Is Your Internet Down? Here’s How to Get It Back On and Running

When your home internet connection goes out, it’s most commonly due to a hiccup with your modem and/or router. The solution is simple: Restart your equipment by unplugging it, waiting 30 seconds or so, plugging it back in and allowing it to reboot. This will most often resolve your Wi-Fi outage.

When restarting your router, I recommend cutting power by unplugging it instead of pressing or holding any buttons on the device. Doing so can prompt the device to do a hard reset, returning it to factory settings and erasing your Wi-Fi network settings. Granted, you’ll have to set up your Wi-Fi again, but the reset will likely re-establish your internet connection.

Keep in mind that your device may have a battery backup. If the lights on your modem or router don’t go out when you unplug it from the power source, check to see if batteries are installed somewhere and temporarily remove them when restarting your device. 

To learn more, read our guide on how to troubleshoot your equipment.

Maybe your internet isn’t necessarily “out.” Perhaps it just can’t keep up with what you’re trying to do or where you’re doing it. 

Constant buffering, excessive lagging, Wi-Fi dead zones and other connectivity issues could result from insufficient speeds or Wi-Fi coverage to handle all your devices. You can remedy the situation by scaling back your internet use or making some upgrades.

Determine the internet speeds you actually need and whether your current plan can deliver those speeds. If your plan lacks the needed speeds, upgrading to a faster plan (assuming one is available) will be your best option. Many cable and fiber internet providers offer speeds up to 1 gigabit per second or higher, which is plenty of speed for the average home.

On the other hand, if you feel your current plan should meet your needs, your equipment may be the culprit. Conduct a few speed tests around your home to gauge what speeds you are getting and where the Wi-Fi signal might not be as strong. We recommend Ookla for its consistency. (Ookla, is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis). Sometimes, simply relocating your router to a more efficient spot will improve connection quality and eliminate, or at least mitigate, any dead zones. 

Otherwise, you may want to invest in a better router or Wi-Fi extenders to boost the Wi-Fi signal throughout your home. If you rent equipment from a provider, call to ask about getting a better device.

Try adjusting your router settings

Your router should allow you to steer connected devices to a specific pod or extender if you have them and between 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. You’ll get a stronger signal on the 5GHz band but only if your device is within range (the 5GHz range is shorter than 2.4GHz). So if your connection quality is weak on a particular device, try switching bands on the device or moving some of the other devices off the band you’re using. 

Use a wired connection

Connecting directly to your modem, router or pods/extenders using an Ethernet cable will be your best bet for establishing and maintaining a strong connection. Use a wired connection for the most bandwidth-hogging devices, like smart TVs and gaming consoles. Not only will this often provide a better, faster connection, but it will also take some of the strain off your Wi-Fi network.

A compromised network is a less likely but still possible cause of an internet outage. If hackers gain access to your Wi-Fi network, they could completely restrict your internet access to any or all devices.

If you suspect someone has gained unauthorized access to your network, immediately go to your router settings and recreate your Wi-Fi network with (preferably) a different network name and (definitely) a different password. You’ll want to select one that is complex or random enough to make it difficult for a hacker to figure out. 

Along with creating a strong password, keep all firmware on your router and any connected devices up to date to help prevent hacking attempts. Installing antivirus software will also help keep your devices protected. Our top picks are McAfee Plus Premium for overall protection and the Bitdefender Ultimate Security for Windows users. However, many ISPs also offer virus and malware protection at no extra cost.

Yes, Mother Nature can mess with your internet connection. Some internet connection types are more prone to internet outages than others during bad weather, but hard rain, a violent thunderstorm or even heavy cloud coverage could interfere with your signal.

Satellite internet is the most vulnerable to internet outages caused by weather, we’re looking at you Starlink, Hughesnet, and Viasat, but a power outage can knock any connection type offline. Having a modem and router with a battery backup may help keep you connected during power outages, although they will be useless if the power outage is preventing internet service from reaching your modem in the first place.

If you have satellite internet, a rain guard, snow shield or dish heater can help prevent outages due to bad weather in the immediate area of your home. Signal interference can happen anywhere between the satellite and your dish; heavy cloud coverage or rain could impact your connection, even if it’s miles away. Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do about an internet outage in that case; you’ll just have to wait for the signal to return.

Despite the negative impression many people have about their internet providers, widespread ISP outages are uncommon, and outages at a single residence are virtually unheard of (unless, of course, you forgot to pay the bill). Still, the provider may be having issues. 

If your internet is completely out and you’ve already tried restarting the router, check your provider’s social media pages, official website or sources like Downdetector.com for updates and outage reports. (Disclaimer: Downdetector is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) You can also call customer service, but be prepared for a long wait on hold. 

Other than confirming your ISP is having problems, there’s nothing you can do in such situations other than wait for service to return. Outages are bad publicity, so rest assured your ISP is doing everything possible to restore service as quickly as possible.

True outages do happen, but they are rare. Network congestion, on the other hand, is a much more frequent problem, and while it won’t always knock your connection out completely, it can certainly cause slowed speeds. Cable, DSL and satellite internet are vulnerable to network congestion, as is 5G home internet. T-Mobile acknowledges that network congestion can lead to slowed speeds, stating that “Home Internet customers may notice speeds lower than customers using other T-Mobile services due to data prioritization.”

Network congestion means the speeds coming to your home are slower, so there isn’t much you can do about that other than wait for the congestion to clear. You can make the most of the speeds you are getting by placing your router in an optimal location, adjusting your Wi-Fi settings or using an Ethernet connection, as mentioned above.

There could be several factors that affect your internet connection. First, and most likely, is issues with your equipment. Restarting your modem/router will often resolve the issue.

Other reasons why your internet may keep going out include inadequate speeds, network congestion and inclement weather. Your provider may be experiencing a service outage, but for frequent connection disruptions, I would look to the previously mentioned causes, starting with your router.

Many providers do offer compensation for prolonged or frequent outages. Spectrum, for example, will provide “proportionate credit for those qualifying outages that last for 4 or more consecutive hours.” Call to report the outage as soon as possible and monitor how long it lasts before requesting a refund.

Not always, but probably. When the power goes out, it won’t necessarily keep internet service from reaching your home, but it can certainly limit your ability to use the internet. Unless your modem and router have a power supply, an outage will disable those devices, leaving you unable to connect to the internet.

In the event of a power outage, a quick fix is to use a mobile hotspot to connect to the internet. To learn more tips, read our guide on how to stay connected during a power outage.