Unifi System Not Working? A Troubleshooting Guide
It can be incredibly frustrating when your Unifi network stops working. Whether you've lost internet connection entirely or are experiencing performance issues, a non-functional network can bring your home or business to a standstill. This guide is designed to help you systematically troubleshoot and resolve the most common problems with Unifi equipment, including Access Points (APs), Switches, and Security Gateways (USG).
We will walk you through the essential checks, from physical connections to software configurations, to get your network back up and running smoothly.
## Common Symptoms of Unifi Network Problems
Before diving into solutions, it's helpful to identify the specific symptoms your network is exhibiting. This can provide crucial clues about the root cause of the issue.
- No Internet Connection: Devices connect to the Wi-Fi, but cannot access any websites.
- Unifi Controller is Offline: The management interface is inaccessible, preventing you from monitoring or configuring your network.
- Access Points (APs) Showing as Disconnected: Your APs appear offline in the controller, and no Wi-Fi signal is being broadcast.
- Slow Wi-Fi Speeds: The network is active, but performance is sluggish, with slow downloads and buffering video.
- Devices Failing to Adopt: New or reset Unifi devices are discovered but fail to provision, showing an 'Adoption Failed' error.
- Frequent Disconnections: Devices randomly lose their connection to the Wi-Fi network.
- LED Status Lights Are Off or Amber: The indicator lights on your Unifi hardware are not the expected solid blue or white.
## Step-by-Step Troubleshooting for Unifi Issues
Follow these steps in order to diagnose and fix your Unifi network.
### 1. Check Physical Connections and Power
The most common cause of network failure is often the simplest. It's essential to rule out any physical layer issues first.
- Check Power Sources: Ensure your Unifi devices (APs, switches, gateway) are receiving power. If you are using Power over Ethernet (PoE), verify that the PoE switch or injector is powered on and functioning correctly. Look at the LED lights on the devices; if they are off, it's a power issue.
- Inspect Ethernet Cables: A faulty or loose cable can bring down a whole network segment. Check that all Ethernet cables are securely plugged into the correct ports. Try swapping a cable you suspect is faulty with a known good one.
- Restart Your Equipment: A simple power cycle can resolve many temporary glitches. Turn off your modem, Unifi Security Gateway (USG), switches, and then your Access Points. Wait for 60 seconds, then power them back on in the same order, waiting for each device to fully boot before starting the next.
### 2. Investigate the Unifi Network Controller
The Unifi Controller is the brain of your network. If it's not working correctly, you can't manage your devices, and certain features might fail.
- Ensure the Controller is Running: If you are hosting the controller on a computer, make sure the application is running. If you are using a UniFi Cloud Key or other dedicated hardware, ensure it's powered on and connected to the network.
- Check for Accessibility: Try to access your controller via its IP address or from
unifi.ui.com. If you cannot reach it, there may be a network issue between your management device and the controller itself. Check for firewalls that might be blocking access. - Review Controller Logs: If you can access the controller, check the 'Alerts' and 'Events' sections for any error messages or warnings. These logs can provide specific details about what is going wrong.
### 3. Troubleshoot Device Adoption and Connectivity
If your devices are powered on but not functioning, you may have an adoption or connectivity problem.
- Verify Device Status: In the Unifi Controller, check the status of your devices. If they show as 'Disconnected' or 'Adoption Failed', the controller cannot communicate with them.
- Check for IP Address Conflicts: Ensure that no two devices on your network have the same IP address. Also, ensure your devices are receiving a valid IP address from your DHCP server (usually your router or USG).
- Factory Reset and Re-adopt: If a specific device is causing problems, a factory reset can often resolve the issue. Use a paperclip to press and hold the reset button on the device for more than 10 seconds. Once it reboots, it will appear as 'Pending Adoption' in the controller, and you can attempt to adopt it again.
### 4. Optimise Your Wireless Network Settings
For issues like slow speeds or frequent disconnections, the problem may lie in your Wi-Fi configuration.
- Perform an RF Scan: Within the Unifi Controller, you can perform an RF environment scan. This will show you which Wi-Fi channels are most congested in your area. Manually set your APs to use the least-congested channels to reduce interference.
- Adjust Transmit Power: Setting the transmit power of your APs too high can cause interference and actually worsen performance. Start with the 'Auto' setting or manually set it to 'Medium' for both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz radios.
- Update Firmware: Ensure all your Unifi devices are running the latest firmware. Ubiquiti regularly releases updates that include performance improvements and bug fixes. You can update firmware directly from the controller.