Diagnosis
The ASUS RT-AX86U's front panel has several bright, multi-colored LED indicators (Power, WAN, LAN, 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 2.5G) designed for status monitoring. Their brightness, particularly in a dark room or bedroom, can be distracting. This is a common design feature, and ASUS provides a dedicated hardware control to manage them.
How to Fix It
To disable the lights, use the dedicated LED button on the router's front panel.
- Locate the "LED" button on the front face of the RT-AX86U. It is positioned on the lower right, just below the "WAN" LED.
- Press this button once. All front-panel LEDs (except possibly a very dim power indicator) will turn off immediately.
- To restore the LEDs later for troubleshooting, press the same "LED" button again.
If That Didn't Work
Confirm you are pressing the correct button; it is specifically labeled "LED" and is separate from the "WPS" button. If the button seems unresponsive, try a firm press. If the lights still won't turn off, a temporary workaround is to place opaque tape (like electrical tape) over the LED panel. For a software-based control or if the button is faulty, you can log into the router's web interface (router.asus.com), navigate to Administration > System, and set the "Turn LED ON" option to "No" to disable them via firmware.
Heads Up
Turning off the LEDs will disable at-a-glance status checks for internet connectivity (WAN), active LAN ports, and wireless band activity. You'll need to use the web interface or app for diagnostics if an issue arises.