# Toniebox not working: how to restart, reset and reconnect it

> How to restart or factory reset a Toniebox 1, Toniebox 2 or Toniebox Lite, what the lights and codewords mean and how to get it back on Wi-Fi.

By Jason Dark and Zac, last checked 2026-11-13. Part of [Guides](https://notascreen.com/guides) on Not A Screen.

## How do you restart a Toniebox?

A restart fixes most Toniebox problems. The steps are different for each box:

- Toniebox 2: unplug it and squeeze both ears. The sleep light comes on first. Keep squeezing for up to a minute until it restarts, then plug the charger back in. The welcome lights and music mean the restart worked.
- Toniebox Lite: unplug it and squeeze both ears for up to a minute, then plug the charger back in.
- Toniebox 1: take it off the charging station and turn it upside down. Pinch both ears for about 10 seconds until you hear a sound, then turn it upright. A solid green light means it's ready. Never do this on the charging station, because that resets it to factory settings.

## How do you factory reset a Toniebox?

A factory reset deletes the saved Wi-Fi networks and all downloaded audio, so try a restart first.

To reset a Toniebox 2 or Toniebox Lite:

1. Turn the box on and wait for the green light. Make sure it isn't plugged in.
2. Turn the box upside down and hold both ears for 5 seconds, until you hear a sound.
3. Turn the box back over. The light glows white.
4. Press and hold the small ear, then wait until the box says the reset is complete.

To reset a Toniebox 1, put it on the plugged-in charging station and turn both upside down together. Pinch both ears for about 10 seconds until you hear a sound and the box switches off. To set it up again, lift it off the station and put it back, then follow the setup steps in the tonies app.

## Toniebox won't connect to Wi-Fi

- Toniebox 1 only works with 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. If your router uses one network name for both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, the box can show a wrong password message even when the password is right. Tonies suggests separating the two networks in your router's settings.
- Toniebox 2 and Toniebox Lite use both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi, but only on 5 GHz channels 36, 40, 44 and 48. They don't work with 802.11r fast roaming, so turn that off or set the box up on a phone hotspot.
- If your Toniebox shows as offline, open the tonies app, go to Mine, tap Tonieboxes, pick your box and tap Connect Toniebox. Then tap Use known Wi-Fi and restart the box. If that doesn't help, tap Add new Wi-Fi and follow the steps.
- Away from home, you can set up a Toniebox or download new Tonies on a phone hotspot.

## What do the Toniebox 2 lights mean?

| Light | What it means |
| --- | --- |
| Blue half circle swinging | Ready to set up |
| Flashing blue circle | Downloading or connecting to Wi-Fi |
| Solid green | Ready to play |
| Rainbow | A Tonie is playing |
| Solid orange | Night light is on |
| Solid white | Parent access mode |
| Flashing red circle | Connection error, usually with a codeword |
| Part of the ring flashing red | Battery is empty |

On a Toniebox 1, a flashing blue light means a Tonie is still downloading, so leave it on top until the light turns solid green. Solid orange means the battery is almost empty, and flashing red means the battery is empty.

## What do the Toniebox codewords mean?

When a Toniebox can't connect, it says an animal codeword. Each codeword points to a different problem:

| Codeword | Box | What it means | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ant | Toniebox 1 | Connected to the router but not the internet | Restart the box. During setup, factory reset it and start again. |
| Owl | Toniebox 1 | The connection failed | Wait a moment and connect again |
| Elephant | Toniebox 1 | Your Wi-Fi password has changed | Reconnect with the new password at my.tonies.com/wifi |
| Koala | Toniebox 1 | Offline mode is on | Turn offline mode off |
| Cat | Toniebox 2 | The Wi-Fi password is wrong | Check the password, which is case sensitive, and set up again |
| Dog | Toniebox 2 | No Wi-Fi connection | Move the box closer to the router |
| Rabbit | Toniebox 2 | Can't find Wi-Fi when a Tonie goes on | Take the Tonie off, wait a few moments and try again |
| Parrot | Toniebox 2 | The connection keeps dropping | Move closer to the router or use a phone hotspot |
| Llama | Toniebox 2 | Offline mode is on | Turn the box upside down, hold both ears until you hear a sound, then squeeze the big ear |

## Toniebox turns off when it comes off the charger

The battery usually needs more charging. The first charge of a Toniebox 1 can take 3 to 5 hours on the station without playing. Listen for the tone that means it's charging. A solid green light only shows that the box is on, so the battery may still be low. A Toniebox 2 needs at least 4 hours on a USB-C charger for a full charge, and 10 minutes of charging gives up to 45 minutes of play.

## Tapping to skip chapters doesn't work

The Tonie has to finish downloading before tapping works, so wait for a solid green light. On a Toniebox 1, check that tilt and tap is turned on in the tonies app, then sync the box by pinching one ear for about 3 seconds. Tonies says the tap needs a bit more force than a light touch. On a Toniebox 2 in 1+ mode, tilting to rewind or fast-forward is turned off.

## Using a Toniebox without Wi-Fi

A Toniebox 1 only needs Wi-Fi for setup, to download a new Tonie the first time it goes on and to fetch new audio for a Creative Tonie. Toniebox 2 works the same way once its Tonies have downloaded, and its offline mode stops it looking for Wi-Fi at all. Our [Toniebox 1 vs Toniebox 2 comparison](https://notascreen.com/compare/toniebox-1-vs-toniebox-2) shows how to tell which box you have.

## Sources

- [How do I restart the Toniebox 1?](https://support.tonies.com/hc/en-us/articles/29036538212114-How-do-I-restart-the-Toniebox-1), Tonies support
- [How do I restart the Toniebox 2?](https://support.tonies.com/hc/en-us/articles/29051505039634-How-do-I-restart-the-Toniebox-2), Tonies support
- [How do I restart Toniebox lite?](https://support.tonies.com/hc/en-us/articles/38177036353682-How-do-I-restart-Toniebox-lite), Tonies support
- [How do I reset the Toniebox 1 to factory settings?](https://support.tonies.com/hc/en-us/articles/29036527272722-How-do-I-reset-the-Toniebox-1-to-factory-settings), Tonies support
- [How to reset your Toniebox 2 to factory settings](https://support.tonies.com/hc/en-us/articles/29251407505682-How-to-reset-your-Toniebox-2-to-factory-settings), Tonies support
- [How to reset your Toniebox Lite to factory settings](https://support.tonies.com/hc/en-us/articles/38177337777170-How-to-reset-your-Toniebox-Lite-to-factory-settings), Tonies support
- [How to reconnect your Toniebox to Wi-Fi](https://support.tonies.com/hc/en-us/articles/39457627867922-How-to-reconnect-your-Toniebox-to-Wi-Fi), Tonies support
- [What types of Wi-Fi networks can the Toniebox 1 connect to?](https://support.tonies.com/hc/en-us/articles/29036547647634-What-types-of-Wi-Fi-networks-can-the-Toniebox-1-connect-to), Tonies support
- [What Wi-Fi connection is required to use the Toniebox 2?](https://support.tonies.com/hc/en-us/articles/29036523021714-What-Wi-Fi-connection-is-required-to-use-the-Toniebox-2), Tonies support
- [Toniebox 2 Dynamic Light Ring Guide](https://support.tonies.com/hc/en-us/articles/33985836073874-Toniebox-2-Dynamic-Light-Ring-Guide), Tonies support
- [Codeword: Ant](https://support.tonies.com/hc/en-us/articles/29036601744914-Codeword-Ant), Tonies support
- [Code Word: Llama](https://support.tonies.com/hc/en-us/articles/29036415467410-Code-Word-Llama), Tonies support
- [Battery Trouble: The Toniebox turns off when disconnected from the charging station](https://support.tonies.com/hc/en-us/articles/29034099538706-Battery-Trouble-The-Toniebox-turns-off-when-disconnected-from-the-charging-station), Tonies support
- [How do I charge the Toniebox 2 and how long does it take?](https://support.tonies.com/hc/en-us/articles/29036392365330-How-do-I-charge-the-Toniebox-2-and-how-long-does-it-take), Tonies support
- [Tapping the Toniebox 1 to skip forward and back isn't working](https://support.tonies.com/hc/en-us/articles/29036632245650-Tapping-the-Toniebox-1-to-skip-forward-and-back-isn-t-working), Tonies support
- [Does the Toniebox 1 work without Wi-Fi?](https://support.tonies.com/hc/en-us/articles/29036566638994-Does-the-Toniebox-1-work-without-Wi-Fi), Tonies support