how to fix the internet

No Internet Connection? How to Troubleshoot Internet Issues

Oct 21, 2021 Share
Internet Speed Guides

It's incredibly frustrating when your Wi-Fi network is connected but your internet isn't working. The network shows up in your Wi-Fi menu, you've put in the right password, but then you open your browser, and you get nothing. Aaargh!

Why isn't your Wi-Fi working? A lot of different things could be the culprit. Sometimes the solution is simple—maybe your router is out of date or just needs a quick reboot. But sometimes it's a little more complicated. So, we've put together a guide to help you troubleshoot your network and get your Wi-Fi flowing like gravy once more.

We cover the simple tips at the top of this guide, but feel free to jump farther down for advice on more complicated network troubles. Let's get started.

Pro tip:

If you have recurring problems with your internet connection, you might want to consider getting a different internet package or provider. Run a search with your zip code below to see what's available in your area.

Easy fixes for your internet

You won't even have to get out of your chair to try these solutions. Here's hoping one of these approaches does the trick.

Restart your device

This might sound a bit too obvious, but the first thing you should do is restart your device. It won't work every time, but it gives the operating system a chance to clear things up and try again in case it's frozen, not recognizing the network, or just being uncooperative.

See if there's an internet outage

It could be that you're not the only one whose internet is down. Run a quick search on Twitter or Google to see if anyone else in your area is reporting internet outages or connectivity issues from your provider. You can also find information about internet shutdowns on the website Down Detector, or you can call up your internet service provider (ISP) to investigate.

Pro tip:

If the internet is indeed down in your area but you still need internet, you can use your cell phone as a mobile hotspot to access Wi-Fi. You can also go outside in search of a public hotspot to connect to. Take a look at our Wi-Fi hotspot guide for more details.

If you're in no rush for internet access, then open up a book or old-timey print magazine to keep yourself entertained as you wait until the network is back up.

Visit a few different websites

If a website you're visiting doesn't load, go to another website. Does it load up properly? That means the original website you went to could be down for all visitors. (You can confirm this by typing in the URL at downforeveryoneorjustme.com.)

If no websites load properly, then the connection problem is most likely on your end or happening with your provider.

Force open the network's login page (for public Wi-Fi)

Hotels, airports, and cafes often provide free internet—usually all you have to do is open your browser and sign onto the public Wi-Fi network through a login screen. But what if that login page refuses to load?

You can force open the login page by typing one of these codes into your browser's address bar:

127.1.1.1
1.1.1.1
192.168.1.1
http://localhost

Pay your internet bill

Your internet could be down simply because you forgot to pay your bill—that may sound a little too obvious, but it happens! To get your internet back up, call your provider or go online to make your monthly payment. And sign up for automatic payments so you don't have to worry next time.

Get fiber internet

Fiber internet is by far the fastest and most reliable internet you can get. So if you can get a fiber internet package for your home, we highly recommend you go for it, since it will vastly reduce the chance of annoying Wi-Fi slowdowns and service outages that are more common on other internet connection types.

You can get speeds of anywhere from 100 to 1,000 Mbps on a fiber connection, giving you ample bandwidth to cover a range of activities and tasks while also supporting many other users on your Wi-Fi. Prices range from $35 per month to $100 per month.

Fiber isn't available everywhere, unfortunately. But if you frequently have problems with your connection, it could be worth looking into some kind of upgrade or switching providers.

Use our search tool to see if you can find better internet in your area.

Troubleshooting routers and modems

So you've tried the obvious stuff, and it's still not working. That means it's time to get up out of your chair and take a look at your equipment. Ugh.

Don't worry—we'll get this working again in no time.

Pro tip:

If your internet is still working but it's just being slow, run a speed test to see if you're getting the speeds you're paying for. If not, you may want to contact your provider to see if there's an issue on its end.

Test your Wi-Fi on different devices

If you're on your laptop, pull out your phone or tablet to see if you can get internet over the same Wi-Fi connection. If it connects on one device but not the other, then you know that your internet connection is fine and it's the disconnected device that's having the problem.

If your Wi-Fi is not working on any device, however, then it's the router, modem, or your ISP that's causing problems. It could also be a faulty Ethernet cable, which connects your modem to your router.

We'll offer some tips for disconnected devices farther down in this piece, but let's start with the modem and router since those are the most common culprits in Wi-Fi issues like these.

Restart your modem and router

Unplug the modem and router and leave them unplugged for a minute or so. Then plug them back in and see if they're able to reconnect. The modem and router are like the heart and lungs of your home internet network, and simply unplugging them gives the equipment a chance to clean memory banks and restart tasks.

This is the tried-and-true trick of every coffee shop and McDonald's manager who runs a free public Wi-Fi network.

You can check to see if you're getting a signal by looking at the LED lights at the front of your equipment. The light for an internet connection is usually labeled WAN, Internet, or with a globe icon, and you can tell the internet is on if the light (usually white or green) is solid or flashing.

If the light is red or not on at all, that means it's still not working properly.

Try a different Ethernet cable

If you have a spare Ethernet cable, swap it out with the one currently plugged into your modem and router and see if it makes a difference. Cables don't last forever, and it could be that your current Ethernet cable has kicked the bucket and needs to be replaced.

Cables can also be damaged by pets or pests, so make sure your dog isn't chewing on it and didn't get hurt.

Pro tip:

Need a recommendation on a good replacement cable? This Cat-6 Ethernet cable is fast, sturdy, and affordable.

Amazon.com Price (as of 10/21/2021 10:15 MST). See full disclaimer.

See who's using your Wi-Fi

There may be a user on your Wi-Fi network who's hogging the bandwidth or creating other connectivity problems.

To find out who's on your network, log in to your router's interface (use your cell phone if you can't get Wi-Fi on your computer) and look for a list labeled with a term like "DHCP clients," "connected devices," or "attached devices." Usually the name of the devices being used are included on the list (example: "Peter's iPhone," "Rebecca's Macbook," or "Computer 1").

You can then figure out who's using the Wi-Fi and ask everyone in your household if they're doing anything that's taking up too much internet speed.

Many routers let you kick devices off the Wi-Fi, so go ahead and give a user the boot if you don't know them or if they're causing problems. You can also change the Wi-Fi password so they can't get back on.

Pro tip:

If you're experiencing repeated slowdowns and outages, you may have an internet plan that's too slow. Take our "How much speed do I need?" test to see if you're paying for enough internet bandwidth to deliver the goods.

Upgrade your equipment

You may be experiencing connection issues if you have outdated equipment that doesn't match the latest wireless standards: 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) or 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6).

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) developed a series of standards that allow a Wi-Fi device like a laptop to connect to the internet. There are currently five standards. Here they are in order from oldest to newest:

802.11b / Wi-Fi 1
802.11a / Wi-Fi 2
802.11g / Wi-Fi 3
802.11n / Wi-Fi 4
802.11ac / Wi-Fi 5
802.11ax / Wi-Fi 6

You may have issues if you have an older router, computer, or other Wi-Fi device that doesn't adhere to more recent wireless standards. In that case, you may want to invest in a new router. Or your computer may need a more up-to-date wireless adapter, a device that lets you connect to a Wi-Fi network.

Here's how to check the wireless standard of your computer:

Mac

Hold down on Option while clicking on the Apple menu in the top left of the screen, then select System Information. Scroll down to Network, click Wi-Fi in the drop-down menu, and look for the readout for Supported PHY Modes. This will tell you what wireless standard your computer is outfitted for.

Windows

Right-click on the Start menu button and then click the command for Device Manager. (Or type "Device Manager" into the search bar in the Start menu to get it to come up—either way works.) Once you're in Device Manager, click on the menu titled Network adapters and look for the listing of your wireless adapter and the wireless standard it's set to.

Call your internet service provider

There can sometimes be a miscommunication between your modem and router and your ISP's network—especially if you own your equipment instead of renting it from the internet provider. The best solution in that case is to call your provider and ask what the problem is.

Chances are the ISP's tech support department will give you a clear answer as to whether or not their service is down. If there's a bug in which the modem isn't properly communicating with the network, the ISP can reset the system on its end and force the network to recognize the modem you have.

Enter your zip code to see what other internet options are in your area. It may be worth switching internet providers if you experience frequent technical glitches:

Reset your router to default settings

If you've tried everything else to no avail, it may be time to reset your router to its factory settings. This is a pretty big step to take because it will restore the router to the way it was when you first pulled it out of the box, wiping the slate clean.

Resetting the router will erase your password and issue a default one (which you will then want to change for security reasons). It will also erase any memory of custom features or guest networks you've set up through the router, and it will kick off all the devices that were signed onto the network.

Getting everything back up and running again will take a chunk of time out of your day, so this is worth trying only if you have no other options.

Anyway, here's how you do it: Unplug the router and then use a safety pin or paperclip to push the button hidden in the tiny hole at the back of the router. Hold it down for a few moments and plug the router back in. After that, you can set up the router again just like new.

Pro tip:

Even if your internet is working fine, there are always ways to make your Wi-Fi connection even better. Take a look at our tips on how to improve your Wi-Fi bandwidth.

Troubleshooting desktops, laptops, and mobile devices

If you've pinpointed your computer, phone, or other Wi-Fi device as the source of your disconnection woes, here's a few things you can try to get the Wi-Fi back up and running.

Run the internet troubleshooter (for Windows)

If you're on Windows, run the built-in troubleshooter program to see if your machine can run a diagnostic and fix the issue for you. For Windows 10, click to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot and then select the troubleshooter for Internet Connections.

If you're still having trouble or you're on an older version of Windows, you can find other helpful tips on Microsoft's page for fixing Wi-Fi connection issues.

Run Apple Diagnostics or Apple Hardware Test (for macOS)

Most Mac computers have a built-in diagnostic program that will scan your computer for issues, including problems with Wi-Fi. It's called Apple Diagnostics on models from 2013 and later and Apple Hardware Test on models from 2012 with at least OS X 10.8.4.

To run Apple Diagnostics, disconnect any Ethernet cables and external DVD or hard-drives, hit restart, and hold down the D key as the computer reboots. Pick a language and then the diagnostic will launch automatically.

You can launch the Apple Hardware Test in slightly the same way. The only difference is that when the screen for the test appears as your computer is restarting and you're given the prompt to choose a language, you want to press Return or the right arrow button.

Clear your DNS cache

Clearing your DNS cache could solve issues with your Wi-Fi connection.

The DNS cache is a digital log of all the websites you've visited, offering your browser a shortcut to quickly load web pages that you've visited in the past. But your cache can create technical issues if there's a glitch in the storage banks or if pop-up ads or online malware have inserted URLs into your cache uninvited.

Here's how to clear your cache on different devices:

Windows

Go to the Command Prompt by doing one of these things:

Option 1: Punch cmd into the search bar

Option 2: Find the Command Prompt shortcut in the Windows System folder

Option 3: Type cmd into the Run window.

Once you're in the Command Prompt, type in "ipconfig /flushdns." Hit Enter. Then watch as the cache gets flushed away. See ya!

Mac

Run the Terminal app. You can find it one of these ways:

Option 1: Open Terminal in the Utilities folder

Option 2: Search Terminal using the Spotlight function

In the Terminal app, enter the command to flush your cache. The command you'll type can be slightly different depending on your Mac operating system:

Yosemite and after: sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
Yosemite 10.10–10.10.3: sudo discoveryutil mdnsflushcache
Mavericks, Mountain Lion, Lion: sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
Snow Leopard: sudo dscacheutil -flushcache

You'll be prompted to enter in the administrator password for your account. Then your cache goes bye-bye—and hopefully any glitches with it.

Smartphones

On an iPhone or Apple device, here's two easy ways to clear your DNS cache:

Option 1: Switch on and then switch off Airplane Mode.

Option 2: Restart your device.

For Android devices, here's how you clear your DNS cache:

Step 1: Type chrome://net-internals/#dns into the URL bar in Chrome.

Step 2: Tap the DNS menu.

Step 3: Click Clear Host Cache.

Pro tip:

After you've cleared your cache, test your Wi-Fi to see if it's back up online. Also, you can always take our speed test to see if your internet speeds match those offered on your monthly internet plan.

Scan for viruses and malware

Run a scan to see if malware or a virus is on your computer. Malicious programs can use up your bandwidth or block your internet connection entirely. McAfee, Norton, and Bitdefender all make quality antivirus software.

Switch off your antivirus software

We definitely recommend keeping antivirus software activated on your computer. However, misconfigured antivirus protections can sometimes interfere with your Wi-Fi connection. Try turning off your antivirus software or firewall to see if the internet comes back.

Make sure you have a working IP address

There's a chance that your computer is having trouble configuring a valid IP address. Your computer needs a unique IP to get on the internet, but you won't be able to get online if multiple devices are assigned the same IP or if something has prevented your computer from assigning one.

It's not a particularly common issue, but it can happen—especially if you have multiple routers on the same home network.

To ensure sure you have a valid IP address, use these instructions:

Windows

Step 1: Right click on the internet icon in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen.

Step 2: Click Open Network and Sharing Center.

Step 3: Click Change adapter settings > Ethernet > Properties > Internet Protocol Version 4.

Step 4: Once you've entered Internet Protocol Version 4, select the options for "Obtain an IP address automatically" and "Obtain DNS server address automatically." This will ensure that you get an IP address that doesn't conflict with others or invalid digits.

(These instructions are for Windows 10. Make your way to Microsoft's Support page for details on previous operating systems.)

Mac

Step 1: Click the Apple menu in the top left-hand corner of the screen.

Step 2: Click System Preferences > Network.

Step 3: Click on the network connection you want (i.e., Ethernet or Wi-Fi).

Step 4: Select Configure IPv4. Choose the option for setting up an IP address. To have the IP address generated automatically, choose Using DHCP. This is the easiest way to do it.

Another (slightly more complex) way to do this on a Mac is to ask your internet service provider if it's given you an IP address. You can then select the option for doing it manually and type in the IP address from your internet provider. You can also enter in other information from your provider, for the subnet mask, router, and DNS server.

Reset your network settings (aka the nuclear option)

If all else fails, then it's time to reset your network entirely. This changes everything back to default settings. It's not the most convenient option, but it could be the fix you need to start from scratch and erase the Wi-Fi bugs once and for all.

Keep in mind that this isn't like turning off the computer and turning it back on. In the same way that resetting your router restores that device to factory settings, restoring your network totally wipes out your Wi-Fi settings, bringing your home internet back to how it was when you were just setting it up for the first time.

Your computer will forget your Wi-Fi network's name, passwords, VPN settings—everything. Do this only as a last resort. And make sure you save your passwords and other necessary info before doing the reset.

OK, then. Ready? Alright, here's how to do it:

How to reset your Wi-Fi network on Mac

Step 1: Click Apple menu > System Preferences > Network.

Step 2: Click on Wi-Fi in the drop-down menu on the left of the screen.

Step 3: Hit the minus (-) button to remove it. Then add it again by clicking the plus button (+) and selecting Wi-Fi in the Interface options.

Step 4: Hit Apply and close out of the Network settings.

How to reset your Wi-Fi network on Windows

Step 1: Click to Windows Settings > Network & Internet > Status.

Step 2: Hit the Network reset button.

Step 3: Hit Reset now to confirm.

Step 4: Hit Yes to confirm once again. (This is just for Windows 10. For previous Windows operating systems, see Microsoft's Support page.)

Step 5: Restart your computer and follow the prompts for Windows to guide you through setting up your new home network. Good luck!

FAQ on troubleshooting internet issues

Here are answers to some common questions and a quick breakdown of the topics we've discussed in more detail above.

Why isn't my internet working?

There are a lot of possible reasons for why your internet isn't working. Your router or modem may be out of date, your DNS cache or IP address may be experiencing a glitch, or your internet service provider could be experiencing outages in your area. The problem could be as simple as a faulty Ethernet cable.

To figure out the issue, try rebooting your device and your modem and router, and then call your ISP to see if it's experiencing problems on its end.

Why is my Wi-Fi down?

If your Wi-Fi is down, you may be receiving an internet signal to your home but you can't get a Wi-Fi signal. By that we mean you can connect to your modem directly with an Ethernet cable, but you can't get a wireless signal.

If that's the case, then the issue is with your router. Unplug and reboot it, check to see if it has up-to-date wireless settings and a valid IP address, and restore it to factory settings if necessary.

Why isn't my modem connecting to the internet?

If your modem isn't connecting to the internet, then either the internet service provider's network is down or your modem is not communicating properly with the network. Make sure to reboot your modem to see if it starts working again, and then call your ISP's tech support line to see if the network is up and the modem is configured properly.

How do I fix my internet?

The first thing you should do if you're having internet issues is restart your computer. It sounds too good to be true, but sometimes all it takes is a quick restart for your computer to clear out a frozen task or refresh its memory and start over. You should also try restarting your modem and router for the same reason.

If that doesn't work, then test your Wi-Fi on a different device, search Twitter to see if there are other outages reported in your area, and run a diagnostic on your computer. This will help you figure out where the issue is coming from and proceed from there.

What is a network adapter?

A network adapter is a processor inside a computer or other Wi-Fi networking device that brings an internet connection to the device. It can be wired or wireless, using an antenna, USB connection or port for an Ethernet cable to give you internet access.

Have you tried all these fixes and still can't get good Wi-Fi? It may be time to switch internet providers. Type in your zip code to see if you can find a more reliable ISP in your area:

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Author - Peter Holslin

Peter Holslin has more than a decade of experience working as a writer and freelance journalist. He graduated with a BA in liberal arts and journalism from New York City's The New School University in 2008 and went on to contribute to publications like Rolling Stone, VICE, BuzzFeed, and countless others. At HighSpeedInternet.com, he focuses on covering 5G, nerding out about frequency bands and virtual RAN, and producing reviews on emerging services like 5G home internet. He also writes about internet providers and packages, hotspots, VPNs, and Wi-Fi troubleshooting.

Editor - Cara Haynes

Cara Haynes has been editing and writing in the digital space for seven years, and she's edited all things internet for HighSpeedInternet.com for five years. She graduated with a BA in English and a minor in editing from Brigham Young University. When she's not editing, she makes tech accessible through her freelance writing for brands like Pluralsight. She believes no one should feel lost in internet land and that a good internet connection significantly extends your life span.