Since your modem connects you to the internet or a Wide Area Network (WAN), it’s as important as any other device in your home. In fact, your modem has to be working properly for you to get the most out of your home internet. If you notice your online activities are not going as smoothly as they should, it might be high time to reboot your modem. Your next question would be how many times you should do so.
There’s no standard frequency for when you should reboot your modem. It’s best practice to reboot it when your internet goes out or starts running noticeably slower. IT professionals and modem manufacturers recommend a reboot about once a month to keep the modem running optimally.
There are some factors to consider when deciding how often you should reboot your modem. You also need to know why it’s important that you restart your modem often and whenever it seems necessary.
How Often Should You Reboot Your Modem?
If you’ve ever experienced internet issues, there’s a high chance something is wrong with either the modem or router. To get rid of these issues, the first and best thing to do is restart your modem. Unplug it from power, wait for about 30 seconds, and plug it back in.
After rebooting your modem, the device will reset its connection with the Internet Service Provider (ISP) and re-establishes a network connection across all your connected devices.
So then, how often should you reboot your modem? Honestly, it depends. You can reboot it regularly or monthly, and there are several factors to consider.
Factors to Consider When Deciding if You Should Reboot Your Modem:
These factors will determine how often you experience internet connection problems, and in effect, help you choose how often you should reboot your modem. Whatever the case may be, find a frequency that works for you and the modem.
- How long you’ve been using the modem, or how old the modem is. If you’ve been using your modem for a long time since the last reboot, chances are it’s time to reboot again. Also, the older a modem is, the more often it should be rebooted.
- The Internet Service Provider (ISP) you’re using. Your internet service provider plays a role in your internet speed, so your slow internet could be due to your provider rather than your modem. You may want to check your ISP before rebooting your modem.
- The model of the modem. The model of the modem affects how often you should reboot, as some are better at running for longer than others.
- The number of devices connected via the modem to the Internet. The more devices you have connected to the modem, the more often you should reboot, as they could be slowing it down.
Considering these factors will help you decide whether you have to reboot your modem as frequently as possible or less often.
Does Rebooting the Modem Improve Speed?
There are different reasons you should reboot your modem, but the most important reason is to improve internet speed and connection.
How does this happen?
Modems are just like any other computing device, which means they also have a memory, a processor, a power source, and so on. However, unlike other gadgets, a modem doesn’t have strong components. That’s because its assignment is simple – it connects more powerful computing devices to the internet.
Since modems aren’t designed to hold as much information in their memory, you have to make good use of their little memory. Once you leave the modem up and running for too long, the device will end up accumulating more information than it can handle.
When this happens, it begins to affect your internet connections, and slow things down.
Once you reboot your modem, all the unnecessary information in your modem’s memory is cleared out, providing a clean slate for a new and faster internet connection. Once the device is free of information overload, it will improve your internet connection speed.
How Often Should You Reboot Combo Router/Modems?
Although they serve different purposes, routers and modems work hand in hand to provide you with internet connections. While a router connects all your devices to the internet, a modem is needed to allow those devices to access the internet.
That means you have to connect your router to the modem to distribute the internet connection to all the connected devices.
Since one cannot function without the other, most manufacturers now produce modem router combos. These devices function both as a router and a modem, so you don’t need an individual router and modem.
Still, just like standalone routers and modems, there are moments when you’ll have to reboot your modem-router combo to get your internet connections up to par. And just like other devices, you can reboot the combo gadget as often as you deem fit, especially when you notice there’s a lag in internet connectivity.
What Are Some Signs the Modem Needs to Be Rebooted?
All computers experience glitches, and that includes your modem. Since all your devices rely heavily on the modem, it’s easy to know when your modem needs a reboot.
Are you experiencing a slower internet connection or download request? Are your devices taking time to load? Or did some of your online activities suddenly come to a standstill? It could be your favorite Netflix show or an online video game.
Issues like this are signs you need to turn off and turn on your modem. It’s a popular recommendation, and honestly, a no-brainer.
If you’ve left your modem on for too long, that’s another sign that you need to restart the device – even if you aren’t experiencing any connectivity issues. Leaving your machine on for too long makes it susceptible to malicious attacks and malware. Rebooting will get rid of whatever attacks your modem might be exposed to.
What’s the Best Way to Reboot a Modem Automatically?
Yes, you can reboot your modem manually, but wouldn’t it be better to do it automatically? That way, you wouldn’t have to wait until you experience connection issues before rebooting the device. Automating the reboot process also means you get to schedule the reboots when it won’t interfere with your online activities.
To restart your modem automatically, you can use any of these:
- Reset Plug
- A Digital Timer
- A Reboot Power Remote Control
Conclusion
It doesn’t matter how often you reboot your modem – and even your router. All that matters is that you restart the device whenever you can or believe you should. It’s even better and easier to automate the process, so you don’t have to worry about doing it yourself.