How to reset a tripped circuit breaker
A tripped breaker is your home's wiring protecting itself. Resetting one takes a minute. Knowing why it tripped, and when to stop, matters more.
- DifficultyEasy
- Time5–15 minutes
- If you need helpElectrician
When the lights and outlets in one part of your home suddenly go dead, the cause is usually a tripped circuit breaker. A breaker shuts off power on purpose when it senses too much current or a fault. That's a safety feature doing its job, not a failure.
Resetting a breaker is safe and simple when you do it the right way. The more important part is figuring out why it tripped. A one-time trip from running the microwave and toaster together is no big deal. A breaker that trips again right away is a sign to stop and call an electrician.
The whole job takes 5 to 15 minutes.
What you'll need
- Flashlight or headlamp Shop for Flashlight or headlamp (opens in a new tab)
- Non-contact voltage tester, for checking outlets later Shop for Non-contact voltage tester, for checking outlets later (opens in a new tab)
- Panel labels or a marker, to note which breaker is which Shop for Panel labels or a marker, to note which breaker is which (opens in a new tab)
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If you've never opened your panel door, our guide to reading your breaker panel shows what everything is.
Find the tripped breaker
- Check if it's just you. If the whole house is dark, look outside. If neighbors are dark too, it's likely a utility outage. Call your power company.
- Find your panel. It's a gray metal box, often in a garage, basement, utility room or hallway closet.
- Open the door, not the cover. Open the small hinged door to see the rows of breaker handles.
- Look for the odd one out. A tripped breaker's handle usually sits in the middle, between on and off. Schneider Electric says its Square D QO breakers also show a red flag in a small window when tripped.
- Check the labels. The label next to it should match the room that lost power.
Unplug things before you reset
Before you flip anything, turn off or unplug what was running on that circuit, especially heaters, hair dryers, microwaves and other high-power items. If the breaker trips because of an overload, resetting it with everything still on can trip it again.
Reset the breaker
- Push it all the way off. Push the handle firmly to the full off position. You should feel it click. Schneider Electric's instructions for Square D QO breakers say to push it all the way to off first.
- Then push it all the way on. Move the handle firmly back to the full on position.
- Stand to the side. Keep your face turned away as you flip it, as a simple habit.
- Check the room. See if the lights and outlets work again.
- Plug things back in slowly. Add devices one at a time. If the breaker trips when one particular item comes on, that item or the load on the circuit is the problem.
Why it tripped
Schneider Electric describes three main reasons a breaker trips:
| Cause | What's happening | Clues |
|---|---|---|
| Overload | Too many things on one circuit are drawing more power than it's meant to carry. | Trips when a heater, hair dryer or several appliances run at once. Resets and holds once you unplug some things. |
| Short circuit | A hot wire touches a neutral or another hot wire. | Trips instantly, sometimes with a pop, spark or burning smell. May trip again as soon as you reset. |
| Ground fault | A hot wire touches a ground wire or metal box. | Often trips around water: kitchens, baths, outdoors. Schneider says resetting is only a temporary fix until the wiring is repaired. |
An overload is the one you can usually solve yourself by moving appliances to other circuits. UL Solutions notes that if one appliance trips the breaker no matter where you plug it in, the appliance is likely the problem. Shorts and ground faults need an electrician.
When to call a pro
Stop resetting and call a licensed electrician if:
- The breaker trips again right away, or won't stay on at all.
- It trips often, even with light use. NFPA lists frequent breaker trips as a warning sign to call a qualified electrician.
- You smell burning, see scorch marks, hear buzzing or see sparks at the panel or an outlet.
- A breaker or the panel feels hot.
- Lights flicker or dim, or you feel a tingle when touching an appliance.
Never tape a breaker on, hold it on, or swap in a bigger breaker. That defeats the protection and can start a fire. Electrical work generally needs a licensed electrician, and permit rules vary by city and county. Renters should call the landlord. Not sure? Try our fix it or call a pro quiz.
Keep it from happening again
- Spread out high-power appliances. Don't run a space heater and a hair dryer on the same circuit.
- Label every breaker clearly so you can find the right one fast, even in the dark.
- Keep a flashlight near the panel.
- Avoid long-term use of extension cords and power strips to get more outlets. Have an electrician add circuits instead.
- If your panel is old or you can't find a record of an inspection, UL Solutions notes the CPSC recommends having a professional inspect your wiring about every 10 years.
Common questions
How do I know which breaker is tripped?
Look for a handle that isn't lined up with the others. A tripped breaker usually sits in the middle, between on and off. Some brands, like Square D QO breakers, also show a red flag in a small window.
Why do I have to push the breaker to off before turning it on?
A tripped breaker has to be reset. Schneider Electric's instructions for Square D QO breakers say to push the handle all the way to off, then all the way back to on. Just pushing it toward on from the middle often won't work.
Is it dangerous if a breaker keeps tripping?
It's a warning sign. NFPA lists frequent tripping of circuit breakers among the signs to call a qualified electrician. Don't keep resetting it, and never tape or hold a breaker in the on position.
What if the breaker won't reset at all?
If it snaps right back off the moment you push it on, something on that circuit is likely shorted or faulted. Leave it off, unplug everything on that circuit, and call an electrician.