For a gateway that restarts or runs hot, Ubiquiti's offline and LED articles cover the physical layer. A device that restarts unexpectedly on PoE may be underpowered; Ubiquiti's help notes that insufficient PoE shows as devices going offline or restarting. On a console powered by AC, check the power cable, the outlet and any power strip, and use a UPS if power is unreliable. Keep vents clear and allow airflow in a rack;
The checks in more detail
the Dream Machine Pro is rack mounted, so blanking panels and clear fan paths matter. Watch the LED: a UDM that flashes only white is upgrading, quickly flashing white and blue is a firmware upgrade, strobing white and off means power cycle the device and contact support if it continues, and flashing white, blue and off means TFTP mode, which happens when the Reset button is held or jammed at power-on, so check the button clicks freely.
If the console reboots on its own, check for a failing storage or a power problem, look at logs in UniFi OS and install the latest update. A factory reset is available from the Reset button (five to ten seconds) or UniFi OS settings. Replace damaged cables, try another port and use the RMA portal if the unit is in warranty and keeps restarting. If a console restarts on a schedule, such as every few days, look for a pattern in the logs and in what else happens on that day, such as a backup, an update or a heavy download.
If it restarts at random, power is the first suspect. Keep a simple log of dates and what the LED did, since Ubiquiti support will ask for it, and a written history often reveals a cause faster than another round of resets. Keep the console off carpet and away from the back of a television, and keep dust out of the vents with an occasional gentle clean, since dust is a quiet cause of heat.
Differential
Likely causes of “Ubiquiti UniFi gateways restarts, freezes or overheats”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
Blocked vents or a hot rack
What separates it The gateway runs hot because its vents are blocked or the rack is hot
How to confirm Clear the airflow around the gateway, and cool the rack if it is running hot
- 2
Weak power
What separates it The gateway restarts at random because its power is weak
How to confirm Check the cable, the outlet and any UPS that feeds the gateway
- 3
A jammed Reset button
What separates it The gateway starts in TFTP mode because the Reset button is stuck down
How to confirm Check that the Reset button clicks and springs back, and is not jammed
- 4
Old firmware
What separates it The gateway restarts because it is running old firmware
How to confirm Update to the latest release, and then watch for further restarts
- 5
A failing unit
What separates it The gateway restarts even after a reset because the unit itself is failing
How to confirm Send the unit for an RMA under warranty, since a failing unit will keep on restarting
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The LED pattern before and after a restart
- The location of the gateway and how much airflow it has
- The power source that the gateway uses
- The firmware version that the gateway runs
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedRead the LED
ReversibleRead the light, since a strobing white light means that you should power cycle the device.
Check power
ReversibleCheck the power, including the cable, the outlet and any UPS, to rule out a supply problem.
Clear airflow
ReversibleClear the airflow by keeping the vents and the rack free of dust and blocked space.
Check the Reset button
ReversibleCheck the Reset button, and make sure that it clicks and is not held down by anything.
Update
ReversibleUpdate the gateway to the latest release, since updates include fixes for stability, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Reset if needed
ReversibleReset the gateway if needed, by holding the Reset button for five to ten seconds.
RMA if it persists
ReversibleSend it for an RMA if the problem persists, and it is still under its warranty.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Dream Machine Pro
- The Dream Machine Pro is rack mounted and needs airflow around it.
- Cloud Gateway Ultra
- The Cloud Gateway Ultra is compact and sits on a shelf; keep it uncovered.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If the gateway restarts after an update and a clean reset, request an RMA
- !If the LED strobes white, power cycle and contact support
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
White, blue and port LEDs.
Cables, ports and RMA.
Reset button and app reset.
Update Manager, auto-updates and update troubleshooting.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
Why does my gateway restart?+
The usual causes of a restart are a power problem, heat or old firmware.
What does flashing white, blue and off mean?+
A light that flashes white, blue and off means that the device is in TFTP mode.
Can a jammed reset button cause it?+
Yes, a jammed Reset button can hold the device in a reset or a recovery mode.
Can weak PoE cause restarts?+
Yes, weak PoE can cause restarts, for devices that are powered by PoE.
Is heat a problem?+
Yes, heat is a problem, so keep the vents clear and the rack cool.