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How often should you restart your router? Weekly, says NSA

By Roof & Router Team. Updated October 27, 2026.

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How often should you restart your router?

At least once a week. That is the advice from the National Security Agency’s guide for home networks. Under “Schedule frequent device reboots,” NSA says: “At a minimum, you should schedule weekly reboots of your routing device, smartphones, and computers.”

On top of that weekly routine, restart the router whenever the internet stops working, slows down or devices can’t connect. Spectrum calls a restart the first fix to try and says it “resolves the majority of connection issues.”

No manufacturer or internet provider we checked gives a fixed schedule of its own. The weekly figure comes from NSA, and it is a security recommendation, not a speed one.

Is it good to restart your router?

Yes, for two reasons.

It clears out some kinds of malware. NSA says “malicious implants have been reported to infect home routers without persistence,” meaning the malicious code lives in the router’s memory and is wiped when the power goes off. “Regular reboots help to remove implants and ensure security,” NSA writes. In 2018 the FBI asked every owner of a home or small office router to power cycle it, because doing so would “temporarily disrupt” VPNFilter, malware aimed at those routers.

The word “temporarily” matters. A reboot does not fix the hole the malware came in through. That takes current firmware, a strong admin password and remote management turned off, all covered in our home Wi-Fi security checklist.

It frees up the router’s memory. ASUS says a restart can “release some storage space in the Random Access Memory (RAM)” and improve performance. TP-Link says regular scheduled reboots “may improve the network stability.”

A restart is not a cure for slow Wi-Fi caused by a bad router location, a crowded channel or a slow plan. If speeds stay low after a restart, work through why is my Wi-Fi slow.

How to restart your router and modem the right way

If you have a separate modem and router, the order matters. The modem has to reconnect to your provider before the router can get an internet connection from it. Spectrum’s and NETGEAR’s steps agree:

1. Unplug the modem and the router (or the single gateway, if you have a combined unit).
2. Remove any backup battery from the modem. NETGEAR says that if your modem has one, “you must remove the backup battery to completely turn off your modem.” AT&T says the same for its gateways.
3. Wait. Spectrum says at least 30 seconds, because “a quick unplug and replug doesn’t fully clear the device’s memory.”
4. Plug in the modem first. Give it two to five minutes for its status lights to settle (Spectrum). NETGEAR says about 5 minutes, sometimes longer.
5. Plug in the router once the modem is online, and wait a minute or two (Spectrum) for its internet light to show a steady connection (NETGEAR).
6. Test on a device that was having trouble.

Each company gives slightly different times:

Our take: 30 seconds to a minute is a safe middle ground for most home gear, and you may need to allow up to about 12 minutes (Xfinity’s upper limit) before everything is back.

Use the app if you have one. Xfinity renters can tap the WiFi icon, then Troubleshoot, then “Restart your Gateway” in the Xfinity app, and Xfinity treats unplugging as a last resort. In the eero app, go to Settings, Advanced networking, the more options icon, then Restart Network. In NETGEAR’s Nighthawk app, tap the home icon, then Reboot.

Expect phone service to drop, too. Xfinity warns that while the gateway restarts, Xfinity Voice calls, including 911, are unavailable, along with Xfinity Home cameras. If your home phone runs through your internet box, don’t restart it while you might need to call for help.

Renting your gateway from your provider? Its app may handle the restart for you, as Xfinity’s does. See should you buy your own modem for the trade-offs of owning your own gear.

Restart vs. reset: what’s the difference?

These words get mixed up, and the mix-up can cost you your settings.

• Restart (reboot, power cycle): turns the router off and back on. NETGEAR says “all of your WiFi settings are saved when you reboot your router.”
• Factory reset (hard reset): wipes the router back to how it came out of the box. NETGEAR says it erases your user name, password, Wi-Fi network name (SSID) and security settings. AT&T says it also deletes any static IP address.

The reset button is the trap. On many routers, a short press restarts and a long hold resets:

Notice that 7 seconds resets a NETGEAR router, while on an eero anything held past 8 seconds risks a full reset. Check your own model’s instructions before pressing anything.

Our advice: unplug to restart, and use the reset button only when a restart doesn’t fix the problem or you’re locked out. Before a reset, AT&T suggests writing down your settings so you can put them back. After one, NETGEAR’s default login is “admin” and “password,” so change it right away, along with the Wi-Fi password.

How to schedule an automatic router restart

Many routers can restart themselves on a schedule, which turns NSA’s weekly advice into something you set once. Pick a time when nobody is online, such as the middle of the night on a weekday.

• ASUS: In the web page, go to Administration, then System, and set “Enable scheduler reboot” to Yes. Pick one or more days and a time. In the ASUS Router app, it’s Settings, System settings, Schedule Reboot. ASUS says the router must have internet access and the correct local time for this to work, and it is offline for about 1 to 3 minutes during each restart.
• TP-Link Deco: In the Deco app, go to More, then System, then Reboot Schedule. You can set a daily or weekly restart. TP-Link notes that Deco models available vary by region.
• TP-Link routers: TP-Link’s support page says the Auto Reboot setting is in the web interface under System Tools, then Reboot.
• NETGEAR and eero: the support pages we read describe only manual restarts from the app or the power button, not a schedule. Check your model’s app or manual.

One catch: TP-Link notes that an auto reboot setting, sometimes on by default, can look like a hardware fault. If your router seems to restart on its own at the same time each day or week, check for a schedule before you blame the router.

Some people use a smart plug on a timer to cut power instead. Our take: that works, but it gives no warning and also cuts power to the modem or anything else on the plug. A built-in scheduler is cleaner when your router has one. For how much a smart plug itself draws, see do smart plugs save electricity.

Does turning off your router at night save electricity?

A little, but less than most people expect. EnergySage says most Wi-Fi routers draw 5 to 20 watts and calls 10 watts “a safe average.”

Our math for switching a 10 W router off for 8 hours every night:

• 10 W × 8 hours × 365 nights = 29,200 Wh = 29.2 kWh a year
• 29.2 kWh × $0.18 per kWh = about $5.26 a year

The 18 cents is close to EIA’s forecast 2026 US average residential price of 18.2 cents per kWh. A modem and router pair at 20 W doubles that, to about $10.51 a year.

The downside is updates. eero, for example, lets owners choose to have its routers update automatically overnight, and says “any eero that is offline or unplugged will not update.” Missing security patches is a bad trade for a few dollars. A weekly scheduled restart gets you NSA’s security benefit without that cost. The full breakdown is in how much electricity a Wi-Fi router uses.

Signs your router needs restarting, or replacing

Restart it when:

• Web pages stop loading or the connection drops on several devices at once.
• Speeds suddenly fall well below normal.
• Devices see the Wi-Fi network but can’t get online.
• You just changed a security setting. The FBI says to save the change and reboot.

Look harder, or think about replacing it, when:

• It needs restarting every few days. That points to a deeper problem. Update the firmware first.
• It restarts on its own. TP-Link lists overheating, an unstable outlet, and a replacement power adapter that doesn’t match the router’s label as common causes, along with outdated firmware and a forgotten auto reboot schedule. Move it somewhere with airflow, out of cabinets; see where to place your Wi-Fi router.
• It runs hot, connections act up, or settings change that you didn’t make. The FBI lists these as signs of malware on a router. Its advice: update the firmware, change the password and reboot.
• It no longer gets security updates. NSA says routers should be replaced when they reach end of life for support. A weekly reboot can’t patch a router whose maker has stopped sending fixes. See how long a router lasts to check yours.

Quick checklist

• Restart the router at least weekly (NSA), or set a reboot schedule if it has one.
• Restart it any time the internet acts up.
• Unplug, wait 30 seconds to a minute, plug in the modem first, then the router.
• Take out any modem backup battery for a full power cycle.
• Allow up to about 12 minutes for everything to come back.
• Don’t hold the reset button unless you mean to erase your settings.
• Keep the router on overnight so it can install updates.
• If it needs frequent restarts or stopped getting updates, plan to replace it.