HT203198: Wi-Fi base station: Understanding and resolving a blinking amber status light

Learn about Wi-Fi base station: Understanding and resolving a blinking amber status light
Sureshreddys

Q: Time Capsule - blinking amber light

am using my time capsule with an imac for back up only.  the back up seems to be working fine but i keep getting this blinking amber light.  do i ignore it ?

Posted on Apr 7, 2012 7:49 PM

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Q: Time Capsule - blinking amber light

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  • by Tesserax,Apple recommended

    Tesserax Tesserax Apr 7, 2012 7:52 PM in response to Sureshreddys
    Level 9 (54,040 points)
    Wireless
    Apr 7, 2012 7:52 PM in response to Sureshreddys

    A persistent, flashing amber light indicates that any of the several potential conditions may require your attention:

     

    • The base station has not yet been configured because it is new, or the reset switch has been set.
    • You have selected a security configuration that is not recommended.
    • One of several other conditions, such as a disconnected Ethernet cable or invalid IP address has been detected.

    (ref: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=305101)

     

    If you run the AirPort Utility, it will show an amber circle on the summary page next to the area(s) causing the problem. Click on this amber circle and it should provide an explanation.

  • by Sidpicky,

    Sidpicky Sidpicky Aug 4, 2012 12:52 PM in response to Tesserax
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 4, 2012 12:52 PM in response to Tesserax

    Thanks @Tesserax. That worked perfectly. Legend!

  • by kayewilkins,Apple recommended

    kayewilkins kayewilkins Aug 4, 2012 2:11 PM in response to Sureshreddys
    Level 1 (87 points)
    Aug 4, 2012 2:11 PM in response to Sureshreddys

    the amber blinkiinng light indicates a couple things

     

    1> Firmware update

    2> Not fully configured

    3> Network wiht out password

    4> Not a vaild IP

    5> No dns servers

    6> double nat

    7> ethernet cable unplugged

     

    Best thing to do would be to open Airport utility And see what the status says.

     

    If its just a back up then you mostly likely you didnt connect ethenet canles and its going to be 3 errors. > error 4/5 and 7 fromt eh list above >> just ignore all the errors

  • by MVBaker123,

    MVBaker123 MVBaker123 Jun 12, 2013 11:07 PM in response to Sureshreddys
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 12, 2013 11:07 PM in response to Sureshreddys

    Tesserax was helpeful -- I had a blinking amber light on my Apple Time Capsule; had forgot that I had changed my Apple ID Password.  I went straight to the Airport Utility and re-entered my new Password; Fixed!  Sometimes it's the little things that seem like more profound problems!   Thank you Tesserax -- I like Iron Man too!

  • by jamestrenda,

    jamestrenda jamestrenda Jul 25, 2013 10:43 AM in response to Sureshreddys
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 25, 2013 10:43 AM in response to Sureshreddys

    It also indicates that there is an error with the internal disk, which is what mine says, and I don't know how to fix it.

  • by jamestrenda,

    jamestrenda jamestrenda Jul 25, 2013 11:30 AM in response to jamestrenda
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 25, 2013 11:30 AM in response to jamestrenda

    turns out it was actually a problem with a drive connected to time capsule.  i noticed this because as soon as i unplugged that drive from time capsule, the light turned green. so i connected that disk directly to my computer and ran disk utility, which revealed a problem with the partition map and "loader space"...whatever that means.  I tried to repair it, but it failed the first time as it has 3 partitions.  i had to verify each one, which I did so successfully.  once each one was verified, i was able to go and repair the whole disk, even though I believe only one of the partitions, the Time Machine partition, was the culprit.

  • by emily mfrombronx,

    emily mfrombronx emily mfrombronx Sep 1, 2013 7:53 PM in response to Sureshreddys
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 1, 2013 7:53 PM in response to Sureshreddys

    Worked perfectly and cleared up the issue.

  • by joynme,

    joynme joynme May 28, 2016 5:39 AM in response to kayewilkins
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 28, 2016 5:39 AM in response to kayewilkins

    It needed a firmware update.  All is well.  This is the only posting that mentioned firmware update possibility.

  • by WGB_No.7,

    WGB_No.7 WGB_No.7 May 29, 2016 1:16 AM in response to Sureshreddys
    Level 1 (12 points)
    iPhone
    May 29, 2016 1:16 AM in response to Sureshreddys

    Try this as to establish if there is an issue or only a firmware update to be done

     

    1. Open the "OTHER" icon on your Mac Settings
    2. Select Airport Utility - you will see a pictogram of both your computer and Time Capsule - it will immediately tell you if an update is required.
    3. If an update is required - simply click on the text below the picture of the Time Capsule - and the firmware update will begin.
    4. The Time Capsule will carry out a re-start on completion of the firmware update.
    5. Once complete, your flashing yellow light should be solid green again.

     

     

    WGB

  • by tomq,

    tomq tomq May 31, 2016 11:21 AM in response to Sureshreddys
    Level 1 (9 points)
    May 31, 2016 11:21 AM in response to Sureshreddys

    I had the same issue but the simple and easy fix is as follows:

     

    1.  Open the "AirPort Utility" and you will see the blinking amber light next to Time Capsule along with other wireless devices such as AirPort Express. 

     

    2.  Click on the red number beside it (as if it is an unopened email) and the system will ask for a password. 

     

    3.  Click on the password box and tada, the system will state to update firmware.  Do that and the system will update the firmware and within a few minutes, your blinking amber light will change back to being a happy solid green light.

  • by 65Annie,

    65Annie 65Annie Aug 29, 2016 3:51 PM in response to Sureshreddys
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Aug 29, 2016 3:51 PM in response to Sureshreddys

    Thanks!  Time machine needed update and I now have steady green light!