If your modem lights are flashing red or orange, it usually means your modem is having trouble connecting to the nbn® network.
This doesn't always mean there's a fault — in many cases, it's something simple that can be fixed at home.
Different modem brands use different colours, but generally:
If your modem light has been flashing for more than five minutes, follow the steps below.
Before making any changes, visit the nbn® Network Status page to see if there's an outage in your area: www.nbnco.com.au/support/network-status
If there's an outage or planned maintenance, your lights will return to normal once service is restored.
Most connection issues can be fixed with a restart:
If the lights turn green or blue after restarting, your connection is restored.
Loose or damaged cables can stop your modem from detecting a signal.
If you're a new customer, your modem may show orange or red lights before your service is officially activated. Check your email or SMS notifications for your activation date. Once the service is live, the lights should turn solid green or blue automatically.
See "Can I connect before my activation date?" for more details.
If you're using your own modem:
Incorrect credentials or connection type settings will cause red or orange indicator lights.
If your lights are still red or orange after checking everything else:
See "How to reset your modem" for a full step-by-step guide.
If your modem lights remain red or orange for more than 10 minutes after restarting and checking cables, take a photo of your modem and nbn® box lights and include your name and address when contacting us.
Our team will check your line remotely and determine whether the issue is with your modem, nbn® connection, or an external fault.