How to reset a tripped breaker
To reset a tripped breaker, unplug what was running on that circuit, open the breaker panel, find the switch that has flipped to the middle or off position, push it firmly to off, then back to on. For a dead bathroom or kitchen outlet, press reset on the outlet with test and reset buttons.
It is a cold morning, the space heater and the hair dryer are both running, and half the bedroom goes dark.
Why it matters: Resetting a breaker is the only electrical step in scope, and it solves most outages.
Steps
- Unplug or switch off the heavy devices that were running when the power went out.
- Open the panel door, which is usually in a hallway, closet, basement or garage; never remove the cover behind it.
- Find the breaker that sits out of line with the rest, in the middle or pointing to off.
- Push it firmly all the way to off, then back to on.
- For a dead outlet in a bathroom, kitchen or outside, press reset on the outlet with test and reset buttons, which may be in a nearby room.
- Plug devices back in one at a time and spread heavy ones across different outlets.
- Label which breaker powers which room with a pencil on the panel door list.
Stop and call a professional if
- the breaker trips again right away with everything unplugged
- you see scorch marks, smell burning, hear buzzing, or an outlet or switch feels warm
- the panel is wet, rusty or hot, or anything beyond resetting is needed: that is a licensed electrician's job, arranged through your landlord if you rent
Questions to ask the professional
- Why does this circuit keep tripping, and is it overloaded or faulty?
- Which rooms share this circuit?
Common mistakes
- Resetting a breaker over and over when it keeps tripping.
- Running two high-power heaters or appliances on one circuit.
- Opening the panel cover or touching anything behind it.
Teach this to someone
A one page sheet for showing a friend, a teenager or a parent: what to say, what to show, and one question to check it landed.
Teach: How to reset a tripped breaker
What to say
To reset a tripped breaker, unplug what was running on that circuit, open the breaker panel, find the switch that has flipped to the middle or off position, push it firmly to off, then back to on. For a dead bathroom or kitchen outlet, press reset on the outlet with test and reset buttons.
What to show
- Unplug or switch off the heavy devices that were running when the power went out.
- Open the panel door, which is usually in a hallway, closet, basement or garage; never remove the cover behind it.
- Find the breaker that sits out of line with the rest, in the middle or pointing to off.
- Push it firmly all the way to off, then back to on.
- For a dead outlet in a bathroom, kitchen or outside, press reset on the outlet with test and reset buttons, which may be in a nearby room.
- Plug devices back in one at a time and spread heavy ones across different outlets.
- Label which breaker powers which room with a pencil on the panel door list.
Where it stops
Stop and call a professional if the breaker trips again right away with everything unplugged.
Check question
Why unplug the heater and hair dryer before resetting?
Answer: So the circuit is not overloaded again the moment it comes on. The overload that tripped it will trip it again if left plugged in.
Your checklist
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Quick quiz
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Related skills
Sources
- US national electrical safety guidance for homeowners and renters, 2026. Reviewed September 28, 2026.
Written in our own words from the sources above. It is general information, not advice for your situation; where a professional, your doctor or your lease says something different, follow them.
Last reviewed . First published .