This guide only has you press reset buttons and flip breakers. If the outlet looks scorched, feels warm, buzzes, or smells like burning, don't use it. Turn off its breaker if you can do that safely, and call a licensed electrician.
What you'll need
You probably have these
Tick them off as you find them.
The fix
- 1
Test with a lamp you trust
Plug in a lamp you know works. Try both slots on the outlet.
You'll know it's right whenIf the lamp stays dark, the outlet really has no power.
- 2
Flip nearby wall switches
Some outlets are controlled by a wall switch, sometimes only the top or bottom half. Flip every switch in the room.
You'll know it's right whenThe lamp turns on with a switch. Mystery solved.
- 3
Hunt for a GFCI
Look for outlets with TEST and RESET buttons. Check the bathrooms, kitchen, garage, basement, and outside.
You'll know it's right whenYou found one. It might be in a different room from the dead outlet.
- 4
Press RESET
Push the RESET button firmly.
You'll know it's right whenYou'll feel a click. Try your lamp again.
- 5
Check the breaker panel
Open the panel and look for a switch sitting in the middle or pointing a different way from the rest.
You'll know it's right whenYou spot the tripped one.
- 6
Reset the breaker
Push it all the way to OFF, then firmly back to ON.
You'll know it's right whenIt clicks into place. Test the lamp.
- 7
Stop if it won't stay on
If the GFCI or breaker trips again right away, leave it off.
You'll know it's right whenThat means something is wrong in the wiring or a device. Time for an electrician.
Lamp's on. That was a button. No disaster here.
Why it happens
A GFCI is a safety outlet that cuts power when it senses a problem, often from moisture. One GFCI can protect a chain of other outlets, even in other rooms. Breakers do something similar for a whole circuit. When they trip, everything down the line goes quiet. They're doing their job.
Edie's tipPress TEST then RESET on each GFCI once a month. Most manufacturers recommend it, and you'll learn which outlets each one controls.
What not to do
- Opening the outlet
Taking off the cover or pulling out the outlet means working on live wiring. Leave that to a licensed electrician.
- Resetting over and over
If it trips again right away, something is wrong. Repeated resets can be dangerous.
- Ignoring warmth or scorch marks
Heat, burn marks, buzzing, or a burning smell can mean a fire risk. Stop using it.
- Running extension cords as a fix
A long-term extension cord to dodge a dead outlet can overload another circuit.
When to call a pro
Call a licensed electrician if resetting doesn't bring power back, or a GFCI or breaker trips again right away. Call too if the outlet is warm, scorched, buzzing, sparking, or smells like burning. Anything beyond pressing a button or flipping a breaker is a job for them.
Questions
Why is the GFCI in a different room?
Electricians often wire one GFCI to protect several outlets down the line. It might be in the bathroom while the dead outlet is in a bedroom.
What if the GFCI button won't press in?
It may mean there's no power reaching it. Check the breaker panel first. If that doesn't fix it, call an electrician.
Can I replace the outlet myself?
That means working with wiring, so we recommend a licensed electrician. If you rent, it's your landlord's job.
Written by the DIY Project team and checked against manufacturer instructions. How we check
Updated October 2, 2026.
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