Let's imagine for a moment that everything is fine with your internet connection. There's nothing to repair or fix, no complaints to file, no tweaks or adjustments to make. Even so, plenty of people believe it's an excellent idea to reset the modem from time to time. Just as with mobile devices and computers, the occasional restart helps the modem keep performing at its best, but there are other reasons in the background that are definitely worth exploring...
Provider Modem Quality Stinks
This is a detail we can't lose sight of: the modems delivered by telecom companies are, in the vast majority of cases, the absolute minimum needed to fulfill the plans their residential customers sign up for. Add to that the fact that many devices are provided on loan, and you can't escape the possibility of receiving a used modem with thousands of hours on its back.
Modems and routers are expected to run 24/7/365, and if you combine that requirement with their low-cost profile and some not-so-pleasant practices on the provider's side, it's only logical that stability problems appear over time. Resetting the modem will help you limit the impact of those problems, clean its RAM, renegotiate protocols and give it an extra edge, but the ideal option will always be to request a replacement if the failures are too serious.
Let's Talk About IP Addresses
There's always that server with a draconian attitude toward its visitors, blocking IP addresses whenever it detects something it doesn't like (for example, downloading more than one file at a time). It can also happen that you get a complicated address from the provider, one that's part of blacklists because of previous malicious actions by other users.
Resetting the modem will force the system to assign a new IP address as long as it has a dynamic profile. Some providers around the globe already use static addresses for their services (symmetric fiber comes to mind), and changing that takes more than a simple phone call...
Is There an Intruder on Your Network?
We've explored this topic at several levels: if you're using a particularly weak password on your network, or someone in the family keeps sharing it for whatever reason, you probably want to check whether your WiFi is being stolen. We've previously recommended Android detection apps and a Windows-compatible one that works very well, but resetting the modem doesn't just let you kick out intruders; it's also a fundamental step toward applying a stronger configuration, from changing the password to MAC address filters, and limits on the DHCP pool.
Sometimes the Provider Takes Care of It
It's not exactly common, but I've seen it in action: everything seems to work perfectly until the modem restarts on its own, its lights start blinking like crazy, and after several minutes it returns to normal. It's always worth confirming, but it's possible the support section sent a firmware update to the device. The flash storage in modems isn't a shining example of speed, which means we have to be patient, giving the device several minutes to come back from the dark side.
How to Reset the Modem, and How Often
Resetting the modem usually offers three paths: via software from its configuration menu, with the power button, and the classic pull on the power cable. Although the healthiest option from a technical standpoint is resetting via software, many devices don't have a physical power button, and when everything hangs... well, you basically enter IT Crowd mode.
As for the frequency... it depends. Having to restart too many times just to be able to browse is a sign that something is wrong, but one of the most popular intervals I've found on the web is "once a week", and for a residential device that sounds reasonable. In fact, some modem and router models let you schedule automatic restarts, and if that's your case, you should definitely take advantage of the feature. Give it a try! Resetting the modem is a good practice.
