If you’re a BT broadband customer, you likely have a BT Hub as the cornerstone of your internet setup. This powerful device is quite sophisticated, yet it communicates with users using a simple system of lights.
If you’ve ever wondered about the BT Hub lights and what each light color means, this blog post will clear up all your queries. We are going to explain the meaning of the BT Hub lights and break down what each color and pattern signifies.
BT Hub Lights: What Do They Mean?
The BT Hub tells us more about the status, issues, and other vital information using different LED light colors. Here is a detailed explanation of what each color means.
No Light
Let’s start with what it means when the LED indicator light is off on your BT Hub. Usually, no light on your BT Hub means that the Hub is off or isn’t receiving power. Check your cables and power source.
Applies to: BT Smart Hub 2, BT Smart Hub and Ultrafast Smart Hub, BT Home Hub 4 and 5
Blue Light
If you are seeing a solid blue light on your BT Hub it is usually a good sign that means your BT Hub is up and running. This color means that you are connected to the Internet and that everything works well. There are no issues and there is no action needed from your side.
Applies to: BT Smart Hub 2, BT Smart Hub and Ultrafast Smart Hub, BT Home Hub 4 and 5, BT Home Hub 3
Green Light
The BT Hub is starting up. This is part of the boot sequence and it shouldn’t last longer than 90 seconds. Just give the Hub some time to start up completely before you use it.
However, if the green light stays longer than usual you can check our BT Hub green light troubleshooting guide for some tips on how to overcome the issue.
Applies to: BT Smart Hub 2, BT Smart Hub and Ultrafast Smart Hub, BT Home Hub 4 and 5 (flashing), BT Home Hub 3
Flashing Orange Light
A BT Hub flashing orange light means your hub is trying to connect to the internet. Normally it shouldn’t last long, but if it continues for more than a few minutes, it is important to check your setup or contact BT for support.
Applies to: BT Smart Hub 2, BT Smart Hub and Ultrafast Smart Hub, BT Home Hub 4 and 5
Solid Orange Light
A solid orange light suggests that there is an issue preventing your Hub from connecting to the internet. This could be a problem with your cables, filers, or the ISP itself.
Applies to: BT Smart Hub 2, BT Smart Hub and Ultrafast Smart Hub, BT Home Hub 4 and 5, BT Home Hub 3 (steady)
Flashing Purple Light
A BT Hub flashing purple light indicates that your hub is working properly but the broadband cable isn’t connected or the Hub is not online.
This light can be seen after a factory reset when you first switch on your BT Hub or before you connect the broadband cable. Once the connection is successful, the color should change to blue.
Applies to: BT Smart Hub 2, BT Smart Hub, and Ultrafast Smart Hub
Solid Purple Light
Your Hub is linked to the EE mobile network through Hybrid Connect. This can happen if your broadband connection hasn’t been fully established yet, or because there’s a problem with your broadband service.
Applies to: BT Smart Hub 2 Only
Flashing Red Light
A flashing red light on your BT Hub indicates a severe issue that prevents your Hub from working at all. This light requires your immediate attention and eventually help from BT support.
Applies to: BT Smart Hub 2, BT Smart Hub and Ultrafast Smart Hub, BT Home Hub 4 and 5, BT Home Hub 3
Solid Red Light
Similar to the flashing red light, a solid red light signifies a major issue. This could be a problem with your Hub or a more serious problem with your broadband service.
Applies to: BT Smart Hub 2, BT Smart Hub and Ultrafast Smart Hub, BT Home Hub 4 and 5, BT Home Hub 3
WPS Button Flashing
A flashing blue light means that the BT Hub is in WPS pairing mode and it is waiting for you to activate WPS on the device you want to connect to the network. A flashing red light means that the WPS connection has failed and you have to start again.
Applies to: BT Smart Hub 2, BT Smart Hub and Ultrafast Smart Hub, BT Home Hub 4 and 5, BT Home Hub 3
Please note that the meaning of the lights may vary slightly between BT Hub models, but in general, the meaning of each color is as presented above.
Troubleshooting The BT Hub Lights
Once you understand the meaning of the lights on your BT Hub, diagnosing and fixing issues becomes easier. In the next few paragraphs, we are going to provide some basic and advanced troubleshooting steps, but if you would feel better it is best to get in touch with BT support straight away.
Check The Power Supply
Check the power supply to your BT Hub. Make sure that the power cable is firmly connected to both the Hub and the wall outlet.
Make sure the power switch is turned on and the outlet is working properly. Plug a different device to check this.
Check whether there are any signs of physical damage to the power cord or the Hub itself.
Check Internet Connection
You need to check whether your ISP is down or not. You can check the Outage page on their website or get in touch with their customer service.
Check if other devices connected to the same network are able to access the internet. This can help determine if the issue is specific to the BT Hub or a broader network issue.
Try connecting your device directly to the Hub using an Ethernet cable. If this solves the problem, it might indicate an issue with your Wi-Fi connection.
Reboot The Hub
A great and quick way to resolve most issues with your network is to perform a simple reboot or restart. To reboot your BT Hub, turn it off, wait for about a minute, then turn it back on.
Wait for the Hub to boot up completely. The lights on the Hub should return to their normal state.
Check if the problem persists after the reboot.
Check Cables And Connections
You should also check the cables connected to your BT Hub. This includes the power cable, Ethernet cables, and the DSL cable that connects to your phone line.
All the connections have to be secured. A loose connection can result in many problems with your network.
Check if there is any visible damage to the cables. If you notice anything, replace the cable.
In case you have some spare cables, try swapping them out to see if the problem persists. This can help identify if a faulty cable is the source of the issue.
Update Hub Firmware
If your BT Hub is connected to the internet check whether there is a new firmware waiting to be installed. Firmware updates often include bug fixes and improvements that can resolve common issues with your BT Hub.
Launch the app and find the Firmware Status section in Settings. Select Check for Updates.
If there is a new firmware available select Update Firmware, and follow the instructions to upgrade the firmware.
NOTE: You shouldn’t interrupt the firmware upgrade process, but if that happens by any chance (because of a power outage or something else), you can try repeating the process.
Factory Resett The Hub
If none of the above steps work, you might need to reset your BT Hub to its factory settings.
Note that a factory reset will clear al the custom settings, such as Wi-Fi network name and password. Make sure you have this information saved somewhere if you need to re-enter it.
To perform a factory reset, you can find factory reset instructions specific to your BT Hub here.
Frequently Asked Questions
One of the reasons why your BT Hub light is unstable can be because of a temporary issue with your internet connection, power supply interruptions, or the Hub itself. Try to reboot the Hub first and check the cables. Eventually, contact BT support and ask for their assistance.
An orange light on your BT Hub usually means it’s not connected to the internet. You can still use the Hub for local connections (like a home network), but you won’t be able to access the internet until the issue is resolved.
The so-called “b” light is the broadband light. It can be seen on the BT Home Hub 4 and 5. It can be orange or red indicating different issues.
Final Words
Now that you know what the BT Hub lights mean, you will be ready to take action when you notice that your Hub displays any light other than solid blue. You can either use this guide to troubleshoot the issue yourself or get in touch with BT support for assistance.
