Yealink Phone Stuck On Initializing? (No Panic, Easy Fix!)

Yealink phone stuck on initializing and you’re getting worried? Relax, we know exactly why!

A recent firmware may have corrupted the Yealink system and prevented the phone from getting past the startup screen.

So, in the majority of cases, corrupted firmware is the leading cause of Yealink getting stuck during initializing.

Fortunately, we’ve found a few ways to fix this problem:

Let’s check how all of this is done!

How to Fix the Yealink Phone Stuck On Initializing Error?

Note: Have you checked if the Yealink phone detects incoming calls or responds to any inputs?

1. Hard Reset your Yealink Phone

The initializing error could be a result of improper startup or an unstable outlet connection.

Thus, before we proceed with any of the more complex solutions, it is recommended to hard reset the Yealink phone, by temporarily suspending the power supply.

Here are the detailed instructions on how to hard reset Yealink:

1. Hold the “X” (“Cancel”) or “Star*“ key on your Yealink unit.
2. After 5 seconds, unplug the phone and release the button.
3. Wait for 25–30 seconds while the phone is disconnected.
4. Reconnect the power adapter of the phone to the outlet.
5. Wait until the phone reboots and check if the error persists.

Tip: While the phone is disconnected, inspect the power adapter for visual damages such as bents, rips, or cuts of the plastic insulation.

2. Re-upload the Yealink Firmware

Moving on, we will determine if the initializing error is caused by corruption with your Yealink phone’s firmware.

Fortunately, you can conduct the firmware upload remotely, without having to interact with the phone at all. 

All you need to do is ensure the Yealink phone is connected over Ethernet to your router, as Wi-Fi isn’t compatible with file transfers.

Step #1 Download the Newest Firmware for Yealink

Rebuilding the firmware requires downloading the latest version available for your phone, through the Yealink website.

All you need is the series and model of your Yealink phone.

For example:

• Yealink T5 Series – VP59, SIP-T58W, SIP-T57W, SIP-T54W, SIP-T53W
• Yealink T4 Series – SIP-T48U, SIP-T46U, SIP-T44W, SIP-T44U
• Yealink T3 Series – SIP-T34W, SIP-T33P(G), SIP-T31W, SIP-T31G

The packaging box that your phone came in should have both the series and model written on the front or the back.

Alternatively, you can check in with the user manual.

Hence, navigate to Yealink’s Official, select your series and model then tap “Firmware” to view the latest version. 

Step #2 Sign In to the Web GUI of the Yealink Phone

In order to access the web interface of Yealink, you need the phone’s dynamic IP address.

Viewing the address is much easier if you’re able to navigate into the phone’s settings, but since the phone is stuck, you must use the computer’s terminal or command prompt to check the IP. 

• For Windows: Open the “CMD” (Command Prompt) and type “arp -a” to view all static and dynamic IP addresses on your network.
• For Linux/macOS: Open the terminal and type “arp-a” or “ip neigh show” to receive a list of all IPs on the network.

Since neither of the IP addresses has a label of the device they belong to, try pasting each of the addresses from the “Dynamic” section in your browser’s search field.

Then, use the default “admin/admin” or “admin/password” login credentials to access your Yealink user interface.

Step #3 Upload the Firmware File to the System

The final step is to upload the firmware file.

All you need to do is go to “Settings” → “Upgrade” → “Browse” and select the firmware file you’ve just downloaded. 

Note: As long as the phone is connected to both power and Ethernet, it should start updating!

3. Start the Yealink Phone in Recovery

An effective workaround for the Yealink phone stuck on initializing please wait error is to boot the phone in recovery mode.

You can access your phone’s recovery mode by inputting a key combination, which is different for most Yealink series and models.

3.1 How to Access Recovery On Newer Yealink Phones?

Newer Yealink phones are considered to be using firmware version 86 or later and these are the instructions to access the “Recovery” mode:

1. Locate and press the “Speaker” button on your Yealink.
2. Disconnect the power supply cable from the A/C outlet.
3. Reconnect the power cable while still holding “Speaker.”
4. Check if the “Recovery” mode confirmation screen shows.
5. Press “1” on the dial pad to access the “Recovery” mode.

3.2 How to Access Recovery On Older Yealink Phones?

Older Yealink phones tend to use a firmware version older than 86 and the “Recovery” mode can be accessed like this:

1. First, long-press the “Redial” button on your Yealink unit.
2. Disconnect the power cable but do not release the button.
3. Keep holding “Redial” while reconnecting the power cord.
4. Check if the “Recovery” mode confirmation screen shows.
5. Press the button on the keypad that says “Yes” on-screen.

3.3 How to Access Recovery Mode Through TFTP Server?

Setting up a TFTP (Trivial File Transfer Protocol) server is not overly difficult, but requires some technical and computer knowledge. 

You can manually set up a TFTP server on Ubuntu or Debian devices, but you need a TFTP Software to set it up on Windows.

How to Configure the TFTP Server?

After the software is installed and your computer is successfully connected with the router over Ethernet, configure the server to serve files over UDP port 69.

This is the default port of all Yealink phones and this is where the firmware will be transferred.

How to Upload Firmware Over TFTP?

After the port is set, the TFTP server is online, and the phone is connected, download the latest firmware for your phone and upload it to the server.

Prior to doing that, the following file names must be renamed accordingly:

• SIP-T53 – T53.rfs, T53.bin, T53.rom
• SIP-T53W – T53W.rfs, T53W.bin, T53W.rom
• SIP-T54W – T54W.rfs, T54W.bin, T53W.rom
• SIP-T57W – T57W.rfs, T57W.bin, T57W.rom

Your Yealink phone could successfully boot under “Recovery,” but most of the features will be unavailable.

You would still have to conduct a firmware upgrade to solve the issue.

For this purpose, you can either upload it directly through the TFTP server or use a USB flash drive.

4. Restore the Phone to Factory Defaults

In case none of the solutions so far resolved your Yealink phone’s initializing error, it’s time for a factory reset.

All files, configurations, and port forwardings of the Yealink phone will be erased to defaults and the firmware will be reinstalled.

There are two methods to reset a Yealink phone.

4.1 How to Factory Reset Yealink Via Buttons?

Ensure the phone is connected to power and hold the “OK” key for 10 seconds.

A confirmation prompt should appear on Yealink’s screen, prompting the start of a factory reset.

If your phone responds, confirm the reset and wait until the procedure is complete.

4.2 How to Factory Reset Yealink Via Web GUI?

If the phone does not respond to any presses, there’s an alternative way:

1. Log in to the web configuration of the Yealink phone.
2. Find steps to access the GUI in solution #2, step #2.
3. Select the “Settings” drop-down tab from the menu.
4. Click “Upgrade” from the settings panel that opened.
5. Click the “Reset to Factory” button from the section.
6. Wait for a couple of minutes until the reset finishes.

The factory reset does not cause the Yealink phone to update but reinstall the current firmware instead.

This solution will help if the phone’s firmware is corrupted or the last upgrade damaged some of the system files.

Note: If Yealink is still not responding, you may need to contact Yealink Customer Support!