What to Do When You Have No Internet
When the internet goes down, the key is to find where the problem is. Work from your device outward to the provider.
Step-by-step
- 1
Check other devices
If only one device is offline, the problem is that device. If everything is offline, it's the router or your internet provider.
- 2
Restart the modem and router
Unplug both for 30 seconds, power the modem first, wait for it to fully connect, then the router. This resolves a large share of outages.
- 3
Inspect the cables and lights
Make sure all cables are firmly seated. Check the modem's status lights against the labels — a red or off 'internet' light usually points to the provider.
- 4
Run the network troubleshooter
On Windows, go to Settings → Network & Internet → Status → Network troubleshooter. On Mac, use Wireless Diagnostics. These can reset the connection automatically.
- 5
Confirm with your provider
Check your provider's app or status page (using mobile data) for an outage in your area before assuming it's your equipment.
Helpful tips
- Keep your provider's support number saved offline so you can reach them when the internet is down.
- If the modem's internet light is off after a restart, it's almost always a provider-side outage.