Google WiFi Blinking Orange: How To Fix [2023]

Google WiFi definitely checks all the tick marks for being the perfect router for your Home. But what to do when the Google WiFi Points constituting the Mesh network start pulsating orange?

Mesh networking was a mirage for an average consumer like you and me for a long time until Google came out with the Google WiFi and the WiFi points back in 2016.

I, too, have a few Google points to pair with the newer rendition of the Google Nest WiFi. And things seemed to work swimmingly until the LEDs started pulsing orange.

If your Google WiFi is blinking orange, check the ethernet cables connected to the WiFi. Remove the cable and plug it back in, and then refresh the network. You could also try updating the firmware. If these don't work, factory reset your Google WiFi and points.

Here's a brief look at why your Google WiFi lights Orange:

Scenarios	Causes and Fixes
Pulsing Orange	Network-related issue; check the network connection and refresh the Router
Fast blinking Orange	The reset button pressed down; not an issue
Solid Orange	Indicates the status of a Factory Reset
Other scenarios	Common fixes include - checking the power supply, factory resetting the device, and reconfiguring the network characteristics

Below I will explain the tips and fixes to try if your Google WiFi is blinking orange. But first, let's look at what the different light flashes mean on Google WiFi.

What Does Blinking/Flashing Orange on Google WiFi Indicate?

Apart from the regular old white light we see day-to-day on Google WiFi, it also has a gamut of other colors that it uses to indicate various events.

And it's important to know what different colors indicate, like how Google wifi blinking red indicates internal issues. So don't get them mixed up.

Here are the various colors of the LED and what they mean on Google WiFi:

Color and Status	Indication
Pulsing Yellow/Amber	Network Error
Fast pulsing Yellow/Amber	Factory Reset button pressed down
Solid Yellow/Amber	Factory Resetting underway
Solid Red	Internal error/issue

From the table, it's deducible that one might mistake a flashing yellow/amber light for a static color.

Barring the chances of an indented reset button, it's pretty clear that the issue is with the network.

But what about the WiFi points? As a matter of fact, the Points express a bit more of the color spectrum than the router.

And so, people get more confused with the indications on the Point than on the router.

Here's a table listing the possible colors and the errors they indicate on a Google/Nest WiFi point:

Color and Status	Indication
Solid Orange	Microphone Muted
Fast blinking Yellow/Amber	Factory Reset button pressed down
Solid Yellow/Amber	Factory Resetting underway
Slow blinking Yellow/Orange	Network Error
Solid Red	Internal error/issue

And there you go, Slow blinking Orange for the win. Make sure to check and verify that the LED is slowly pulsing to confirm the issue.

Now that we have come to the conclusion that the issue is with the network, let's get on with the tips and fixes part.

*Note: Google WiFi devices also flaunt various other colors like blue and white. And since they're impertinent to the issue at hand, we've voluntarily excluded them from the lists above.

Check the Cables Connected to Google WiFi

The most plausible reason for network issues on a Google WiFi router or its Points is a slack Ethernet cable connection.

Shoddy cable connections, if left unattended, will land you in a swarm of trouble. If not with the network, then the entire device may show problems.

And so, do yourself a favor and check the cable connections before getting into the hard part.

It's best if you remove the Ethernet cable (along with the power cable) and plug it back in again tautly. Feel free to exert some pressure if you experience any resistance to connecting at the port.

Exercise the same procedure at the modem end too.

If you have old-school Google WiFi Points in your Mesh, it's best if you check for Ethernet cable connections on them as well. Not an issue with the newer models, though.

The next thing to keep a keen eye on is the cables themselves. The type of cable you choose to deploy on your network also plays a critical role in the connection.

Newer CAT 6 or 5e cables do fare well in this regard, but the older CAT 2 or 3 cables may have some inherent interference issues that may render your connection void.

Take a good look at the cable for kinks, crooks, or any other imperfections. Replace the worn-out ones with newer, better ones if needed.

Long-distance transmission can also induce interference in communication. If that's the case, it's best if you employ CAT 6 cables for this purpose.

Refresh the Network and Google WiFi

The next tip that could rectify the issue with your Google WiFi is to refresh the device and the network.

Nascent bugs and malicious errors can cause issues and raise flags on your device. A simple but effective way to tackle such interlopers is to refresh the system.

Refreshing may also come in handy if the network seems a bit slow as of recent. You can check and verify the said scenario by running a speed test.

Google does offer an inbuilt speed test feature in the Home app. Follow these steps on the app to run a speed test of your network via Google WiFi:

1. In the Home app, click and open the WiFi tab.

2. Select the Network tile and tap on the Run Speed Test option.

3. When the test finishes, you will get an accurate account of network speeds running through the router.

If you'd observe a variance in speed or latency in the results, definitely give your network a refresh.

And what better way to refresh your device and network than a power cycle test. Google itself abides with the power cycle test to be an effective method to eliminate any latent errors.

Here's how to do so:

1. Start by unplugging all the cables connected to the router/point/modem.
2. Wait for a few seconds, presumably even a couple of minutes.
3. You could also press and hold the various buttons on your device for a few seconds to discharge any pinned-up charges in the circuit.
4. Then, plug back in the cables, and check for the issue now.

Run a Mesh test on the points to ensure optimal connections.

You could also refresh the Router and the Points through the Home app.

Follow these steps on the Home app to restart your devices:

1. In the Home app, click on the WiFi menu option.

2. Tap open your Google/ Nest device tab.

3. Select the Settings icon and click on Restart.

4. Select your WiFi point to initiate the reboot.

Wait for the reboot to complete. Check for the issue now.

Check the Network Protocol Configuration on Google WiFi

Before we begin, users should keep in mind that Google WiFi employs DHCP or Dynamic Host Configuration Protocols to communicate with your ISP.

With DHCP, the router automatically connects to your network/ISP by acquiring the required IP configs.

This means that Google WiFi negates the need for manually configuring the router settings to facilitate transmission.

But if your ISP relies on other networking protocols, like PPPoE or static IPs, you may need to switch the config from the Google Home app.

If that's the case, connecting the router to your modem and setting it up as default won't make the cut. The Router/Points will glow orange to indicate the issue.

If you've tinkered with the IP settings recently or if your ISP uses another networking protocol, better check and change the settings to their rightful configuration.

Follow these instructions to do so.

1. In the Home app, click and open the Device Setting tile of your Router.

2. Click on the Network Settings icon.

3. Choose Advanced Network Settings.

4. Tap on WAN.

5. Now, choose your ISP-recommended IP config: DHCP, PPPoE, or Static IP.

6. Enter the relevant details and click on Save to confirm.

Perform a system refresh and check for the issue now.

Factory Reset Your Google WiFi and Points

If none of these fixes seems to eliminate the issue, try factory resetting.

A factory reset will clear off all the bugs, errors, and other inconsistencies that may be the very culprit of the issue.

But, do take into account that performing a factory reset will clear all your personal preferences and reset the network configs.

Nonetheless, a factory reset has proven its efficacy in dire situations before.

Now, you can hard reset your Google WiFi device in a couple of ways.

First, let's hard reset the device using the onboard Factory Reset button. Here's how:

1. Press and hold the Factory reset button on your device (located towards the back) for about 10 seconds. The LED will start pulsing yellow.

2. Release the button once the LED transitions from blinking to solid yellow. Do not press and hold the button for too long.

If the LED keeps on blinking yellow even after releasing the button, you will have to restart the process by unplugging the device and plugging it back in.

The process may take a few minutes (10mins approx.). Once the reset is complete, the LED will flash white.

You can also factory reset the device through the Home app.

Follow these steps on the app to do so:

For Routers:

1. From the Home tab, select the WiFi tab.

2. Click on the Settings icon.

3. Tap on Factory Reset Network.

4. Confirm your selection by pressing the OK option.

For Points:

1. Click on your WiFi point from the Home tab.

2. Tap on the Setting icon.

3. Select Factory Reset WiFi point.

4. Confirm your selection by selecting Factory Reset on the next screen.

Once completed, you can now set up your device like new.

Final Thoughts

Google WiFi has traversed a long way from our traditional networking solutions with its innovative and relatively simple implementation of mesh networking.

But issues such as the network-related ones we've discussed have always plagued most routers and other networking devices. There is simply no escaping that.

Fortunately, the issue is not an abiding one, and the fixes are quite easy to implement unless faced with a hardware error.

You can verify such issues once you complete the troubleshooting steps mentioned here.

If you have a hardware issue on your hands, contact the customer services of Google for further assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do I get my Google WiFi back online?

After a brief power outage or any other power-related incident, if your Google WiFi puts up resistance to communication, try power cycling the device. A power cycle test basically refreshes the system and brings it back to life. Unplug the cables connected to the system, and plug it back on after a couple of minutes. Power your WiFI back ON and check for issues.

What color should Google WiFi be?

A solid White LED indicates that the Google Wifi is working all fine. On the other end of the spectrum, orange/red/yellow LEDs are all indicators of issues on the router.

Can you have too many Google WiFi points?

With the newer Nest devices, you can connect up to 100 WiFi points with a single router. Whereas, with the older Google WiFi routers, better to limit the number of points to just about 5 per network for optimal working.

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