People use Wi-Fi extenders to extend the range of their Wi-Fi. These are widely used in multi-floor households to extend the Wi-Fi range to every corner of the house.
TP-Link is a well-known brand when it comes to network devices like routers and Wi-Fi extenders. Many people use the TP-Link WiFi extender because of the features and service it offers.
Amidst all the great features, there’s one issue that you can face with the TP-Link WiFi Extender, i.e., the red light issue. This is a common issue that is faced by users when their Wi-Fi extender is not able to get a proper Wi-Fi network. This article will guide you through all the ways to fix the TP-Link WiFi extender red light issue.
What Causes the TP-Link WiFi Extender Red Light Issue?
If you are facing the red light issue on the TP-Link WiFi extender then that means your extender is having trouble getting a Wi-Fi network. This generally happens when there’s some bug in the router or when your router is far from the Wi-Fi’s range.
Apart from this, the issue can also be encountered when the firmware of the extender is corrupted or outdated. Sometimes, the issue can be due to the router itself and not the extender.
Fix TP-Link WiFi Extender Red Light Issue
So what can be done if my TP-Link WiFi extender is showing a red light? Given below are all the ways to help you fix the TP-Link WiFi extender red light issue-
1. Place the Extender in an Appropriate Place
When you install a Wi-Fi extender you need to ensure that it is getting a proper Wi-Fi network to extend it further. One of the key aspects of installing a Wi-Fi extender is knowing where to place it.
The extender must be installed at a place where your Wi-Fi signals are optimal. Your extender must be able to get the Wi-Fi signal so that it can extend it to other places in your house.
Not only you must install it within your Wi-Fi range, but you must ensure that there are no obstacles or electronic devices in between the extender and the router.
Electronic devices interfere with the Wi-Fi signal and your extender may show the red light issue due to this.
2. Ensure there’s No Issue With the Router
Sometimes the issue can be encountered due to your main router. If your main router is having issues then your extender will not be able to extend the Wi-Fi signals and show the red light issue.
You must check that your router has proper network connectivity if you have been facing this issue.
You can directly connect to the router and see if you can use the internet. If you are not able to use the internet when directly connected to the router, then there’s no issue with your extender but your router. Check the wires connected to the router.
Ensure the wires are properly connected and not damaged.
If you still face the network connectivity issue with your router then contact your ISP to get the issue troubleshooted.
However, if you can use the internet when directly connected to the router but facing issues with the Wi-Fi extender then you should try the troubleshooting steps mentioned in this article.
3. Update the Firmware of the TP-Link Wi-Fi Extender
The issue can also be encountered due to outdated or corrupted firmware of the TP-Link Wi-Fi extender. You can try updating the firmware of the Wi-Fi extender to solve the issue.
Updating the firmware not only lets go of the old firmware, but if the firmware files were corrupted they will be replaced with the correct files after the update.
You can follow the steps given below to update the firmware of the TP-Link Wi-Fi extender-
- Turn on your Wi-Fi extender and connect your PC. You can use an ethernet cable or the Wi-Fi to establish the connectivity.
- Now, open the browser type 192.168.0.254 in the address bar, and hit Enter.
- You will be asked to enter the username and password to login to the dashboard. This username and password are present on the router’s box if you have not changed it.
- By default the username and password are admin.
- In the dashboard, click on the System Tools option and then click on Firmware Upgrade.
- Here, you will have to select the firmware upgrade file.
- To download the firmware upgrade file follow the steps given below-
- Head to the TP-Link download center on your browser.
- Here, search for the model of your TP-Link Wi-Fi Extender and select the relevant product from the results.
- On the opening page, click on the Firmware tab.
- Here, you will see the firmware versions available along with their published date. Download the firmware that has been published recently.
- Now on the Firmware Upgrade page of the Wi-Fi extender’s dashboard, click on Browse.
- Navigate to the folder or destination where the firmware upgrade file has been saved and open it.
- Now, click on the Upgrade button to upgrade the firmware, and then click on Yes.
- The process will now begin. Once the process is completed, the firmware will be upgraded to the latest version and you won’t face the issue now.
4. Reset Wi-Fi Extender
Bugs and technical glitches are one of the most common causes of the TP-Link Wi-Fi Extender red light issue. To solve this issue you can try resetting the Wi-Fi extender.
Here’s how you can proceed with it-
- Turn on your extender first.
- Now look for the reset hole on the extender.
- There will be a reset button underneath the hole. Press and hold this button for 8-10 seconds with a PIN.
- You must hold this button until all the lights go off; release the button after the lights are off.
- The lights will turn back on again which means your router has been successfully resetted.
5. Contact TP-Link Customer Support
If you are still facing issues with the range extender, then that means there’s some technical fault within the product. You can try contacting TP-Link customer support for the issue.
If your device is under warranty and has not met any physical damage then you will get free repair or replacement from the TP-Link.
In case your device is out of warranty or its condition does not meet the warranty policy laid by the TP-Link then you will have to pay the repair cost.
Conclusion
When you encounter the TP-Link Wi-Fi extender red light issue, you won’t be able to use the internet. The issue can be encountered due to some glitch with the extender or the router you are connecting the extender to.
We have listed all the troubleshooting steps that you can follow to fix the red light issue on the TP-Link Wi-Fi extender.