Freebox blocked at step 6 How to fix it
Freebox blocked at the’Step 6: How to fix it ?
As an Internet service provider, Free is highly regarded for the quality of its fiber offer and its equipment. However, the service is not free of concerns related to the network and equipment. For example, Freeboxes can sometimes get stuck on step 6 of the initialization process.
Nevertheless, you have several options to try to solve the problem before contacting Free’s technical department.
What does step 6 mean ?
Step 6 corresponds to the authentication of your box on the Free network. The operation concretely consists in configuring the identification number of the box. The modem will be recognized and accepted by the operator’s infrastructure. Without the identifier, you will not have access to the Internet and to the services associated with your subscription (TV, telephony, messaging, etc.).).
The equipment will be ignored by the operator. As a result, you will also be exposed to a Freebox blocking step 7 .
At stage 6, the equipment has already successfully passed the first part of the initialization process of the operator’s services. It is therefore supposed to be connected to the network and to have an address assigned by the DHCP servers. In detail, the device has already gone through :
- Startup and verification of components (step 1);
- Searching for a signal on the fiber or ADSL network (step 2);
- The establishment of the internet connection (step 3);
- Retrieving server information from the network (step 4).
Step 5 does not involve any concrete action. The dialing goes directly to step 6. Anyway, the blocking at this step means that the box could not authenticate itself on the network. You will then have to solve the problems at the origin of the anomaly to be able to use your installation.
Why my Freebox does not pass this step 6 ?
The blockage in step 6 can be caused by a power failure, an incomplete update or a hardware failure. It is often advisable to consider the faulty box last, for practical reasons. It requires an intervention of the technical service or a replacement of the equipment.
In both cases, the problem is quite rare and the solution may take time.
Long before the failure, you can consider the effects of a power failure or an update error. The Freebox is first and foremost a device that uses electricity. Consequently, your equipment is exposed to disturbances on the electrical network and to malfunctions caused by these anomalies.
A power outage, for example, can cause some components to fail.
Step 1 is used to check the correct operation of all components and services. However, some problems may well go unnoticed during the systematic check. They will only be visible at step 6, when the Freebox is waiting to be authenticated.
In this case, rebooting is a potentially effective option to resolve the situation. This solution also allows to remedy unfinished updates.
How to get through step 6 of the Freebox
Step 6 requires information exchange on the Free network. Therefore, you should first check your equipment and installation. A bad connection can actually cause a loss of the signal found in step 2 and of the connection established in step 3. To be sure, you will have to start with a visual check of the equipment and wiring to identify possible damage.
You will also need to unplug all cables and check the end caps. Then, insert each cable correctly into the ports of the box, the TV decoder and the wall (ADSL or fiber). It is also preferable to remove the extension cords and power strips present on your installation. These elements can affect the proper functioning of Free’s equipment.
In addition, the problems caused can take a wide variety of forms.
On the other hand, you need to consider the behavior of the electrical network in your area. A Freebox can be affected by frequent power cuts or regular voltage fluctuations. The second anomaly is generally recognized by the frequency and punctuality of the malfunction.
The electrical track will be privileged, if the box refuses to start at the same time. To verify this, test your equipment on a network independent source.
Restart of the Freebox
The reboot is a simple and effective solution to solve common problems on a Freebox. Moreover, you don’t necessarily need to know the origin of the problem. However, you can’t just turn the box off and on with the power button.
You need to unplug the device, wait five to ten minutes, then plug it back in and turn it on again.
By rebooting, you will be able to fix minor problems and failures when launching the box. The modem has an embedded software (firmware). Like any program, it can encounter bugs and other anomalies at startup.
You just have to reboot the device to restore its configuration. Afterwards, you will have access to the different services of the operator.
If necessary, you can also consider restoring the factory settings of your box. However, you should be aware that the operation deletes all the settings made on your equipment (box and decoder). Also, all updates will be removed.
Nevertheless, this is an excellent solution in case of a system error caused by an unfinished or corrupted update.
What are the other steps of the Freebox ?
You have already discovered the first steps of the Freebox initialization. The visualization of the phases nevertheless helps to understand the start-up cycle of the operator’s modem. In addition, the device will not allow you to connect to the internet without going through each phase, namely:
- Step 1: Control and launch of internal components;
- Step 2: Search for a signal on the network;
- Step 3: Establishing a connection with the signal found ;
- Step 4: Receiving and using the server information provided by the ISP;
- Step 5: Not assigned (or not communicated to users);
- Step 6: Authentication of the modem at the operator level ;
- Step 7: Checking the firmware and updating, if necessary.
- Step 8: Finalize the start-up process.
The box is now operational and allows access to Internet services. At this stage, it is supposed to display a digital clock and a fixed white dot on the front.
