The eero offers a very accessible networking solution for those who want to create a robust yet simple mesh network at home.
By and large, these systems are very reliable, with their simplistic layout and design facilitating the smooth operation of all connected devices in the network. But of course, as with any kind of electronic equipment, it can experience errors and issues from time to time.
One of those issues, in particular, is when the singular LED light on the front of the eero device displays a steady, blinking white color.
Today we are going to explain why this issue occurs and then walk through all the possible things you can try from home to fix this issue so it goes back to being solid white.
Why is your eero blinking white?
Depending on what stage of the bootup process the eero is in, it may display a few different colors that may be flashing or solid. Here is a list of what those mean, which can help you identify what is causing the issue on your eero router.
- No light means the device does not have power.
- Blinking white means the eero unit is currently booting up and establishing a connection to the internet.
- Blinking blue means it is currently broadcasting a Bluetooth signal.
- Solid blue means it is currently connected to the eero mobile app and is being set up.
- Blinking green means multiple devices within the mesh network have been detected.
- Blinking yellow means an unapproved USB-C device has been detected (this can happen when third-party USB replacement cables have been used).
- Solid white means it is currently connected to the internet and everything is functioning as normal.
- Solid red means it is not able to connect to the internet.
As we can see from this list, the blinking white light means that the device is currently booting and is still establishing a connection to the internet.
This is normal, and if the device is functioning properly, after a little while this will turn a solid white color, meaning an internet connection has been established.
However, if this blinking white light continues and doesn’t stop, it may represent a deeper issue which could range from a problem with your internet service provider, outdated software, or disconnection with the app.
In all of these cases, it may require further investigation into why exactly this issue is being caused. Here are some more details on the primary reasons that will cause your eero light to blink white for an extended period of time.
Issue with the ISP’s ability to provide service
One of the most common causes for a modem to be unable to connect to the internet is actually due to the internet service provider experiencing a problem at their end that is preventing the device from establishing a connection as normal.
Sometimes ISPs need to perform maintenance or system upgrades, or they might experience power outages that result in a loss of service to a particular area.
The quickest way to check and see if your device is actually fine, and if it’s an issue at the ISP’s end is to check their website, where they will usually document any issues that are causing a loss of service to a particular area. Alternatively, you can call them and ask their support staff and they will be able to let you know.
If this turns out to be the issue, then you simply need to wait for them to restore service to your area. However, if this is not the case, you can be sure this is an issue relating to your own hardware or software and should investigate further.
Weak or blocked signal
As nice as these devices are for creating a robust mesh network over your home, if for any reason that signal is interrupted or impeded, resulting in a weak signal, it may prevent the device from fully connecting to the internet.
In this case, you may need to re-position the device and re-add it to the network in order to allow it to function optimally.
This may also cause a spotty or unstable connection when you are using it for internet-related activities.
Faulty connection to the modem
If your device is connected to the modem via an Ethernet cable, it’s possible that the connection has become faulty, which may be due to a hardware issue, a failed Ethernet port, or a broken cable that will cause the eero LED light to continue blinking.
These things will need to be looked at in order to rule them out as potential issues.
Unable to connect to the app
For many modems, you need to access them via Ethernet by using a web browser, where you will enter the IP address and your login credentials in order to set the device up correctly.
However, the eero network uses a provided mobile app in order to set up and connect to the network. If this process is not completed correctly, then your white light will continue to blink white until this issue is rectified.
How to fix an eero blinking light
Now we have established the primary causes making that pesky light continually blink white. Once you have ruled out your internet service provider as the cause of the issue, you can start to go through some steps in order to fix this yourself.
Follow these through in order, as they cover all the primary fixes that will allow your device to return to normal.
Power cycle (hard reset) your eero device
This is a fairly broad troubleshooting step that does a remarkably good job of clearing up small bugs, issues, and connection errors.
Unlike a soft reset, which simply involves hitting the reset button on the device and allowing it time to reboot, this involves physically unplugging it from the power source to fully clear and reset the device.
Here’s how to hard reset your eero modem:
- Unplug the power cable from your eero.
- Wait for about a minute in order to let the device fully shut down and for all power to dissipate from the device.
- Plug it back in, and it will begin its startup process.
- Wait for several minutes, as this “cold boot” can often take a little longer than a regular reset in order to fully load.
In many cases, this will solve issues that have stopped your device from connecting to the internet. However, if this didn’t work, move on to the next step.
Check for faulty Ethernet or power cables
A faulty cable or one that hasn’t been correctly seated is liable to cause some connection issues with your device.
It’s worth checking the cables of all devices used within the mesh network to ensure they are in working order.
Ethernet and power cables should be seated properly in their respective ports. Also, check the wires for any visible damage that may indicate they need to be replaced.
Remove and re-add the eero to the network
If you are using multiple extenders where some of them are functioning correctly, but just one or two devices have a continually blinking white light, sometimes removing just those individual devices from the network and re-connecting them can help them to re-establish themselves within the mesh network.
We do this through the provided app using the following steps:
- Open the eero app.
- Locate the specific device that has the issue and tap on it.
- Select “advanced.”
- Then, select “remove from network” and confirm.
The device is now removed from the network. Now you need to re-add it:
- Within the app, tap the blue plus icon in the top right.
- Select “add or replace eero devices.”
- Then, locate and select the particular device or devices you originally removed.
You should then see the device go through its normal startup routine. Wait a minute and see if the blinking white light issue stops. If not, move on to the next step.
Restore the factory default settings
This is a bit more of an extreme measure, as it will erase all user preferences, credentials, and currently applied firmware updates. However, it can work great for solving some more stubborn software-related issues that can occur with an eero unit.
It essentially resets the device back to the same settings it would have shipped from the original factory with.
To restore the factory settings reset, you need to locate the reset button on the back of the device.
Press the button in, and hold it there until you see the front light start to flash red, indicating it has begun the factory settings restore process.
You can now release the button and wait for it to go through the restore process.
Once this is complete, you may need to re-apply any relevant firmware or software updates that have been erased, as well as re-enter all user preferences and login credentials.
Contact eero support
If none of the above steps have worked in correcting the blinking white light issue, it may be an indication that there is a more serious hardware issue inside your device, such as a faulty component.
The best thing to do in this case is to contact eero support and explain the situation. They may ask some questions about the device, and after confirming that you have tried the relevant steps to rectify the issue at home, there is a good chance they will simply supply you with a new device to replace the faulty one.
