Link is a well-known and respected global manufacturer of computer networking products such as routers and WiFi devices.
They make some of the best internet devices. The routers are trusted, reliable and used by millions of people around the world. From time to time, they do experience issues like internet loss, like so many other routers. Most of the time the problem is not with the router itself but with some other external factors like the ISP (Internet Service Provider).
Internet modems and routers have many icons and blinking LEDs on the front. Each has its own unique meaning.
It is useful to know what the LED lights on the TP-Link router represent when we are having problems, as they provide more information about the status of our connection and activity.
In this article, we are going to discuss the TP-Link orange light issue, including what it means, possible causes, and of course, solutions.
What does the TP-Link router orange light mean?
If you see the internet icon on your TP Link router orange, it means the internet connection is connected but there is a problem connecting to the internet service provider. in simple words, The internet is not available.
There are a variety of reasons why your ISP is having some problems. It could be that the network is being worked on or that there is an error locally.
When the router’s settings get corrupted, you need to take corrective action. Alternatively, there may be some firmware issues that can also be easily fixed.
Let’s explore the causes of the TP-Link orange light and the methods to fix the problem.
How to fix TP-Link router orange light issue
First, it’s best to check some non-ISP factors that might be causing the orange light. These are as follows:
1 – Check cable connections: Each of the three cables could have a loose contact. This can be a power cord, the internet service provider (ISP), or a cable line. Make sure all cables are securely connected.
2 – Firewalls and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) have been enabled. Internet speeds usually decrease when using a VPN or firewall.
3 – Internet Speeds can be greatly slowed down by interference from overcrowded transmission lines.
4- Failure to update firmware in time
If you still have the orange light issue after checking all of the potential factors above, please read on.
The orange light problem on your TP-Link router has a very simple solution. One of the following methods will solve this problem for you.
Let us begin!
Restart the modem
An obvious solution to the orange light issue is to turn the modem on and off again. First, unplug the device from the power outlet. Leave it unplugged for about 1 minute. If your modem is battery powered, simply remove the battery and reinsert it after 1 minute.
Once 60 seconds have passed, plug your modem back into the outlet and check if the orange light is still on.
When the orange light is off you should be back online and the issue has been resolved.
If the orange light is still there, continue to the next method.
Check your ISP network
Contact your ISP and inquire about any issues with their services.
As I mentioned before, your ISP could be the cause of the problem. Check with them if they have any problems with their services. There could simply be scheduled maintenance on the network that you are unaware of.
These issues can cause the orange light to come on on your TP-Link router.
Internet Service Providers typically send maintenance alerts via email, SMS, and ISP accounts. Sign in and see if you see an upcoming maintenance message.
Clone current Mac address
A simple solution to the orange light problem that anyone can do.
Check if your PC and router are connected to each other. You can do this with an Ethernet cable.
1 – Login to your TP-Link router account
2 – Once you have logged into the dashboard, select Advanced from the top menu. Then you have to click on Network which you can find in the left menu.
3 – Select Internet in the sub-menu area.
4- Scroll down to MAC clone section and check the “Use the computer’s current MAC address” radio button.
5 – Click Save on computer to make the changes.
The orange Internet LED should be off. If it’s still orange on your TP-Link router, move on to the next method.
Update your router firmware
It could be that your router’s firmware is out of date and it’s not connecting to the internet properly.
Every router firmware upgrade includes security patches as well as performance improvements. In most cases, a simple firmware upgrade is enough to get rid of the dreaded orange light on your router. Obviously this depends on whether an upgrade needs to be downloaded.
Here’s how you do it.
1. First, download the correct firmware from TP-Link website. Make sure you select the correct hardware version.
2. Download the firmware to your computer.
3. Navigate to your TP-Link router settings and select Progressive from the top menu.
4. Then select on the left system tools and then Firmware upgrade.
5. Click on the search next to the New Firmware File field in the Manual Upgrade section.
6. File Explorer will open, locate and select the firmware file that you extracted to your desktop. Click on it and then select Open.
7. Finally click Update.
8. Wait for the firmware upgrade to complete and the router to reboot.
Allow some time for the router to stabilize before checking the Internet LED. Everything should be fine now. If not, move on to the next method.
MAC binding issue
A common problem that causes the orange light to appear on your TP Link modem.
Here’s what you need to do to try and solve the blinking orange light.
- Disconnect the modem’s power and coax cables.
- Reconnect the power cord. Disconnect the coaxial cable for now.
- Connect the modem to the router’s WAN port with an Ethernet cable.
- Turn on the modem.
- Reconnect the coaxial cable after 5 minutes.
- Check the Internet LED and try visiting some websites after the modem connects to the Internet.
Reset factory settings
Consider restoring your router to its original settings if there are no issues with your ISPs or the new Mac address. All settings of the router will be restored to the default settings after a factory reset.
If you need to factory reset your TP-Link router, you must be aware that you will need to configure the router from scratch to continue using your internet connection.
The reason is that after factory reset, all custom settings will be reset to their default values.
How to factory reset your TP-Link router
1 – Locate the reset button on the back of the router.
2 – Press and hold the button with a paper clip or similar until you see the Power LED blink. The button is very small and difficult to activate with anything larger than a pin or paperclip. So that the button is not accidentally pressed.
3 – The router will restart after you release the button.
4 – Upon reboot, all settings will be restored to default.
When you’re done configuring the router, be sure to check the Internet LED.
If you are unsure about the default login credentials, please avoid factory resetting the router.
Contact your ISP support
If your orange light still shines like the sun after trying all the recommended methods above, contact your ISP support.
Ask your ISP to check or test your connection remotely. You should give them as much detail as possible when describing the problem.
You can dispatch a technician to investigate the problem and make the necessary repairs.
Jamie has been blogging about tech, making money online and entrepreneurship for 12 years. He is the proud owner of the hugely successful website makeawebsitehub.com and has helped over 20,000 people start their own blogs.
