A Wi-Fi router has long become an indispensable device in every home. It provides constant communication with the world, manages a “smart” home, and works 24/7 without interruption. However, experts advise giving it a “rest” from time to time — especially at night. Does night shutdown really make sense — we consider the pros and cons.
Benefits of turning off your router at night
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Saving electricity
Although the router consumes little electricity, regularly turning it off for at least a few hours can reduce overall electricity consumption and reduce electricity bills. -
More stable operation
Nightly reboot clears cache and eliminates minor glitches that accumulate during the day. This reduces the risk of freezes and overheating of the device. -
Improved security
: Turning off Wi-Fi at night makes it harder for attackers to gain access to your home network, especially if you have devices with sensitive information. -
Better Well-Being and Sleep
Routers emit electromagnetic waves that, according to some studies, can affect sleep, melatonin production, and even cause headaches or fatigue. Turning off or at least moving the device away from the bed can improve the quality of rest.
Disadvantages of turning off at night
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Missed emergency messages
In times of war or disaster, it is critically important to have constant access to the network - notifications about air raids or other dangers come online. -
Delayed Updates
Most gadgets (smartphones, TVs, computers) update at night. Without the Internet, these updates will not happen on time, which can affect security and performance. -
Delayed startup in the morning
After shutting down overnight, the router may take a few minutes to reconnect to the network, which can be annoying if you need to work quickly in the morning.
What to choose?
The decision depends on your lifestyle. If savings, device stability, and sleep quality are important, turn off Wi-Fi at night or at least place your router away from your bed. If constant network availability is your priority, leave your router on, but reboot it periodically during the day, and avoid having it near your head while you sleep.
