If your Orbi router or satellite begins to exhibit a purple light, it’s not just a random color shift. It’s a clue that something is wrong. More precisely, an Orbi purple light signifies that the router can’t connect to the internet or that the satellite can’t connect to the router. You can’t ignore it either way since your Wi-Fi relies on it.
Therefore, this guide is here to help you with that. We’ll go over the most frequent problems, show you how to repair them, and get your Orbi system back up as soon as possible. Step by step.
What the Orbi Purple Light Means
Before we go into the remedies, let’s talk about what the purple light indicates, as the answer relies on how it acts.
- If you see a solid purple light on the router, it signifies that it can’t connect to the internet.
- And if you spot an Orbi flashing purple light on the satellite, it indicates that it is not connecting to or synchronizing with the main network.
You will save time by knowing this difference as the troubleshooting tips for blinking purple light differ from that of the solid purple light.
Troubleshooting Orbi Purple light
1. Make sure your internet connection is working (router problem).
Start with something easy. You should check to see whether there is a problem at your Internet Service Provider (ISP) end. Is the internet down, if the purple indicator on your Orbi router is on.
- Take the power cord out of your modem and Orbi router.
- Wait approximately a minute.
- Reconnect your modem and let it completely power up.
- Next, connect the Orbi router.
Wait a few minutes once the router starts up. The purple light should go away and become white or blue if the connection is proper. But, if it stays purple, move to the next step.
2. Check the Ethernet cable connection
The cable is sometimes the problem, not the router or the service. Maybe the ethernet connection that connects your modem to the Orbi router is broken or loose.
- Take the Ethernet wire out of the wall outlet and properly check both ends.
- If you have one, try using a different cable.
- Reconnect both devices and restart them.
You may be shocked at how frequently a loose wire is the only thing that causes the Orbi to flash purple.
3. Resync the Satellite (Problem with the Satellite)
If the purple light is on the satellite instead of the router, it won’t be able to connect to the main unit.
This is how to sync again:
- Press the button on the router that says “Sync.”
- Press the Sync button on the satellite within two minutes.
- Let the sync process finish in one to two minutes.
If the connection is good, the satellite light should become white, and then turn solid blue indicating good connection; or amber indicating a decent connection. If you still see Orbi flashing purple light, try moving the satellite closer to the router and perform the sync once again.
4. Install the latest firmware
Outdated firmware is also responsible for creating all sorts of strange problems, including the purple light issue.
To make changes:
- Connect your device to the Orbi network.
- In your device, open your browser and go to orbilogin.com.
- Use your admin login information to log in.
- Go to Advanced > Administration > Firmware Update.
Look for updates and install them if you find any. After the update, restart both the satellite and the router. This usually fixes problems with connection that won’t go away.
5. Factory Reset (Should be the Last Option)
If nothing else work, you are left with the only option that is, factory reset.
To start over:
- Look for the Reset button on the back of the satellite or router.
- Press and hold it with a paperclip for around 10 seconds.
- Let the device restart and set up your Orbi system from scratch.
Yes, this means you’ll have to set up your Wi-Fi again, but it will fix any software or sync problems that were there before.
Conclusion
A purple light on Orbi, most of the time, it’s just a brief loss of internet, a loose cable, or an issue with the router and satellite synchronizing. If you follow the appropriate methods, you can solve all of these problems at home without having to call tech assistance.
Check the wires and connections first. If you need to, go ahead and resync and upgrade the firmware. If nothing else works, you should only conduct a complete reset. Don’t worry; Orbi lights are really extremely excellent at showing what’s wrong, and if you know what they indicate, fixing things is much simpler.
FAQs
1. What does it indicate when my Orbi router has a steady purple light?
Your Orbi router can’t connect to the internet if this happens. This typically means that either your ISP is down or there is an issue with the connection between the modem and the router.
2. What does it mean when my Orbi satellite flashes purple?
If there is Orbi flashing purple light, that signifies it isn’t synchronizing with the network. If it’s out of range or the sync process fails, this might happen. Try moving it closer and synchronizing it again by hand.
3. Can problems with the purple light be caused by old firmware?
Yes. If your Orbi router or satellite firmware is out of current, you can have problems with syncing or lost connections. Check for updates in the Orbi admin panel all the time.
4. When is it time to reset my Orbi system?
You should only do a factory reset as a last resort. Only use it if synchronization doesn’t work, firmware upgrades don’t help, and the Orbi flashing purple light stays on even after you’ve tried everything else.