nbn box lights ยท nothing
My nbn box has no lights at all
A completely dark box is usually the simplest fault on this whole site, and it is almost always power rather than the network. Work through it in order before you call anyone.
Last reviewed: 15 August 2026 · by Alien IT Solutions
The short version
When every light is out, the box is not running. That points at the power supply, the outlet, or the box itself, and in that order.
Check that the outlet is switched on and works with something else, that the power adapter is properly seated at both ends, and that you are using the adapter that came with the box rather than a similar looking one from another device. If all of that is right and the box stays dark, it is hardware, and since the box belongs to nbn rather than to you, replacing it is something your provider arranges.
FTTP
| Light | State | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power | Off | There is no power to your nbn connection box. | Check the power supply is plugged in, switched on at the wall, and connected to the box. If there is still no power light, contact your provider. |
FTTC
| Light | State | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power | Off | The device is off. | Plug it in and switch the power outlet on. |
HFC
| Light | State | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power | Off | There is no power to the connection box. | Check the power supply is plugged in, switched on, and connected. If there is still no light, contact your provider. |
Fixed Wireless
| Light | State | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power | Off | No power to the connection box. | Check the power lead and the outlet. |
FTTN and FTTB
There is no nbn connection box on FTTN or FTTB. nbn states plainly that these connections use a modem supplied by your provider, plugged into a telephone wall socket. So if you came here looking for the meaning of a light on an nbn box, you will not find one, because you do not have that box.
Before you touch anything
- Do not go up a ladder or onto a roof. That includes fixed wireless antennas and dishes. nbn's own fixed wireless guide tells you to contact your provider rather than touch an outdoor unit mounted more than 2 metres off the ground. There is nothing you can fix up there that is worth a fall.
- Do not open the nbn connection box, and do not touch the pit or the lead-in cable. That equipment belongs to nbn, not to you or your provider. Fibre terminations carry laser light that you cannot see and should not look into. Opening it can also end your service and leave you liable for the repair.
- Leave the backup battery alone beyond what your provider's own script tells you. If you have the optional Power Supply with Battery Backup, follow your provider's instructions for it and nothing more.
- Burning smell, scorch marks, or a modem too hot to touch: stop. Switch it off at the wall, unplug it, and do not plug it back in. Tell your provider it needs replacing. There is no troubleshooting step that comes before this.
Where this comes from
Every light state and every figure on this page comes from the sources below, each checked on 15 August 2026. Where a provider's guide disagrees with nbn's, the provider is describing their own hardware and you should follow theirs.
While you are on the phone to them anyway
Most people only look hard at their telco account when something has gone wrong. Since you are already dealing with them, send the bill over. The audit is free, and we will tell you plainly where you are overpaying and what is worth challenging.
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