AT&T Community Forums

Ready to learn what your AT&T Smart Wi-Fi Extender (4971) LED lights mean?

Then, you're in the right place! First, connect an Ethernet cable from any of the ports on the back of your Wi-Fi extender directly to your Wi-Fi gateway:

- If you get a solid white light, the pairing process has completed.
You can disconnect the Ethernet cable and place the extender in a new location.

- If you get a solid red light:
• Be sure you’re not connecting through a 3rd party router
• Make sure there aren’t any devices connected by Ethernet to your extender when powering on
• Be sure you have ordered Extended Wi-Fi Coverage service. Check your AT&T Internet service account.

Note: You can learn more about your AT&T Smart Wi-Fi Extender (4971) and all of our Wi-Fi Gateways & Equipment.

What do these Front Service LED colors mean?

Expand all

LED color	State	Meaning
OFF	OFF	No power. Make sure the Wi-Fi extender is plugged in to a working wall outlet and the back power LED is green.

LED color	State	Meaning
White	Solid White	Your Wi-Fi Extender is connected. Enjoy AT&T internet Service!
	Blinking White (Fast Blink)	Your Wi-Fi Extender is starting up, please wait during this time.
	Blinking White (Slow Blink)	Your Wi-Fi Extender is powering up and connecting to gateway Wifi

LED color	State	Meaning
Red	Solid Red	Your Wi-Fi Extender is not configured properly or may be connected through a 3rd party router. Please try to connect it using Ethernet cable to the AT&T gateway. If the Solid RED light persists, contact ATT.com/support. This also means MRC Wi-fi coverage Service NOT found or Device SN not on Service.
	Blinking Red (Fast Blink)	Your Wi-Fi Extender has been rebooted. Please wait while it starts up until the light turns solid white or see reboot sequence.
	Blinking Red (Slow Blink)	Your Wi-Fi Extender is having connection issues. Please check for a loose, disconnected or damaged Ethernet cable, and then press the Red reset button or see WPS section.

LED color	State	Meaning
Amber	Blinking Amber (Slow Blink)	Your Wi-Fi Extender is seamlessly connecting (Blink speed vary) and or software updating (Blink Slow). Please wait until the light turns back to solid white. Do not unplug or the Wi-Fi Extender during this process.

LED color	State	Meaning
Green / Red	Blinking Green / Red	Your Wi-Fi Extender is configured and connected, but its placement may not be optimal for best performance. It could be too far from the Wi-Fi Gateway or another Extender. Try to move it to a closer location. This state is for Factory Reset requested from a Red Button press greater then 10 seconds.

What do these WPS Setup and Service LED colors mean?

Expand all

Press the WPS button on the back of the extender to start pairing. Watch the service LED on the front of the extender to check the WPS status. When reviewing this material, remember that:

• Any references to a Fast Blink (any color) is ~2 blink per 2 seconds.
• Any references to a Slow Blink (any color) is ~1 blink every 2 seconds.

Now, lets take a look at the AT&T Smart Wi-Fi Extender (4971) WPS Setup and Service LED colors.

LED color	State	Meaning
Red	Blinking Red (Fast Blink)	Your Wi-Fi Extender detected multiple Wi-Fi devices trying to connect. Please wait before trying again. or Your Wi-Fi Extender has been rebooted. Please wait while it starts up.
Red	Blinking Red (Slow Blink)	Attempt to connect devices using WPS has failed. Please wait until the light changes and then press the WPS button to try again.

LED color	State	Meaning
Green	Solid Green	Wi-Fi device has been successfully paired – WPS completed.
	Blinking Green (Slow Blink)	The WPS button has been pressed. Please take action on the Wi-Fi device you are attempting to connect to the gateway. or After a seamless pairing failure, press the WPS button or Ethernet cable to pair.
	Back Ethernet LED	Description
	Solid Green	The Port has established a link with a connected device. If the LED is off the device is not properly connected or the connected device is not powered on.
	Power Jack LED	Description
	Solid Green	Your Wi-Fi Extender is powered on. No LED means the power is either not connected or no power at the wall plug. If the front service LED is off, but the power jack LED is Green then your Wi-Fi Extender needs to be replaced.

What are the AT&T Smart Wi-Fi Extender (4971) startup sequences?

Expand all

LED Color Service	Overall experience, time avg.
No Color	-4 seconds OFF, after the power is connected
White (Slow Blink)	~45 Seconds, Starting and Searching for Wi-Fi or Wired connection
Amber (Slow Blink)	10 Seconds to 5 minutes. Your Wi-Fi Extender is seamlessly connecting (Blink speed vary) and or updating (Blink Slow). Please wait until the light turns back to solid white. Do not unplug Ethernet or the Wi-Fi Extender during this process.
White (Slow Blink)	~60 seconds, searching for Wi-Fi then devices can reconnect to the Wi-Fi Extender. ~30 sec for Ethernet.
White	Connected Time Average = 3-20minutes (Longer times for Seamless pairing and or Software updates.)

LED Color Service	Overall experience, time avg.
Red (Fast Blink)	1~10 seconds button press and released respond to button Blink Red
Red (Fast Blink)	1~5 End Process/Shut down (Button released)
No Color	~4 second OFF (See Boot sequence)
White (Slow Blink)	~60 seconds, searching for Wi-Fi then devices can reconnect to the Wi-Fi Extender. ~30 sec for Ethernet.
White	Connected Average ~40 seconds

LED Color Service	Overall experience, time avg.
Red (Fast Blink)	1 second software command sent Blink Red
Red (Fast Blink)	1~5 End Process/Shut down (Button released)
No Color	~4 second OFF (See Boot sequence)
White (Slow Blink)	~60 seconds, searching for Wi-Fi then devices can reconnect to the Wi-Fi Extender. ~30 sec for Ethernet.
White	Connected Average ~40 seconds

LED Color Service	Overall experience, time avg.
Red (Fast Blink)	1~10 seconds button press held respond to button Blink Red.
Green/Red (Slow Blink)	> 10 Seconds or more button press held respond to button Green/Red Blinking
Green/Red (Slow Blink)	1~5 End Process/Shut down (Button released)
No Color	~4 second OFF (See Boot sequence)
Amber (Slow Blink)	10 Seconds to 5 minutes, Your Wi-Fi Extender is seamlessly connecting (Blink speed vary) and or software updating (Blink Slow). Please wait until the light turns back to solid white. Do not unplug or the Wi-Fi Extender during this process.
White (Slow Blink)	~60 seconds, searching for Wi-Fi then devices can reconnect to the Wi-Fi Extender. ~30 sec for Ethernet.
White	Connected Overall Average 3-7 Minutes
Red (Fast Blink)	5 sec failed to connect to Provisioning SSID
Green (Slow Blink)	~6 minutes after failed provisioning (Very Slow Blink 3000msON/3000msOFF) wait indefinitely for WPS button or Wired connection to pair
Red	Your Wi-Fi Extender is not configured properly and or may be connected through a 3rd party router.

LED Color Service	Overall experience, time avg.
No Color	-4 seconds OFF, after the power is connected
White (Slow Blink)	20~40 Seconds, Booting the device
Amber (Slow Blink)	110 Seconds to 5 minutes, Your Wi-Fi Extender is seamlessly connecting (Blink speed vary) and or software updating (Slow Blink). Please wait until the light turns back to solid white. Do not unplug or the Wi-Fi Extender during this process.
White (Slow Blink)	~60 seconds, searching for Wi-Fi then devices can reconnect to the Wi-Fi Extender. ~30 sec for Ethernet.
White	Overall Experience Time Average
Red (Fast Blink)	5 sec failed to connect to Provisioning SSID
Green	After failed Red LED the Green LED (Very Slow Blink 4000msON/4000msOFF) will appear and wait indefinitely for WPS button to be pressed or Wired connection to pair.
Red	Your Wi-Fi Extender is not configured properly and or may be connected through a 3rd party router.

FAST. EASY. ONLINE.

Shop the way you want

Same-day pickup

Order online and pick up safely in-store or curbside today.
Subject to availability.

Find a store

Same-day delivery

Get delivery and optional expert setup as soon as today with AT&T Right To You^SM. All free.
Select markets only. Same-day delivery subject to availability.

Learn more